To be honest there are a lot of times that I want to cower away. I sometimes get a little too comfortable with letting a man speak up for me. I sometimes shy away from flexing my credentials out of fear they might not quite measure up to my peers. I sometimes participate in conversations that make me want to pipe down and dissolve into the closest corner because sometimes I just don't feel smart enough to be in the room. To be at the table.
Professionally, I'm constantly reminded of just how much I don't know and sometimes it sucks. I'll be honest here too. I find myself frustrated at having to do things over and over again because I'm a recovering perfectionist. I hate the fact that there are still moments when I question if I really am the person for the job. I wonder at times, what did college really do for me besides put me in major debt? Here's a fun fact though....if that's you, you are far from alone in having these thoughts. These kinds of thoughts just come by existing really. And a lot of times the quick solution to these kinds of thoughts is to take the easy way out....you know....go quiet, tell yourself you'll come back when you're ready, hang with people who make you look like a stellar human being because....pick me up, among many other cop outs because you're afraid of being uncomfortable, vulnerable, uncertain. I get that. I've done that. I understand.
But,
Today I'm challenging you to do something else. I'm challenging you to realize and embrace every part of who you are and boldly sit at the table.
Ki, what's the table? Glad you asked.
The table is the place where you go and sit in front of everyone in the house then proceed to eat. Yes, I went with the literal meaning. And I'm not talking about sitting at the kids' table either. I'm talking about the table where only the adults sit at on holidays. The table where you have to sit down so assertively that the other seats that be just know you belong there too. You ever see a kid attempt to sit at the adult table real shy like over the holidays? Yea? Don't be that kid. They get so much more attention when they awkwardly try to sit down. Now imagine if that kid would have silently went right up to the table and sat down. Sooner than later....they'd fit right in after a while. I should know....I have successfully introduced myself to the adult table and many of other spots you normally wouldn't find your average 12 year old. *hi fives myself* Here's the point: get to that table. Stay at that table.
Another courageous table sitting example for you is this, I once had a professor tell me how he landed his first job. He identified a place he wanted to work at and one day he decided to dress in his best professional digs, walk in, and act as if he already belonged there. When asked who he was, he simply replied, "Oh I'm such and such. I'm the new hire. They didn't tell you about me?" Long story short....he got hired for that move alone.
I hope that in both cases, you get my drift. Each day I'm asking you to act as if it's already yours. Don't ask anybody about whether you can sit, should you sit, where to sit, how to sit, none of that! You just get to that table and stay there because whether you believe it or not you belong at that table with the big timers. You belong in that conversation! You belong at that networking event just as much as anybody else. Own it! Now knowing it's way easier said than done I pray for you courage and tenacity. I pray when people see you they see a person containing a giant inside of them because that is what you are. Go get em champ! And when you do....just make sure you save a spot for the next dreamer to come.
Much love to you dreamers,
Ki