Ok, so I wasn’t showered with money or gold
medals, there was no podium or awards ceremony, but I tell you
I came out of the weekend smelling like a rose.
First, it is no small feat to get to Chicago
(did I mention the three kids & two
dogs?). It’s expensive to fly, stay and not
drop million-bazillion dollars on the Mag Mile.
(I saved those dollars for Shaw’s Oyster Bar – yum.)
So there I was, whipping across the country at about 400 miles an hour and enjoying the solitude that only a parent flying all-by-myself (!!) can know. Another cocktail? Why yes, I think I will!
Onto the “L”, into the subway and off on a
grand adventure.
Friday night was a big blur, bars, cars and a fantastic brand-new friend, Mara. (“As in Juana” she explained after countless introductions during the course of the night. I just s ----- ed.)
*And yes I did meet David Schwimmer when I completely interrupted
his dinner/conversation and told him that even though every chick
in the bar was going crazy because “Ross” was in the room, I was
stoked because I got to tell my kids that I saw
“Melman”. Ok, he thought I was a
lunatic. But whatever.
Back to WINNING! (Or not really…)
The next morning was the day I had been waiting for – the BIG pitch. So I had the breakfast of champions (Starbucks Mocha, 1%, 4 Splenda, No Whip, with Foam, thank you very much) and something that was meant to be tasty that looked suspiciously like a cardboard granola bar.
Taxi!!
Into the waiting room I strode, ready for battle, ready to slay the dragons of my fears and the multitudes of tchotchkes that might stand before me. To my surprise there were no catwomen from the moon ready to duel with their knitting needles – just a bunch of middle aged, Middle American, middle-of-funky and pretty cool ladies waiting to proudly show their wares.
So I didn’t karate chop
anyone. I sat down and tried to swim through
last night’s beer foam to my sales presentation.
My turn.
In a whirlwind 5 minutes I told my story, (I own my VERY OWN make-up company www.souvenircosmetics.com , everything is made to be fun and add to the quality of women’s lives and that make-up DOES NOT MAKE YOU BEAUTIFUL. YOU make you beautiful, and if you would like to wear some make-up, we’d love to sell you some and show you how to use it.)
So where does the (NOT) winning part come
in?
I NOT won because I got to tell my story to a million (slight exaggeration) women, hang out with a ton of SUPER intelligent, creative women that were all there to support and nurture each other while pouring their creative juices into a big pitcher of entrepreneurial sangria. It was a little fruity and a lot of fun.
Now I am at home, feeling re-charged, re-invigorated, re-energized and r-e-a-l-l-y tired.
On to bigger and much more wonder-fuller things! (and boy-o I hope that I make the dream team of ladies for next year’s Country Living Magazine Women Entrepreneurs Special)
Love to Sarah Gray, Frances, Rosanna, Natalie, Margaret, Adrienne, Vicki, Mary Liz, Leigh, Tasia, Yolanda, Jessica, Kim and all of the marvelous pink-shirted people that made the event absolutely fabulous.
LOVE, 
