"I've Got a Golden Ticket!"

Photo by Geoff Johnson – www.maloneandco.com

Photo by Geoff Johnson - www.maloneandco.com

PHOTO: From left to right @garyvee, @kurtyd, @espreedevora, @bigomaha (founders), @shiralazar

This morning after my meeting with Matt Helt and Dave Nelson of Secret Penguin, Matt sent me this link to Chris Rikli’s blog post titled Five People I Wish I’d Met at Big Omaha.  (If you missed Big Omaha, well that just sucks. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. More on the Big O later.) Seeing that Chris wrote I was one of 5 people he’d like to meet who he missed at Big Omaha was incredibly flattering.  After all, I simply do the best I can each day. Nothing different than anyone else does as an entrepreneur.  Then when I saw I was grouped with these absolutely incredible and courageous business men, Matt Helt from Secret Penguin, Zac Triemert from Lucky Bucket Brewery, Charles Hull from Archrival I wasn’t only flattered but overwhelmingly gracious.

Big Omaha to me was about  self discovery, defining our brand, attention to detail, unity and courage. Realizing that we each have our own entrepreneurial style and that is okay. To be true to our core strengths and find partners/team mates to compliment our weaknesses. That we must  support one another to succeed farther and faster. And especially the courage to understand that the journey isn’t easy, but one we are blessed to forge ahead on. We can achieve anything we set our minds and bodies to do.

At one point there was discussion addressing segregation between men and women in business.  It’s true that the numbers are not on an equal plane of women immersed in technology, business, (and action sports). But if there is anything I have learned after being a real estate investor, raising money for my business, and working in action sports, all “male dominated” spaces is that any dream we desire is within our reach to achieve, we just need to grab it.  Men and Women alike.  I don’t buy that men have the power to hold women back. Maybe the way society was structured in the past that was true, but not now. The only person that can hold anyone back is ourselves.  It’s an exciting time to forge ahead as a business owner. I am manifesting my own destiny, are you?

I want to thank Chris Rikli for connecting with me and share his post. > Click here

Five People I Wish I’d Met at Big Omaha

So this weekend I ditched Halloween to get up perky Saturday and speak at Realizing a Vision at Vanguard University with incredible women like Latina Media Dynamo Nely Galan, (Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice), who surpassed her reputation, former Entrepreneur Magazine editor Rieva Lesonsky, Tish & Snooky Bellomo founders of Manic Panic (which brings me back to my pink hair punk high school days), Style Network’s Finola Hughes and all sorts of other phenomenal business women. We got together to educate and inspire high school girls to go after their dreams and “realize their visions”.  It was an amazing experience and I am thankful.

The top lesson for me that stood out was to “go toward the light”, so to speak, rather than stay in the dark. For instance, we all keep people in our lives who waste our energy or stay stuck in situations that drain us. Why? Why not just choose to recognize, detach and go back to smiling.  I mean isn’t it really that easy when you just take a step back and examine with clarity rather than foggy “baggage” glasses. Anyway, that’s just my two cents. So I am making the change. I plan to be laughing a lot more and stressing a lot less.

Thank you to Tish and Snooky for your kick ass Venice Beach shop opening party that night. I love my green nails and pink hair extensions ! Your gift bags rocked and I am already wearing my new shirt.  What a great way to start off the new liberated me.

Inspiring tomorrow

Nely Galan and Espree Devora

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKNHxFlZLGs]