Opportunities
I’m at my office this morning when my phone rings. I’m in a chipper mood despite recent happenings in my life.
“This is Ms. Tee!” I chirp.
“This is Polly!” the voice announces.
“Ahhhhhh! POLLY!” I scream and then realize that I’m at work.
“Oh my gosh,” I squeal into the phone. “Let me calm down. This is such a great surprise! Such a weird feeling. My past meeting my present! Wow!”
Polly laughs and tells me to calm down.
I smile uncontrollably and laugh again.
Polly is my former Director. I was her assistant when she was the Director of Corporate Support for the PBS affiliate in Gainesville. I had a great time while working there, she taught me a lot and even though she has now become a big shot as the VP of Development for 9 PBS affiliates in Alabama I think of her as my friend and we still keep in touch. She has become a mentor to me.
“So, I got this email from ya, and I decided to go ahead and give you a call. You had me a little worried asking for prayer,” she says.
“I’m sorry about that. I’m just a little nervous. Like I said in my e-mail, next month this woman and her husband are hosting a party that my job is having and I want to make a good impression. I get nervous around people who are where I want to be and I sometimes clam up because I don’t want it to look like I’m desperately looking for another job.”
She giggles. “You’re always looking for another job!”
“You know it.” I say seriously. “I’m going places! But seriously Polly you can not imagine the type of people I meet in this position. Just the other day the VP of Ocean Drive magazine comes in for a meeting with my Director. And a former mayor of Miami came in the same day. We had a producer from Channel 7 here in my office and one of our Trustees is a VP over at PBS down here. I talk with her all the time.”
“Wow,” Polly says. “It seems like you are in a great environment to meet the people who may be able to help you pursue a career in the media. But relax, it’s not that difficult. When you meet someone, just be yourself and give them a compliment. When you met the woman from Ocean Drive, all you had to say was, ‘I really like what you and your team are doing over there. I love your magazine.’ Just be brief and be sincere. Everyone loves compliments and you love asking questions and EVERYONE loves to talk about themselves. Just start with a compliment and a question.”
“Whoa, You’re right Polly. I just get so nervous. I need to compliment more. I need to speak up and let them know that I am interested in what they are doing.”
She goes on to update me on what’s happening in her world. She’s looking forward to her first trip to Vegas for a convention and her family is doing great.
When we hang up I smile to myself. I am so excited about what I do in Development and it’s a field that Polly has done extremely well in. But now I need a new mentor. Someone in Miami with a lot of knowledge and a few connections and I was hoping to meet someone soon.
Having a mentor is extremely important and building friendships with them is a sure fire way to help you get where you want to go. I’ve been hoping to meet someone in Miami but I haven’t yet but maybe it just wasn’t my time.
Where do you wanna go Ms. Tee?
I don’t exactly know. I just know that I have a vibrant personality and I like to smile, talk, be in front of crowds and help people. I am a good writer and I love to talk about personal issues and offer words of comfort. I also like to teach and uplift.
My girl Donni over at Words In The Rough, suggested I become a personal success coach which was an EXCELLENT idea. But then I think that I have to be a little more successful and stable than I am right now so that I can truly be an EXAMPLE of someone who made it.
So as I continue to meet so many successful people through my place of employment I ask God to guide me into the next phase of my life and allow those He wants to help me to take an interest in me.
I’m genuine and I’m sincere and I’m honestly willing to work hard.
All I need is a helping hand and an opportunity.
Wish me luck!