WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I AM FLEXIBLE, FLUID & FREE

This movement continues to unfold. Again, not easy, smooth, or quick, but then again, maybe I should rethink quick. This movement was introduced in January. Its March. Wow. Things have happened a little more quickly than I realized. (I am amazed, honored, and reflective about this...)


So here's the next idea that I have been wrestling with. I knew it would involve the marriage of my career, training and development to my passion and purpose, this movement. What I thought I was going to do initially and solely was this really cool online learning program. I was so pumped about it that I set up a complimentary webinar to introduce the online experience, sent it out to about 30 friends, and only received 2 registrations! Of course, I was crushed and my little feelings were hurt. But not for long. I knew I had something to bring to the table. I knew that what I had to offer would be beneficial so I decided to regroup, push forward a little more, and try another approach.


I also continued to rethink the learning approach itself. Here are a few thoughts that I wrestled with: Maybe folks didn't understand what I meant by an online learning experience. Maybe they need face to face interaction first. Maybe they don't get the movement at all. Maybe they don't care. This dreadful conversation that I had with myself could have stopped me in my tracks, but it didn't. This movement was given to me to go and make impact. If only a few get it, are excited by it, and want to learn from it, then I am doing what I am supposed to do.


So the learning experience has to be relevant, meaningful, understandable, and affordable. It has to address the needs of a variety of women. And most importantly it has to challenge them to grow!


Looks like rethinking is a necessary part of pushing forward so that I can go. I have to be flexible, fluid, and free to listen to others and accept their advice. As a result of rethinking flexibly, fluidly, and freely, I'm ready to go with the next idea...


If you live in the Cleveland area and have a couple of hours the morning of March 24, then join me for the Challenge Me to Grow Experience: The Kick Off! It will be an introduction to the total learning experience and I will also facilitate an exciting exercise guaranteed to challenge you to grow! Details about the kick off and official registration are here:
www.gonegirlgo_cmtg.eventsbot.com. I'm still praying, pushing, rethinking, and loving every minute of it!




Peace


(typed this on my iPhone...what a challenge but I feel good about getting this one out!)


Peace some more
Z

Networking Was Never My Forte

Last night I went to an event to celebrate the re-opening of a restaraunt that  I frequent. The atmosphere was good. The food was great. But the conversation was even better. I conversed with the folks who are bringing a new film festival in town, the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF). Again, the conversation was even better. In case you don't know, I am an international film enthusiast. My love of this genre of film goes real deep and way back. This is not something that I have always liked to share with people, especially my love for Indian cinema and its actors, particularly my favorite actor Shah Ruhk Khan. (There is only one person who I can really discuss this with. I mean hours and hours and hours of discussion...my Didi, Janice. And by the way, Didi is sister in Hindi.) Anyway, the reason I was so into the conversation last night was because I had something to talk about. I mean really talk about.

I heart SRK. Yes. I heart SRK.

(You see, in my old life, I preferred to stay in my head and in my box. It's not that I was afraid to share my world with others, I just didn't think it was necessary. I didn't feel like explaining why I liked this, or why I thought a certain way. I didn't feel like getting irritated by the smirks and other goofy facial expressions that people display when they are a bit confused. Those looks spoke volumes, "A black girl who prefers to watch Bollywood movies instead of Hollywood movies? I don't get it." So I decided that my little secret was safe with me. But one day, I decided to share my secret with others. I hosted the first ZIFF (Zoe's International Film Festival) at my house in February 2010. I invited a few close friends and we watched a really cool Palestinian movie and ate some great tasting Mediterranean type food that I cooked. The girls loved it and couldn't wait for me to do it again. But I never got the urge to do it again. And that idea sat dormant.) 

Let me get back on track. I'm supposed to be writing about how networking was never my forte.

So at this event, I talked freely about my love of international film and what I decided to do about it. I also asked to help out at GCUFF in anyway that I can. The biggest thing that I shared during this converation was my event - Movie, Munch & Mingle that happens on Monday. That really got me excited and I probably could have talked on and on and on and on...

So here's my point. I see the value of stepping outside of my box and out of my head. There are people in this world (and Cleveland!) who might get me. And they even might be excited about my push forward. They even might be instrumental in helping me go. I would never know if I wasn't willing to open up and talk a little. Networking was never my forte, but now it is. I have things to talk about. gonegirlgo™

Peace