I woke up yesterday feeling ready to take on Alt Summit. Ready to take on the world, perhaps.
My best outfits for Alt had been packed the night before, and I was eager to begin networking with some of my favorite bloggers and brands. Chronic uncertainty had been overtaken by new-found confidence as I said to myself, “Hey, I can do this! I have something unique to offer, and people want to hear from me. I can achieve [insert random dream here].”
And then, as they say, shit hit the fan.
First, I found myself feeling jealous of another blogger-slash-mom who had just announced a super cool collaboration with a brand I would like to work with. Then I learned I was not among the chosen Alt Summit attendees picked to interview a certain celebrity making a brief appearance at the conference.
Insecurity quickly chipped away at my self-assured facade, leaving me feeling particularly insignificant. But before my disappointment could turn into a full-blown pity party, I forced myself to give myself a pep talk: You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!
Actually, my pep talk sounded more like this: “There is room at the top for everybody. There is enough success to go around. One person’s success has absolutely nothing to do with me.”
Over sushi yesterday evening, JB gave me another pep talk, reminding me that I’m not attending Alt Summit because I’m a hugely popular blogger but because I want to learn. And to have fun. So if I have fun with new friends and learn one new thing, I could consider the event a success.
Every once in a while, the boy knows what to say.
Alt Summit officially kicks off this evening with dinners hosted by various sponsors. I’ll be dining with Better Homes and Gardens — eek! Perhaps if I tell them that at my childhood dream was to become a magazine editor, they’ll offer me a job on the spot…
In the meantime, please follow along on Twitter and Instagram for up-to-the-minute Alt Summit updates. Oh, and wish me luck!
{photo via kcajnagrom}
Thank you for this post, and for sharing your pep talk with us. I’m not at Alt this week, but madly wishing that I was. And I find myself sometimes feeling like all opportunity is lost just because I’m not there. But your pep talk is so true! Thanks for sharing and here’s hoping you’re having an amazing time this week!
Thanks, Molly! Alt was incredible but definitely overwhelming and frustrating at time. I know that MANY attendees are sharing recaps, some very detailed, so you should be able to learn a thing or two from other people’s experiences. Opportunity is not lost!
Hey, I’m following your updates via instagram and it looks completely overwhelming to me!!! I think you should be darn proud that you had enough guts to get there! To talk to people! To try to learn from them. So, sit back. Enjoy. Learn. Make friends. Good things will come if you remember to breathe. 🙂
I tried to follow your advice! I did breathe, so we’ll see what happens…