My Day 2 Takeaway: It happened for me, not to me.
That statement did not just inspire me. It reached all the way to the essence of my soul. When Dr. Sonja asked who the 2% were, I raised my hand and clicked the offer link. Then I looked at my insufficient bank account, called a few clients, attracted more money than I expected, and finally registered for VIP. That moment meant more than upgrading. It was a choice to stop standing outside of the level I know I’m called to. My biggest takeaway from Day 2 was this: it happened for me, not to me. That truth made me look back over my life differently. I survived DV. I received a scholarship I wanted to use at Cornell University, but was told I was too naive to move to New York, so I let it go and ended up at a subpar college. I stood face-to-face with a Black female media mogul I admired deeply and wanted to emulate, and watched her look me up and down, frown, and walk away. I had opportunities to perform on Def Poetry Jam and other stages that could have changed my life, yet I still walked away from most of them. But today, I saw those moments differently — not just as pain, loss, or missed opportunities, but as part of my preparation. I am a poet, writer, songwriter, ghostwriter, editor, graphic designer, counselor, facilitator, leader, Your Literary Labor Coach, entrepreneur, publisher, wife, and mother. And, let my husband tell you, an actress and comedian. I am declaring before this community that I am a million-dollar-a-year speaker. Thanks to this course. None of what happened to me was wasted. It all built me.