:: How do you get into the rooms with the biggest industry players? Invite yourself and crash the party ::
No, no. Don’t take my advice so seriously because I’m not 100% sure it will work every time. However, the one time I did take this risk, it opened up the exact door I wanted and made me visible to the CEO I was interested in working with.
One morning I emailed a pitch to a top executive I’ve only dreamed about working with. I mean, it was a great pitch. I had done my research and spent hours cultivating a solid write up about how my skills can contribute to his success and make his life easier. I track my emails using my favorite tool, Hubspot, so I noticed he opened it but didn’t respond right away. I thought OK OK. Perhaps he’s en route somewhere or needs to marinate on the bomb I dropped and how he would like to proceed. At least I was in front of him and ultimately, that was the goal. But it wasn’t enough for me, I needed to level up and take things a bit further. CEOs are busy. It’s important to be consistent but not annoying. So the next day, I scheduled an office tour (he runs a tech Institute) and got even more familiar with the workspace and to be honest, as our guide was showing my assistant and I around, I was reciting affirmations and speaking it into existence. Somehow I was going to be affiliated with this business and its leader.
Oddly enough, that same evening, his office hosted an event to show off presentations and new app inventions created by the student body for that semester. Bruh, I lit up. I called my girl Alethea over at See Girl Work and told her bishhh don’t make any plans. I need you as my wing-woman.
We registered at the front desk and grabbed a drink to blend in with the crowd. I show up at this tech event immediately noticing that we were two of very few people of color. For a second it was uncomfortable because I stood out so much. But Alethea nudged me back into the moment and the mission we embarked on. I spotted him from across the room but he was with friends. I thought omg how am I going to do this? I was so terrified at that moment. F*ck man, I needed air. So I left the party on the 3rd floor and walked downstairs to the lobby to regroup. I felt inadequate and undeserving. But nevertheless I traveled out of my way to meet him and I knew I could not leave until I connected for two mins. I paced back and forth. My breath was heavy. Picture me in the hallway rehearsing my pitch with my eyes closed; trying to replay how this will unfold. Moments later, I was startled by murmurs behind me and when I open my eyes and guess who’s standing a few feet away. The CEO.
FML.
Rehearsal time faded and I had to step into my purpose. I called out his name and waved him over. As he stepped in my direction he invited me to sit down on a nearby bench. BOOM. I got all of six minutes. I introduced myself, shook his hand and pitched for my life. This experience reminded me of what I believed all along; to go after what you want and break the rules (as long as you don’t hurt anybody). Moral of this story. Raise your hand. Ask the damn question. Get on a plane, train, bus or automobile to make your dream happen. Stop with the excuses. Trust me, I was so nervous, but I pushed through my fear and did it anyway. I’m so proud of myself.