Personal Leadership Lessons from a Loser
Last Thursday night I attended the 15th Annual Women Who Mean Business Awards Ceremony presented by the San Diego Business Journal and Procopio. I was among 111 finalists and I had also nominated two other women. I’ve never been more proud to be a loser! As I sat at a table of 12 people I didn’t know who wanted to know my story as an honoree, I watched and read the details of each nominee as they were featured on three large screens in the front of the room. I was in awe of the talent surrounding me. What an esteemed and accomplished group of women doing great things in our San Diego community.
As I drove to the event that evening, I was having a phone conversation with a friend who couldn’t understand as I explained that winning wasn’t important to me. My friend was coaching me that the only reason I wouldn’t win was because I hadn’t set my intention to. I was laughing and trying to explain that I was already a winner and that getting a trophy just wasn’t that important to me. I was in a very calm state of mind with no expectations for the evening.
I hung up the phone and revisited the following as I prepared to enter the ceremony:
- The day Six Figure Moms Club chose me (and believe me, it chose me long before I ever embraced it), i started winning because I’ve been so inspired by every working mother I’ve ever met.
- Knowing that another working mom has the confidence in me to nominate me for an esteemed award like this already makes me feel like a winner.
- The members of the Six Figure Moms Club tribe and the commentors on my blog are the awards that drive me to push harder.
I’m different today now that I own my own businesses than I was in the competitive, corporate world and I’m proud of my transformation. I was pretty competitive in my old self. I still am but I have to say I like my self actualized self a lot better. I’m putting this out there because I know there are some of you that need to cross the same bridge that I have and it’s a bit scary. Believe me, I know. But let me tell you…it’s so worth it. Take it from a loser. You might not win a trophy…but you’ll win much more.
Just so you know, the winners were really phenomenal, here are just a few examples:
- Barbara Bry, Founder of Athena and Proflowers.com and Producer and co-host of Radio Show, “I’m There for You Baby:The Entrepreneur’s Guide to the Galaxy” et al
- Pat Brown, NBC 7/39 Emmy Award Winning Journalist and community servant
- Midge Constanza, Women’s Rights Advocate and Assistant to President for Public Liaison to President Jimmy Carter
- Debra Emerson, Executive Director, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Adult Developmental Disabilities Center]
- Ruby Randall, COO Vistage International, and past CEO of Anthony Robbins Companies
7 Responses to “Personal Leadership Lessons from a Loser”
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Angie,
Congratulations!
I just wanted to say, thank you for what you have started! When I met you 2 years ago, right after I had my first baby, I didn’t even imagine that someday I’ll come to want to have my own business, but now I do! I believe there are so many women/mothers who have been touched and inspired by your existence. Keep winning and keep inspiring us!
Wow Angie,
I love the perspective you offer here about what true winning is really all about. I also resonated with your exploration around shifting from competition to “coopetition” which is a very exciting concept that I am seeing modeled more and more throughout the social media landscape. I can only imagine how inspiring it must have been to not only attend the awards but to have been a nominee. Congratulations. My mother has been connected with St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center for a number of years and the services that it provides really are quite wonderful.
Thank you for the continued inspiration!
Amy
@LotusAmy on Twitter
That is quite a Vistage representation among the honorees! Not only the current COO Ruby Randall but the former CMO Barbara Bry. Vistage is a great place for women who mean business.
Angie,
Congratulations on your nomination, your success, and your wonderful perspective! I too know what it’s like to get nominated for awards and not be listed as an official “winner,” but the real “win” is being around such inspiring, accomplished women and the teams of people who support them. Although I was honored and surprised to “win” this year, my heart is touched by those who nominated me and with whom I have the privilege of working with every day.
Ruby Randall
I had the honor of being one of the women Angie nominated – thank you Angie. I sat at the table with Midge Costanza. She’s one of the original feminists along with Betty Friedan and Bella Abzug. These are the women who paved the way for us. Midge was nominated by Bonnie Dumanis so we had her and her partner at the table also. Bonnie and her partner are newlyweds. It was quite an experience.
What’s with all the “Amy’s” reading this blog
Amy R,
Obviously Amy’s have good taste, are in “the know” as to where to get their regular does of inspiration! Thank you Angie!
Amy
On twitter @LotusAmy
congratulations on your nomination and your realization that you’re not in it for the prizes (that would be good ego food, but bad soul food) but you seem to be facing your fears and plunging into unchartered waters out of the love of doing so and service to your followers (both extremely bad ego food, but great soul food).
Keep up the good work of keeping your ego in check and you can never, never be a loser.