Happy Tuesday!
Can you believe we are in June? The time seems to be flying and it does not look like it is about to slow down. I am currently on a plane to Washington, D.C to complete a fellowship program I have been taking part in. The U.S State Department funded fellowship is for entrepreneurs and leaders between 18 and 35 in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada. Through IREX, fellows are matched and placed with a host organization in one of 20 cities throughout the U.S. Fellows and their placement organizations are meant to collaborate and build relationships between the U.S. and their home countries. You are also given a city cohort ambassador who assist with more professional development as well as cultural exchanges and events to learn more about the city you are in.
I was nervous leading up to the fellowship, mostly dealing with imposter syndrome but thankfully I did not allow those feelings to get the best of me. Our group quickly bonded with one another and that made this trip even more special. I feel like I have learned something from each individual. It is also amazing to recognize my own growth over the years. We each had different goals and different businesses, but we were motivated and committed. We each had different experiences with our placement organizations as well. At first, I had some basic expectations, as I was warned not to have too high of expectations. After my first meeting, I was feeling down and disappointed. I took the following day to reflect and assess my goals for this fellowship and for myself. Comparison is the thief of joy! If I continued to base my experience on those of the rest of the group, I would have not accomplished what I have in the time I was here. Always remember your why. Know why you started that business and why you want to keep going. You have to know where your focus is and what you are trying to accomplish. Things do not always go as planned but if you focus on the right things, you will still get where you need to go, maybe even further than imagined.
I believe everything happens for a reason and we don’t always get what we want but we always get what we need. This trip was personal for me. I had time to see myself through a different lens and learn even more about myself. I know now that I am capable of so much more than I thought. We can learn from any and everyone as long as we listen. And some of the most influential moments are not found in grand gestures but in the simple ones. I was fortunate enough to witness two completely different examples of successful business owners. And while none is essentially bad, it has given me the opportunity to reflect on the kind of entrepreneur I want to be. I am also grateful to have taken this trip at this time in my life, because I was able to connect with each individual person in ways that I would not have been able to when I was younger. We arrived in Miami as strangers, but as we leave, we are family.
This trip was tough, leaving my kids in St. Maarten for the longest period we have ever been away from each other. God used this time to show me parts of myself that still need healing. Prior to this trip, I felt like I wasn’t hearing from Him, and even at the start, I was skeptical. But God is always with us and He speaks to each of us differently. If you feel like you aren’t hearing from Him, first be sure you are aware of the unique way He speaks to you. As crazy as it sounds, one of the ways He speaks to me is through social media. I was reminded of that this trip as I was praying and talking to Him and later a video or post would pop up with the exact answer. Trust that God is working for your good and He has your best interests at heart. He will provide and protect you. No matter how you feel about yourself, God loves you and is always wanting and waiting to hear from you. Have a wonderful week and remember, You got this!
MotherLovingDiva 