Making It
Judi Holler
Motivational Speaker | Self-Expression, Self-Leadership, Confidence, and Discovering How to Bring Our Best, Most Creative, and Most Engaged Selves to Work | Bestselling Author | Creative Entrepreneur
Earlier this month, I had dinner with?the?incredible?Vanessa VanEdwards.?
Quick back story:?We met four years ago over?a?sequin pillow. Yes, you read that right.
When my book,?Fear is My Homeboy, was in?the?pre-launch mode in 2018, I sent Vanessa an early copy because she was mentioned in my book, with permission, of course, so she received one of my hand-selected "influencer" packages, which consisted of my book,?a?personalized?note, other fun goodies and of course?a?reversible sequin pillow that had HER book name on it as?a?thank you for?the?love, inspiration, and book launch support.
We've stayed in touch ever since and have become friends from afar. Yet, with her living in Austin, and me, now in Arizona, we've never met in person.
So, when I got?a?text that she had?a?keynote?in Scottsdale and wanted to know if I could have dinner Friday,?the?answer was?a?rip-roaring "YES!" as I was thrilled to meet this magical unicorn in person finally.
I select?a?swanky spot, pick her up at her hotel, and off we go into?the?Wild West, Scottsdale, on?a?Friday night.
The?conversation flowed like we'd been friends for 100 years. We talk about business, books, pop culture, our favorite?keynote?speakers, creating content, travel, and what we want our futures to look like. Then, V asked me this:?
"Do you feel like you've made it?"
Whoa. I had to sit back in my chair as?the?question took my breath away.
My knee-jerk reaction was to scream, "HELL YES, Vanessa!" I mean, here I was having dinner with?her, I have?a?best-selling book in airports + Barnes & Noble, Mel Robbins endorsed that book, I speak on stages around?the?world, have?a?top 13% podcast, and every day I get to do work I love,?the?way I want, with people that rock. So, yo. That feels like making it to me.
B U T
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At?the?same time, considering all?the?above, I'm also reckoning with myself internally, thinking, "I can't say that. That would it come off wrong. Isn't that big ego vibes? And yo, there is still?so?much I want to do."
This trash talk in my brain must have lasted 30-seconds (which felt like an eternity), and Vanessa sees me stalling to answer. Then she does something spectacular. She leans across our cozy candle-lit two-top table and says,
"Judi, it's ok to say you've made it. You have. And guess what, you can make it again too."
Whoa. I've "made it," AND I can make it again.
In one sentence, I not only felt so seen, but I also immediately got permission. Permission to claim it, own it,?be it?… AND …?the?permission to do it again in new ways.
This may be my favorite Yes, AND moment yet.
See, "making it" will look different for all of us.
For you, making it could be?a?clean bill of health, money in?the?bank, no debt,?a?house full of kids,?a?supportive spouse,?a?thriving business,?a?community of like-minded people, living in your dream destination, working for yourself, landing your dream job, etc., etc.
And guess what??
You can "make it."
AND then, you can make it again!