This CWU Grad Asked for What He Wanted…This is What Happened! Help Me Celebrate…

This Grad Got the Job!!! #HELPMECELEBRATE

Wow – It has been a Freedom & Fashion Week to be sure….and we have much to celebrate, so hang w me!!!

Just off the phone with a grad whom I met when I gave the commencement speech for CWU’s Black Graduation…WHAT A STORY!!!

I met this young gent, Chris-Michael Garrett and his family & learned some of his story before taking the stage. I was moved by his journey and passion…and as a connector, after he told me of his goal to work as a Financial Advisor, I knew just the man to put him in touch with, Mr. Brent Williams of AXA Advisors. I knew Brent, at a minimum, would honor the call though we hadn’t spoken for years and have an informational interview – that’s just the kind of man Brent is.

Now I don’t believe in handing anything to anybody for free. Based on my own experience, I believe at some level you have to have skin in the game to make anything sustainable. In life you have to want (it) badly enough to show up and take action…to create…the life experience YOU want to live. Nobody is gonna want it more than you. Though I love being a champion for others, you have to be your own biggest champion/advocate for yourself.

…So I gave Chris my card and told him to call me if he was serious, that I would put in a call for him, but that…he would have to take it from there.

(From my speech: You see THIS is how you “grow strong wings” and evolve into the butterfly you were destined to be. Like the butterfly…there are #NOSHORTCUTS to its emerging. If someone cuts the chrysalis to relieve the butterfly of the struggle, it will die. It NEEDS the struggle to survive, strengthen its wings, and fly. In our humanity, we too, have to do some heavy lifting so we get the value and the learnings out of it, but when you do say YES to yourself and take the next step – you often find someone is there to help ease the struggle and lighten the burden. Eventually, like the butterfly’s life cycle of survival, stability, success and significance teaches us, as you take no shortcuts you will transform into who you were created to be – and doors will begin to open up before you.

CWU Black Graduation Commencement Keynote

Chris called within a week…I called Brent – and they took it from there.

Now, about 1.5 months just out of college, Chris called me this morning to say “THANK YOU MA’AM, I GOT THE JOB!!!”

It Was Symbiotic:

…It was this young man who SO inspired me when he stood and started boldly, broadly and energetically flapping his wings when I invited the graduates, faculty and staff to “Rise. Rise with me….spread your wings and fly!” at the end of my speech.
(Actually he, and many others were audibly engaged during my entire speech – somethin’ I hadn’t prepared for :-)…) .But there was somethin’ special about him…and he? He truly gave me an energy I hadn’t experienced while speaking before.

A bold and new message to inspire…and to encourage the weary…at the beginning of my speech I said, “If this message resonates and reaches the soul of JUST 1 of you, then I will consider it a job well done…”

It resonated with Chris.

He showed up for himself…and he unbeknownst to either of us, he showed up for me.

Chris, you helped open my eyes wider to those around me and on that day YOU strengthened my purpose and my resolve and took ’em to new heights, so THANK YOU! Today we both celebrate…for such a time as this!

…PEOPLE, friends -keep telling your story, keep showin’ up for yourself.

On that day, Chris needed to be #exactly who he was uniquely designed to be…and so did I (not always easy).

Keep doin’ you Chris and remember in the dark what you learned to be true in the light (this entire experience was light for your future journey – build on it), you got this!

Thanks again Mal Stewman for inviting me to usher these grads into “what’s next”…what a priceless game-changer!!!

#Just1
#TimeToFly
#TakesAVillage
#OwnYourUniqueGenius
#NoShortcuts
#PayItForward

(Shared w permission)