Last night was the big Hot Mommas Project Global Case Study Competition Awards Ceremony at George Washington University.
Boy, what an amazing night. I was honored just to be among so many talented, passionate, amazing women. I encourage you to visit the Hot Mommas Project Case Study Library and just start reading. All the cases are truly inspiring.
Huge thanks to Kathy Korman Frey and the entire Hot Mommas team, especially Jenn Sacks, Achin Jain and Anne Luetzow.
Lots more content to come (including a hysterical flip cam vid Jill Foster and I made), but for now I thought I’d share my speech for those of you who missed both the live and streaming versions (for shame!):
From a speech at the Hot Mommas Project Awards Ceremony:
I’m going to talk to you tonight about choice.
Right now, in 2011, we have more options available to us than at any time in human history.
If you had been born inside a Charlotte Bronte novel, you would not have this problem. Based entirely on the circumstances of your birth, there would be one, or perhaps two, things you could do to feed your family. And if you didn’t feel like doing either of those things, you would likely starve. It was pretty simple.
But now, we have an abundance of choice. And this is awesome in every sense of the word. It’s exhilarating and liberating, but it’s also terrifying and stressful.
Why is it terrifying? It’s terrifying because we have this specter of expectation hanging over us. I want to do this, but I should do that. And I’m here to tell you that those shoulds are self inflicted. The expectation and pressure we all feel to perform and conform is not real. It’s all inside your head.
You really can have, be or do anything you want. The sticky part is figuring out what that is. And most people don’t ever get that far.
So what’s a hot momma to do? I suggest you have a conversation with yourself. What do I really love? In what ways do I excel? How can I use my unique gifts to bring value to other people? Because in 2011, that’s how you feed your family. It’s the only way.
Know yourself, know what you want, and go get it.
Because you’re worth it.
May 4, 2011 at 5:59 pm |
Ann,
I am so glad you came and celebrated and told your story. Many of your speech quotes are still being RTed! The energy in the room was palpable, and the minute you took the stage I just said “YES!” So did everyone else.
Xo
Kathy
May 5, 2011 at 6:26 am |
Kathy, thank you so much for an amazing night. Please let me know what else I can do to support the cause. I bet you could dream up a special little role for me…