Today is Thursday, October 6th. It is ONE MONTH before my first pageant.
I have wanted to sit down and start this series for months, but I just didn’t really have (let’s be honest – didn’t TAKE) the time!
Progress over Perfection
I first started considering doing a pageant about 3 years ago after my friend, Dianna Klein had done one and raved about the personal development she went through – going from a self-professed “tomboy” to a woman who exuded confidence.
You see, we often see ourselves for the rest of our lives based on our life experiences from early childhood. I was always “smart, hard-working an achiever.” I wore those words like a badge of honour. They BECAME my identity. (Where are all my Enneagrams?) But those badges of honour also meant, success at all costs, achievement at all costs, working harder if things aren’t working out, and so on and so on…
Lessons Learned at 46 – Road To The Crown
When I left corporate finance to launch my first barre studio in 2010, it was one of the most exciting times of my life. I was blazing a new trail. Barre was still very unknown and I was “making a market” in health-conscious Diego. It was fun, exciting, and a new challenge. As we added programming to include yoga, pilates, cardio dance, and more as we grew without clientele – there was something new every day.
The studios had almost a million dollars in revenue – so there was lots of room for learning along the way, and Mike and I were able to live a pretty amazing life. Although, even amid success, you find yourself slipping back into old habits. I was running two studios, creating a full coaching program, launching a consulting business, and still helping Mike in his real estate business. It was a fabulous time, but I was slipping back into workaholic tendencies.
No matter how good I have it, No matter how big I build it… I always feel PULLED toward MORE achievement. MORE tasks. MORE income streams. MORE responsibilities.
When we sold everything and moved to Vegas in 2017, I was so ready for a break. I swear, for the first 6 months, I coasted on my consulting business and didn’t do any marketing, didn’t do prospecting, didn’t do any content creation. And it was glorious!
Mike and I slept in most days. We sat with our coffee each morning and watched The Today Show and chatted. We met with contractors for things we wanted to do on the house.
We built a pool.
We built a backyard oasis.
We booked 2+ weeks to Cabo (frequently) and just sat by the pool drinking umbrella drinks and reading personal development books. (Well – the umbrella drinks with personal development books were all me…)
But I tell my clients – what you do today to market your business is what will show up in 3 months, 6 months, 9and months. And after a while – I had to get back to marketing, prospecting and getting new consulting clients!!!
I threw myself back into work and for the past few years vacillate back and forth between balance and burnout. Vegas is a funny place. The world is your oyster here! The dining, the entertainment, the opportunity, the ease of travel – everything. We moved into this fabulous house, with a wonderful yard – away from the strip, and away from the traffic. As we both worked from home – I had times, even before COVID, when I wouldn’t leave the house for a few days at a time other than for Junior League or Leadership Las Vegas events.
Then once COVID hit – I feel like I NEVER left the house. During COVID, Mike and I instituted LONG days Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays – where we’d work until 8 each night and “regular days” the other days of the week – often including Saturdays and Sundays. And again, I slipped back into my workaholic/achiever ways.
Fortunately, I had ordered a Peloton Tread just a month and a half before COVID, and I had a way to stay somewhat active during the day. But for me – nothing is as effective as a group class with an instructor and a community. In a group fitness class, you often feel like you’re operating as a team (especially as a past studio owner and instructor). The energy of one person can affect the energy of all people – so you show up and give your best for the entire crew! So to make a long story short – my health and weight just weren’t where I wanted them to be…
So, back to the pageant… One of the things that I try to do each year is to set ONE really big goal. One way to shake up my life. In 2021 it was giving me. In 2022, I decided that it was the year that I was going to commit to doing this pageant. So here we are 30 days out. And I’ll tell you the truth, I’m not ready. At 46, I don’t lose weight like I did in my 20’s. My body is shifting thanks to Barre Las Vegas (More on this in a future post). I’ve been working with MULTIPLE coaches for walking, for make-up, for interviews, for style – pretty much everything! You see, I believe that if you TRULY want to do something you’ve never done before, you find someone who has gone before you and you hire them to help you!
This year has been a whirlwind, and I’ll tell you more as I use this space as my “journal” for the next 30 days before the pageant. I want to take some time to share with you some of the things I have done. What has gone well? What hasn’t? Some of my behind-the-scenes thoughts and prep as I go through this process. But really – I want to dive into WHY I did this and how it “turns out” in the end.
But for now – that’s it for today.
I have two business training to watch and implement (Facebook ads I’m coming for you), and I have an 11 am barre class at Barre Las Vegas in a couple of hours.
If you come with me on this journey – I hope you enjoy it! It’s going to be a WILD 30 days!
xoxo,
Amy