My Live T.V. Debut… the Story and the Big Lesson

 

A couple of weeks ago, the host of a live cable show contacted me about Imposter Syndrome.  She had seen an event for my 8-week on-line course and wondered if I would like to come on her show to talk about it.  Ummm, yes!  I was excited about this new opportunity and new audience to talk to about authentic success.  I wanted to tell you the story of that day, and what I learned at the end of it!

It started at about 5am when I woke up to do an hour or so of work before my kids wake up, then I jump in the shower and put on my outfit of choice.  This is a quick process since I don’t have to do my hair or make-up.  I make lunches, choose kid-clothes, and get my two wee ones dressed and ready for the day.  6000 kisses and 4000 hugs later, I back out of the driveway with an ice-covered car honking and waving (as is our family custom)… it’s 6:45am.  My neighbours love us ;-).

I brave the highways that have been ice and snow covered for two days, causing bus cancellations and most people to stay home.  Not me though, I have a schedule to follow.  I arrive at my make-up appointment at 7:57am – first celebration of the day. I park on the street and race inside, excited to get my “fancy” face on (this is what my kids call my face when I have my make-up done).  Kerry is amazing – funny, talented and a multi-tasking Mom like me.  Kerry works her magic and I am transformed from slightly pale and puffy, to put-together and sculpted.  It’s a happy surprise every time.

I run out of her house at 9:03am – oops, my hair appointment is for 9am.  I set my GPS to my next location and start searching for the number of the salon.  I call them at a red light to tell them I am running late, at the same time noticing a parking ticket on my windshield.  I finish my call at one red light and hop out of my car at the next to grab the ticket.  Phew… lucky, it’s only $20!

I hit the salon at 9:20am and Megan gets to work.  I’m bubbling and excited about my “fancy” face and my upcoming T.V. debut.  She also works her magic, transforming my fine wispy hair into a shiny, gravity-defying masterpiece.  I’m sitting there watching my transformation and I start to get really agitated.  Hmmm… “Megan, what time is it?”… “10:02am”, she replies.  Uh oh!  I tell her that I am due at the studio at 10am and she performs the last of her magic (i.e. cements my new do with copious amounts of hair spray) and I rush out.   Thank you intuition!

I avoid a bone jarring fall in the icy parking lot, ignore the drizzle threatening my hair, and jump back in the car to my next programmed location.  I am doing this!!!  I arrive at the station at 10:23am.  I penguin walk my way over the ice and hit the buzzer.  Come on, come on… yes!!!  A kind gentleman lets me in.  Big breath, I’m okay.  I’m here and I meet Melissa the host.  She is so kind as we shake hands and I think – I have made it, yay for me!  Then she says, “I have you scheduled in for tomorrow’s show…”   What?  “NOOOOOOOOO!” my inner voice cried in horror, “This is not happening!”  I stand there frozen trying to calm the rush of adrenaline, the urge to scream that is matched only by my urge to cry.  We stand there for a very silent and dramatic 30 seconds before she says, “Hang on though, I’ll make this work.  You may actually be saving my butt today.”  Holy mother of peace and calm… I take a big breath and a huge smile blooms on my face.

I wait for my spot, and I focus on how amazing this day has been. Everything has fallen in to place and I feel on top of the world!  I do my spot and I had a really great time.  I’m out of the studio by 11:20am and headed back home.  I am exhausted and exhilarated, and then reflective.  I am amazed at my perspective, and that not once during the day had I thought of anything that had happened in a negative way.  This is a HUGE shift in perspective for me.  It could easily have gone the other way, and been filled with overwhelm and panic, but I didn’t go there at all.  The old me would have griped about the parking ticket, panicked about being late for my hair appointment, fretted the entire drive to the studio, begrudged a 2 hour drive with 2 hours of prep time for a 7.5 minute spot on the show, and lashed out when the date confusion surfaced.  I would have ruined the entire day just from my perspective alone.  What a waste of a fabulous, fancy-faced, va-voomed hair, live T.V. debut that would have been!

That is what success is… not the story of what happened, but the feelings you had about the experience.  I felt happy, excited, powerful and full of joyful curiosity for what would happen next.  What a day, what a lesson, and what a success!

Click here to watch my live T.V. debut!