Putting Myself Out There (at GoGirl Academy)

Kadee Gray is a stellar student in our Career Launch class looking for a permanent PR/Social Media position, blogging about what it’s like to step out of her comfort zone, and into GoGirl Academy!

Despite the fact I spent all day last Friday updating my Facebook friends that I was heading to GoGirl Academy, revealing my sophistication and dedication to 10 Saturday mornings of networking and “gaining a competitive advantage in my career”, the actual Saturday morning was a different story. It took the obnoxious scream of my alarm for me to realize I wasn’t too thrilled with the fact that this class was an obvious intrusion in my sleeping in time. Regardless, I pulled myself out of bed, straightened my hair and got dressed to the nines – the nines are really anything outside of my not-so-sophisticated yoga pants and t-shirt.

I grabbed my coffee – reminding me mornings can be functional – and with renewed excitement and a quick attitude adjustment, headed out the door. Upon arrival, my overwhelming ability to completely freak myself out kicked in. I have to now speak to, and impress these people. As I do in many new situations, I made a beeline for the bathroom. I find myself in bathrooms hiding from people a lot. After a quick hair check, I headed to the “scary” room full of cool people – more than half of whom were there for the same reason as me.

What was so scary about that room? Well, I tend to be a social outcast at times. In networking situations, all the back and forth, the storytelling and self-promotion makes my confused little head spin. I wasn’t gifted with comfort and poise in new social situations and totally envy those that can make conversation out of thin air. In all my social awkwardness and preference to just stay quiet at times, I naturally chose communications as my potential career. I know, right? Hello oxymoron, my name is Kadee. Basically, I need to get over it.

 The economy is often my alibi for not holding a “real” job with a “real” title when the subject comes up. I quit a completely perfect job to follow my passion a year ago. Left looking for that proverbial “foot in the door” in this industry sent me searching for that perfect first impression, hoping to charm the pants off my interviewers. Unfortunately, most people don’t have the super inhuman ability to read minds. See, I’ve got this great knowledge of who I am and exactly what I’m capable of and know that no job is ever too big . . . but I never seem to get that across. I just assume people will see all the awesomeness exuding from my body. I go for the Hail Mary and I am no Brett Favre (read: Favre’s Hail Mary against the 49ers for the win, 2009 – my husband makes me watch too much ESPN). I throw my resume to the interviewers, hoping it’s enough to get the job and praying for the best.

 Moral of the Story - While I may not be where I know I should be in terms of social savvy-ness, I have realized that each time it gets a little bit easier when I enter into unknown territory. And guess what? I’ve never died from it. Like, ever. I truly believe GoGirl Academy – and her pretty little heel to my tush – is going to help me get over it. Get over it, talk about myself and own that battlefield.

 Coolest thing I learned from my first class – I’m a risk taker. I mean, don’t even get me started on roller coasters. When I hear risk-taker, I picture Lady Gaga and her disturbingly notorious meat dress at the MTV Awards last year. I do admire risk-takers (albeit a somewhat careful risk-taker) but never would I use it to describe myself. Last Saturday, I learned to see it in a different sense — a professional sense. A risk-taker is simply one who is not afraid to take a different approach. Meat dresses are optional. By that definition, and in all my glory, I am a risk-taker. And I can tell people that.

Posted by Margo Myers, GGA Executive Director

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