That time I missed a deadline 😬
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#WednesdayWisdom
"Everything aligns when you declare that you deserve better." — Idil Ahmed
Morning Musings
A few weeks ago I did something I'd never done in my 11+ years of being a professional journalist -- I missed a deadline. Cue the shock and horror on my end...
I was twiddling about, minding my own business watching the Browns Thursday Night Football game (husbae is a fan, my allegiance is with the Ravens) when I had the realization. In my head, the deadline was Nov. 16...but something told me to check my email and lo and behold, there it was: due by EOD, Nov. 12. I'd accidentally mixed up the dates, Mercury retrograde had come for me HARD this time.
Now, for some of you, this may not be a big deal. But for a perfectionist over-achiever such as myself, this was a BFD (big effin' deal, for the non-initiated). Like any goody two-shoes, I panicked.
Thankfully, I'd written a very rough draft months ago and I'd completed the sole interview ahead of time. But unlike the personal essays I'd written before, this one required medical research -- and thus, I found myself up until midnight trying to find the perfect statistics.
Of course, I felt terrible. And every crazy thought you could imagine went through my head -- My reputation is ruined. I'll never be hired as a full-time journalist again. My editor hates me!!
But fortunately, I've had enough therapy to cut my one-woman pity party short: I made a mistake. I am not a mistake. Nor am I a bad person.
While getting ready for bed that night, Jeff teased me, "how does it feel to be a mere mortal like the rest of us?" I playfully punched him in the ribs, but he had a point. This was certainly a humbling experience, but it was not the end of the world.
The next morning I submitted my essay (I like to let pieces marinate overnight because Lord knows I do not create my best work after 10 p.m.) along with an apology. My editor was super understanding and said "No worries...I started to send you an email, but I'm so backed up myself that I took it as a gift from the universe." And there you have it, folks.
Mercury retrograde may have caught me slipping -- and I can't guarantee that it won't happen again. But this goes to show you that sh*t happen and life goes on. There's no sense in crying over spilled milk. Fess up, make amends and move on.Â
What's been your biggest mistake, and how did you move past it? Hit "reply" and let me know!
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
If you follow me on Twitter, then you know I'm OBSESSED with ZORA, Medium's vertical dedicated to women of color. So I was beyond thrilled when longtime subscriber and ZORA editor Christina Tapper commissioned me to write this story about CommunityX founder Chloë Cheyenne. Check out the interview here.
Happenings
Dec. 11 (D.C): Career Mapping Workshop. Get a head start on your 2020 job search and clarity on your career path with this interactive workshop.
Dec. 13 (Chicago):Â Flowers Girls Meet: Flowers & Growth. My girl Vanessa Flowers is hosting a fun, free event. Come ready to share how you've grown in 2019!
Links I Love
1. Know Their Names: Black Trans Women Deserve More. The headline says it all. This collection of stories rocked me -- from the vulnerability and transparency, to the obvious care taken with each one. This is a must-read.
2. 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Committing to Anything. To know me is to know that I am a perpetual over-committer -- a habit I am seeking to end in 2020. This list of criteria has me off to a good start.Â
3. What to keep in mind when selecting Thanksgiving wine (and wine for any other time of the year, tbh).
#PreBlackFriday Classifieds Sale
Want to get your business and/or event in front of an engaged following of smart, ambitious millennial women? Take advantage of 10% off classifieds until Nov. 30. Learn more here.
My Latest Obsession
Jeff and I have lived in our condo for about a year and a half. And with the exception of light paint work and re-tiling the fireplace, we haven't done much to the place (and by *we,* I mean we hired a contractor -- what do we look like, Chip and Joanna Gaines?).Â
One of my goals for 2020 is making our house look and feel more like a home -- and not like it's still on the market. This past weekend we bought both a doormat (yay!) and this lovely brass wine rack from Anthropologie (no, this pic is not ours -- I don't have my life that together). I'm not guaranteeing our rack will always be full of wine, but our home will always be full of love.
Now Hiring
Digital Community Manager for The Wing
Senior Manager, Government and Community Relations for Starbucks
Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing for George Mason University
Communications Associate, Democracy for ReThink Media
Co-Director for the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture
Public Relations Manager for Children's National Hospital
Director of District and School Leadership for PBLWorks
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