I'll never forget walking through Busch Gardens, an amusement park, with my mom, kids and husband when my phone started buzzing. As I pulled it out of my pocket to silence the ring I noticed it was an international telephone number so I answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hi Traci, its Kate from Sunrise Australia"
"Hi Kate!"
I knew Kate because I was booked to go on the morning show, Sunrise Australia the following day at 5 p.m. (in the U.S.) and she was the producer who booked me. I was excited about this opportunity -- it was my first live television appearance for the Get Your Girl Back movement that I had started a year prior.
"Are you ready for the show? We go live in 30 minutes?"
"What? What do you mean, the show isn't until tomorrow" I exclaimed!
I was in a total panic. What was she talking about? The show was at 5:00 on Sunday and it was 4:15 on Saturday!
"No Traci, it's today. Can you get to the studio in time?"
Then it hit me, it is Sunday in Australia! They are a full day ahead of the U.S. My heart dropped, my stomach rolled over and I thought, "I can't do this! There is no way, how could I have messed this up?"
"Kate, I'm at a theme park with my family, I have on jean shorts, a casual shirt, my hair is not done and I'm a mess, I'm so sorry-but I can't do it. I thought it was tomorrow."
"Traci, can you get to the studio?"
My first live television appearance and I was going on air in theme park clothes? Plus I had a horrible rash on my chest due to a chemotherapy cream and my shirt clearly exposed it. I was so confused! My head said, "No way!" but my heart said, "You have to go!"
Suddenly a sense of calm came over me, almost like a wave, and from deep inside I heard, "You may never have this opportunity again."
Before I could stop myself I said, "OK Kate, I'm going to go for it. I don't know if I can get to the studio in 30 minutes but I'm going to do my best-- and be prepared, I look really bad!"
I turned to Dave in a panic, close to tears and said, "I need to get downtown in 30 minutes, the show is today!" I was relieved when he offered to drive me because I needed his support more than he knew, I was freaking out. I barely remember leaving but yelled to my mom that we had to go and that the show was today: "Please take the kids!" I don't think I even said goodbye to Paris and Noah... I just ran.
Dave and I jumped in the car and rushed to the studio. To this day I don't know how he did it but we pulled up, I jumped out of the car and ran into the building (barely breathing) -- with 10 minutes to spare!
Freshening up my makeup and attempting to compose myself, I looked over at Dave. The one constant in my life, whose been by my side for 25 years. "Poor guy," I thought. Listening to my dreams, watching me grow, fail, learn and push myself in unimaginable ways, it has to be exhausting! Yet I was so grateful he was by my side. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and thought, "You've got this."
Walking into the studio, I sat on a stool with a single camera directly in front of me. Inserting the ear piece, I could hear lots of chatter -- the audience, producers, hosts and Kate.
"Traci, it's Kate, are you ready to go?"
"Yes, Kate, I'm here."
As I waited for the host to introduce me I had an epiphany. I've been preparing for this moment my entire life. Raised by a single mom, mentored by strong women and speaking professionally to hundreds of thousands over a span of 20 years, women in fact have been the one thread of my entire life. This was my opportunity to give back to them. I was at this exact place and time for a reason- why it happened this way I'll never know but I showed up and it was going to be OK.
While the interview wasn't stellar, overall it went well. Considering the circumstances, I was actually thrilled. People watching the show had no idea what had happened or what it took for me to be on air that day. Looking back, the show and blog post that got me there in the first place, The Day I Realized I Was No Longer the Woman My Husband Wanted allowed me to expand my reach to women I could have never reached on my own -- Korea, South Africa, Germany, France and more.
Our dreams don't always come in neat little packages. Sometimes they show up crumbled, torn and in messy little bags. The truth is, if you show up, they will too. Not always how you expect it, and in most cases, even better. No matter what it is your pursuing or how hard it is, show up... press on... and do what it takes to get to the finish line.
•If you're trying to get healthy, show up to your scheduled fitness class
•If you're trying to save your marriage, show up for counseling
•If you're trying to stop an addiction, show up to your support group
•If you're trying to move into a better career, show up for job interviews
Oftentimes we see other people's success and think, "Wow, she had it easy" or "It must be nice..." The truth is: Anything worth having is worth the good fight and the best effort you can give. Showing up is half the battle and will ultimately lead you to the next step in your life's journey.
Curious how that interview went? Check it out now that you know what it took to get there!
Written by Traci Bild- Author, Speaker & Entrepreneur. Get a FREE Get Your Girl Back Dream Journal and spend some time off-line filling the pages with the images of what you hope to do in your relationship or marriage in the next year or decade! Go to www.GYGB.com and fill out the online form for an instant download.
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