The Snort Heard Around the World

You know the drill.

You’re standing in front of your classroom/office and you’re buck naked.

I never had that anxiety dream.

I also never pictured that I would stand on a stage in front of 3500 of my peers, mentors, and strangers at my favorite conference in the world.

I certainly didn’t picture myself SNORTING INTO THE MICROPHONE.

But alas.

It happened.

It was caught on video (I’ll share when I have it).

“I am an excitable person who only understands life lyrically, musically, in whom feelings are much stronger as reason.” ― Anaïs Nin

I use this quote often in my blogs, and it’s 100% accurate.

“She’s mad but she’s magic. There’s no lie in her fire.” — Charles Bukowski

That quote is going to be integrated into a tattoo on my shoulder.

Why am I sharing these quotes? Because sometimes they’re the only way I can express my truth.

Whether you’ve been reading my blogs for a year or for 15 years, there’s one thing that you probably already know: I embrace my passion. I cling on to life. I get excited over the simplest things.

Because I know that everything can go away in an instant.

My passion permeates every single aspect of my life, the way it is infused in every atom of my body. I can’t live an apathetic life, nor can I be an apathetic professional.

I’m a giver.

When I call myself an Amplifier, it’s not just a buzzworthy title I’ve given myself. It is who I am. It is how I live.

I embrace the best parts of the people around me and help them amplify it. I try my best to bring a little sunshine in your life, even if I’m having a bad day. As a professional, I do my best to give back to my community as much (if not more) as I benefit from it.

I don’t do it for recognition. I honestly don’t know how not to do it. I feel stifled when I can’t express my appreciation and my passion.

The people in my life are incredible. The communities I’ve cultivated or pushed my way into breathe life into me when I need it the most. I happily give back.

Then one day, unexpectedly, they surprise me in the most incredible way.

When the generosity and kindness of the people I’m lucky enough to call friends and peers take me by surprise, the tears fall. I won the 2017 CMWorld Community Champion award this year. I didn’t even know I was nominated. As Cathy stood on the stage, talking about the person who was receiving the award this year, it didn’t even occur to me that it could be me.

Until she got to the part about the Slack community I created.

The tears started coming.

She said my name and invited me to the stage in front of 3500 people.

I heard my friends cheering from somewhere in the audience.

I tried to stop the tears.

The attempt to get myself under control resulted in me snorting.

Into the mic.

In front of 3500 people.

But you know what?

That’s me.

I’m passionate. I’m emotional. I snort.

I apparently also don’t like surprises.