shonda rhimesNot long after making the move to Los Angeles, I was trying to get my foot in the door of the entertainment industry. I was had joined a number of organizations and had met people who worked behind the scenes. Those connections landed me at an event with Tia + Tamera Mowry (beyond sweet ladies) and Shonda Rhimes, among others. Tia + Tamera spoke in unison often and were very down to earth and gracious. Shonda was bit more closed. Not in a bad way, but kind of shy. It’s understandable. Everyone wanted to talk to her. Grey’s Anatomy was everybody’s favorite show and people were coming up left and right to tell her about it. From the outside looking in, I was overwhelmed for her. Still, she was nice and made sure to speak to us all.

The other day, I was reading O Magazine. I think it was her “what I know for sure” feature. It was a small article about Shonda Rhimes. She’s come a long way from when I first met her. She’s pretty much taken over TV with all of her super popular shows. On top of being a mom (of three), she’s got three big shows and more on the way. I can’t even imagine what a day in her life looks like! Meeting her made an impact on me as a woman trying to make my way in an industry where she was already making waves. It was a look at what was possible and encouragement for me to keep pushing. I did. It paid off.

In the article, she talked about being an introvert. That totally made sense based on my meeting her. We have that in common. 🙂 She also talked about her new book that was inspired by her “year of yes”. She decided to say yes to every unexpected invitation offered to her for a whole year. It opened up a new world and made a huge impact in every area of her life. Her book, the Year of Yes is about that experience.Say YES

That’s kinda how it all starts, right? The whole road to happiness really starts with one yes. The first yes is a big one too. Saying yes to being happy is what gets the ball rolling. I’ve been saying yes to a few things myself. From a vlog and a webinar to a haircut.yes hairI’ve been trying new things and feeling lighter for it. I’ve talked to people who are terrified of being in front of the camera who are jumping on Periscope after reading about my vlog experience. That’s the other thing about saying yes, it’s contagious!  One small yes can be just the thing to convince someone else to make a big leap. It also helps you realize that you may have been missing out on some things along the way. I’ve been inspired to continue to say yes to things that turn my stomach upside down with nerves! It doesn’t just have to be things that scare us though. Just saying yes to a new experience can be a game changer. It certainly was the case for Shonda Rhimes. Me, too.

Tell me, what was the last thing you said YES to?

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Camesha

43 Comments on I met Shonda Rhimes..why I’ll never forget it

  1. I have been trying to take chances more lately. It’s not easy for me because I am not a big fan of change.

  2. The last thing I said yes to that I probably wouldn’t have this time last year was participating in a live cook-off. My team ended up winning and I scored my first live appearance on local tv!! I’m so glad that I did it. My next move is to say yes to a food photography class because my food photography needs quite a bit of work.
    K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy recently posted…Live Love Lead: Your Best Is Yet To Come!My Profile

  3. The last time I said yes was to a career changing move that helped me strike out on my own. I am trying to build my own freelance business & take calculated risks. I heard about Shonda’s new book & I can’t wait to read it! I remember being wowed by her commencement speech that she gave a few years back at an East Coast University. She is SO inspiring!
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  4. I have been trying to say yes more to living in the moment I tend to worry about stuff that is out of my control.
    I am so envious you met Shonda Rhimes!!

  5. I am a huge fan of Shonda. Reading that article also motivated me. I said YES to focusing on my business and my blog. I would hold myself back with all the reasons why I could not do it and now I am saying YES you can!

  6. I recently just said yes to getting hair cut. Ugh, was scared though because it was longer.

  7. That’s good that she’s come so far. Her kids are lucky too, sounds like their security is set. 🙂

  8. I love this post! I said “yes” to pursuing my dreams and doing what I love versus going back to Corporate America after being laid off. Since launching my business I’ve been saying yes more often and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Shonda is an inspiration and I love that she’s dominating Thursday nights by having 3 shows back to back. I look forward to reading her book. #BLMgirls

  9. The last thing I said yes to was doing a guest blog post on a topic I do not usually write about. A very personal blog post. Thank you for writing this post. What do you do in the entertainment industry??

  10. I read that O Mag piece also and I thought bravo for her. There is so much power, as you mention in just being open to new things and stepping outside of yourself. Kudos to you.

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