Good News

(Follow up to "There's Always Room.") I walk into the conference room expecting to see a small group of people. Instead of a starting line up I hoped for, there's an entire basketball team staring at me (Ok. Only 10 people, but you get the idea). Some with smiles and some with blank stares. Regardless of their expressions, they are anticipating my final presentation. I instantly get those sweat beads on my forehead. While I'm setting up my garment and mood board for show, I'm frantically talking to myself, "You are Tamu. You are in your element. Own it." So, I start talking. I find myself treating this presentation as if I'm making a sales pitch to buyers looking for the next apparel line. Aside from the slight emotional moment I had, I left the panel feeling good. Today confirms the "goodness." I've been chosen to showcase my first Spring/Summer line during Omaha Fashion Week-August 18-23rd. Is this New York Fashion Week or Paris Fashion Week? Not yet; I'm moving down the list.

  

There's Always Room

Happy Tuesday my Tamu Talks readers! I had to drop in for a minute to tell you I've been hard at work on my collection to present in the final round for this August fashion show. Side note: Working on, in, and through your passion brings so much freedom. I've always understood that you can't wait for an opportunity to present itself, you have to create your own opportunities. You can't know how true that statement is until you actually start to live it. Creating your own opportunities keeps you from worrying about whether there's room for what you have to offer.  There will always be room for you because when you create your own opportunities, you are creating your own space.  

Stretch

These few weeks into April have been fast, exciting, and challenging! We know time goes by when you are busy. Exciting because of the "Big Wins" I was able to witness and be a part of.  Challenging- Let's save that for later.  If I didn't really know before, I know now what it means to stretch yourself! I have learned these last 13 days that when you are stretched beyond your capacity or beyond what you thought you could accomplish, the outcomes are pleasantly shocking. I watched my sister get crowned Miss Nebraska (and next to compete in the Miss United States Pageant in July and yes, I'm pointing this out for the sole purpose of you tuning in~ Check your local listings!) This was an opportunity she almost ignored because she had never competed in any pageant...ever. Pageants were not her thing! Imagine that. I was chosen as a finalist to present a spring/summer women's wear collection in hopes of debuting my line during Nebraska Fashion Week this August. I made the final cut literally within minutes! When you take the risk of throwing yourself into elements that could open doors to your next level (even if that path is not at all what you had planned) things happen...good things happen. Don't worry about what the path looks like.