Business Advice from Carole Radziwill

A few weeks ago I got the opportunity to attend a Literacy Volunteers of Pitt County luncheon. I was sooooo excited to attend because the guest speak was Carole Radziwill, journalist, author and current star of the Real Housewives of New York City. It’s no secret that I love pretty much anything that comes on Bravo. The Real Housewives series is my guilty pleasure (not really, I just love them) but I am a particularly big fan of Carole Radziwill. I respect her career as an award winning journalist, what she has accomplished in her life, the way she has shared her story and her awesome sense of humor. Carole shared some readings from her memoir, What Remains and talked about the process of writing a book after encountering terrible tragedy in her life.  She spoke about the importance of words and the creative process and she shared stories. I love stories. She said something that really stuck out to me during her talk and that was that writing her book was the greatest gift that she ever gave herself but through the process she encountered extreme moments of self-doubt. Now I know that anyone who creates will struggle with this, but it was cool to hear about what happens on the other side of that self-doubt. On the other side is the greatest gift you will ever give yourself. That is huge!  You’re living into your purpose. I would take it a step further and say that if you can get to the other side of self-doubt, it is probably one of the greatest gifts you can give to others. You are living into your purpose and able to use your gifts and talents to serve and love God and others. I haven’t finished reading What Remains, but what I have read has touched me so much and I’m sure it has touched so many others in this world. What would it have done if it was never written? At the end of her talk, I stood up and asked Carole how did she get to the other side of the self-doubt and this is what she said, “You just have to push through.” Simple, yet powerful advice. Push through. What I have taken away from this as I have let this experience soak in is to just keep pushing through. It is worth it. What is on the other side of self-doubt is worth it! Serving and loving others is bigger than every fear inside of you. Keep creating. Keep living into your purpose! I am so filled with gratitude for those words of advice from Carole Radziwill and for the encouragement to continue pursuing this dream of visual story telling. Some days are so hard, filled with fear and doubt, frustration and tears, but it is totally worth it to live into your purpose!