Going after major goals: 5 things I learned
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Ok. So this week, I had a major scary goal and a major scary deadline. I was asked to put together an LGBTQ show for Pride. It’s at a wonderful venue, The Comedy Chateau; it’s like a castle of comedy! I was first asked to perform comedy for Pride at the Chateau, which then turned into me producing the show, which then turned into a fundraiser for Project Q. Project Q is a wonderful organization the helps homeless LGBTQ youth. The event quickly turned into something bigger than expected. Suddenly there was a gifting suite, a red carpet and tickets at $50.
I said to myself, “What is GOING ON?!” I don’t know how to do all of that!! I mean, I’ve produced before but I don't know anyone who can afford $50 tickets! Especially now! The world is on unemployment, what?
There are three women I work with that are KILLING it too. Lisa, our brand manager who pops out flyers and makes sure that we are always on brand. Lauren our PR manager who calls people day and night to get sponsors and Danica in product development, who is also trying to secure sponsors.
We have these great gifting bags of dirty sexy underwear (that sounded wrong), we have flavored butt wipes? We have sparking water, energy drinks, comedy tickets and still we had NO TICKETS SOLD as of last week.
I'm realizing... it's going to be up to me to sell these tickets. How to sell $50 tickets during Covid times? Well, I did it. And, I finished it early. Here is how I did it. The experience is beyond just about the tickets. It’s actually about the mindset to hit a goal.
1) Let go of fear and worry
It was Sunday, Memorial Day. I was in fear about everything.
I felt wishy washy. Not great about tickets. I didn't know whether it was going to happen or not, I was scared that no one would attend. We have all this fabulous stuff, and no one will be there. What to do… It was like spinning on a made-up future, that hasn't happened. It was like living in a nightmare, voluntarily. It all sucked. This isn't Nightmare on Elm street, hell no!
2) Let go of the wishy washy
Once I decided I wasn’t going to be fearful or worried, I decided okay...
Now sell the tickets or don’t sell the tickets. I asked myself, are you going to sell this out or not? I said to myself, screw this, I’m selling this and that is final. This wishy washy thing is actually my biggest complaint about the men I usually date. They’re always like, I don't know...should I, or should I not? I’m like, make a damn decision. If you don't make a decision, you are making a decision to, NOT MAKE A DECISION and it's an incredibly frustrating place to be.
I decided I was GETTING THESE TICKETS SALES DONE.
3) Enroll help
Luckily I have a good friends. I called friends from all over the country: Utah, Washington, New York… My friend’s RV wherever he is this week. I asked, “Do you know anyone who may be interested in buying a ticket?” They all stepped up.
Okay, I am an Aries and sometimes us Aries want to do everything alone!
It’s just not possible. Enrolling help is helping yourself. Sometimes you must swallow your PRIDE. Swallow your pride... but keep it safe ha ha!!
2) Be bold and ask
This is the part I had a hard time with. I have a real hard time asking for money. But in order to sell tickets, guess what you have to ask! Here is what people don't understand. Putting up a flyer on Instagram, isn't selling tickets. In LA if you think you can put up a flyer and call it one and done, nope. You have to get on the phone and ask.
I have never ever been on the phone so much in a span of four days. I felt like a teenage girl in suburbia tying up the phone lines in the 80s.
There are people who want to be a part of something great. People who want to support and care, which leads me to my number 1.
1) Find a reason bigger than yourself to force yourself to take scary action
I sat and thought about it. There was no way in hell, NO WAY IN HELL, it’ll be a cold day in hell when Aidan Park agrees to put together a fundraiser for homeless LGBTQ youth, and then brings in no money. Are you kidding? I was a precariously housed gay undocumented teenager and so I know these kids need help. I KNOW the wonderful work project Q does.
I KNOW how they need to raise money to sustain their work. I will not let the event fall through, because I am afraid to make phone calls? HELL NO. Or because I feel indecisive or scared.
This is important and it's going be a success and I am not leaving it up to chance or luck, or mercury retrograde. I decided this was happening, and that's it.
The event is bigger than me. The people involved are bigger than me. I decided I’m going to do what I can! I am so proud to report, that in eight days the event sold out, with five days to spare.
This experience taught me:
To pick how I want to feel about a challenge.
To ask myself, do I want to be fearful or willful?
Do I want to be wishy washy or sure?
Do I want to be isolated or humble enough to ask for help?
Do I want to be brave and ask for the sale or stick to inaction because I am uncomfortable?
Do I want this to be successful or not?
It starts with thoughts. You know what, even if I had failed and I knew I did everything that I could, then there is no losing.
That is the way I want to play life. I want to leave it all out there on the field with my hands and face dirty from the fight. I’m grateful that I have an opportunity to play.
