Looking for a Cemetery

Two weeks ago I bought myself a pink florescent pair of Nike running shoes.

Today I tied the laces and headed out for a run on a perfect 75 degree afternoon in New York City. I ran 50 blocks to St. Michael's Cemetery, and when I walked through the gates, the tears started running down my face.

I cried. I cried because I was grateful to be alive. I cried because I was moved by what I’m up to. I cried because I felt the enormity of my calling on this planet. I cried because today I received a tremendous honor, and I don’t take it lightly.

This morning I walked into Seth Godin’s office at 9:12am. For those of you who don’t know Seth, he’s one of my major influences and biggest heroes. He’s written more than a dozen books (such as Purple Cow and Meatball Sunday), many of which have been New York Times Bestsellers.

He’s been on a hunt the last few months to find 11 people who are changing the world. My buddy Stephanie Tisch made me apply, and I was one of 1,700 people who threw their hat in the ring. Last month I was informed that I made the final 22, so here I am in New York.

The 11 “chosen ones” will spend the entire upcoming week with Seth in an intense learning experience. His goal isn’t to teach what can be learned in books. His goal is to confront the fear, hesitation, and barriers in each one of us … hence allowing us to impact humanity in a massive way. He is indoctrinating us, then sending us out into the world to make ripples. Here’s the full story: http://www.squidoo.com/highleverageweek

The other 17 human beings in that room today were magnificent. We all wanted to be chosen, yet the space was free of competition. Each one of us had our own gifts, our own stories, and our own future.

Seth decided he wasn’t going to pick. He was going to have us pick. So we spent 2 hours interviewing others about our past, but more importantly, what we were hungry for. “What’s your biggest fear?” “Why are you here?” “What are you going to cause as a result of this experience?” We then made a list of the people we wanted in the course with us.

Being in the presence of Seth and my peers was one of the most humbling, eye-opening, and adrenaline-filled moments of my life. I wore my Badass Business Woman t-shirt to the interview. You guys were right there with me.

In the end, I was chosen. Seth Godin believes in me. He believes in my power to change the world. And he wants to leverage me.

So….. Here I am. Ready. Hungry. Humble. You know when you really surrender and trust the universe? I’m having one of those moments.

I love you guys. For realz.

J