A SHORT STORY ON HOW OPPORTUNITY FINDS YOU

I love this yellow cardigan, more for the memories than anything else. I love this bright, sunny, yummy sweater because it symbolizes opportunity and the reminder of how others may see your greatness before you do.

Years ago, an email came across my desk with the details of an audition. The details were geared towards those that fit the description of being a fashion blogger, so I deleted the email and the opportunity. Days later, I received the same email from a friend who thought I would be the perfect fit. I read the details again, glanced at my closet, and once again confirmed I wasn’t a fit for the piece and deleted the email. Though I do love putting outfits together, and have a slight obsession with gold shoes and flowy ensembles, I never thought fashion was my jam. 

As you can most likely predict, I received the email yet again from another friend who simply said, you need to audition for this opportunity. I have been known to listen to messages, guidance and confirmation from above, and this was one of those scenarios. I suddenly felt a pull to the opportunity and that the timing may be just right. When coordinating my audition, the time they gave me was literally the only time in my schedule that was open that week. I said yes to the audition, and didn’t think much about it until the next day while driving to the appointment.

While waiting for the audition, I met two other amazing women who were also auditioning. We became fast friends, and I wished them good vibes as they went in to audition for this same opportunity. When it was my turn to audition, I did my best but honestly spent more time chatting it up with everyone in the agency. I have auditioned enough in my life to know that after you audition, you toss it aside and don’t think of it as it’s no longer in your control. That is exactly what I did!

I got the callback, and the producers sent a video guy to capture my closet and to interview me a second time and check out my fashion style and closet. My closet lacks so much in items, pizazz and jazzy things that when the videographer saw my closet, he asked, “Is this all you have?” I laughed with him because I was totally not what they were looking for, and it was a funny moment. The deadline passed for the second callback, and I was hoping one of my new friends in the lobby had gotten the gig. Weeks after the callback deadline passed, the casting agent called me. We had a great rapport from the audition and we chatted it up for about an hour. At the end of the conversation, she said, “I actually wasn’t calling you to just catch up… but was calling you to say he picked you.” In a shocked state, I asked, “Who picked me for what?” She then added, “Isaac Mizrahi picked you for the campaign. You got the part."

I spent 3 days with Isaac Mizrahi shopping through Miami, chatting and experiencing one of the best times of my life. As part of the role, I was given new clothes to wear for the campaign, which included this fabulous cashmere J.Crew sweater. All of the pieces had fallen into place in order for this massive win to occur. I listened to my friends, followed my gut, showed up and was my authentic self, did the best I could with what I had, always came from a place of love and gratitude, and stepped into a place of fear and being uncomfortable.

So the next time you have an opportunity come across your desk a few times, go for it! There just might be an iconic designer celebrity and a beautiful yellow cardigan for you too!