Christine Farrugia

Transcript

One Step next step one step Next Step the only thing I can see is the five feet in front of me lit up by my headlamp with each step my left hip screams in pain my eyes are burning I just want to stop like all Brave acts it all started on Instagram last summer I was casually scrolling Instagram just like that lady um third row from the back I see you I came across an epic endurance hiking event you climb a mountain over and over until you've climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest over 29,000 vertical feet it looked hard I was intrigued I'm no endurance

athlete so this was way out of my comfort zone to conquer Everest you had to climb Bald Mountain 15 times in 36 hours the prize for completing it a red hat when I told people my plan most asked why or wait you're going to pay money to do this raise your hand if you two think this sounds a little insane I thought so I rally two friends to join me Steph makes meaningful connections wherever she goes and Jordan has a quiet wisdom when she talks you always listen step one sign up it was harder than getting Taylor Swift tickets but we were in we nervously

started hiking at 6: a.m. unsure of how the challenge would unfold the first Ascent felt manageable until we hit the part of the mountain we feared the most it literally looked like a wall of Trail looming in front of us it was challenging but doable by our fifth descent the heat was scorching and we filled everything with ice our hats neck towels even our sports bras as day turned to night my world narrowed to the five feet lit up by my headlamp and it all got a lot harder my eyes were burning from the mix of sweat and sunscreen that had run down my face

my asthma flared up from the endless dust in the air and my left hip screamed in pain as my Pace slowed significantly my friends became two dots of light up ahead I felt alone exhausted and I just wanted to stop then I saw Jord waiting on the side of the trail she said Christine the only reason I'm on this mountain is because of you I'm not going to leave you behind One Step next step one step next step I repeated her Mantra countless times that night Jordan showed me that bravery doesn't have to be a massive act it's putting one foot in front of the

other even when you don't want to in the darkness we heard Steph and our new friends loudly encouraging us to keep going one step Next Step as the sun rose we were still hiking One Step next step when we got to the top of our 15th Ascent Steph Jordan and I held hands ran across the finish line and triumphantly got our red hat Steph hugged her 20 new best friends Jordan looked out pensively at the amazing view and I ate three orders of french fries my red hat now reminds me that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to I just need to be

brave enough to take that first step and the next step will reveal itself what's your Everest that big goal you just can't stop thinking about what's your first step sitting on a business idea One Step Next Step waiting to ask out your crush One Step Next Step trying to stop endlessly scrolling Instagram one scroll next scroll I know that you can find the sliver of Bravery needed to take that first step no matter how small and create your own path even if there's pain and the dust of doubt in your eyes just take that first step The Next Step will reveal itself and your path

will unfold your red hat is waiting One Step Next Step One speech can change your life Unleash Your power power embrace the stri Inspire the world let your story flow as speak slam let your

Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.

Transcript

my heart was racing my eyes filled with tears little did I know what he was about to tell me would change the trajectory of my life what would you do if you were knocked off the path that you'd been on for the last 20 years my new role was amazing my team was in charge of our CEO's biggest priority I was being sought after from my perspective on strategic decisions and I loved going to work every morning like I actually did I just knew that my star would continue to rise fast forward a few months and the pandemic hit it was all hands- on Deck

to make sure we could meet our customers needs I wasn't included in any of it as the months went on my influence dwindled and for the first time in my 20year career I was no longer a rising star I did not handle this well my confidence plummeted I second guessed everything and I dreaded going to work every morning I played the blame game hard I blame the pandemic my boss my peers the person in line at Starbucks that guy yeah thanks for nothing and then a 15-minute meeting with the head of HR popped into my calendar do you know the kind I hopped on the

zoom meeting my heart was racing my eyes filled with tears he told me they were eliminating my position I'd been fired axed canned sacked given the old heo I felt like a failure thankfully I had a mentor at the time Dave Dave dresses like Steve Jobs he wears a black turtleneck and jeans every single day even on Zoom calls from his basement Dave help me realize that while the there's always external circumstances there was always a way to say yes to your own path and create opportunities for yourself being fired is the best thing that has ever happened to me I learn to not let

my external circumstances dictate my confidence and My Success it doesn't matter how many NOS I may hear I don't need to ask permission or wait for an invitation and I don't need anyone to give me a gold star I can say yes and create opportunities for myself the shift in perspective allowed me to accomplish things I never thought were possible I quickly landed a role at my deal company I started the coaching business that I've been dreaming about since I was 22 I became an endurance athlete and the girl who was terrified of public speaking you guessed it signed up for this competition so I

want you to think about something in your life that may not be going as well as you'd like now strip away all of the external circumstances no blaming what is within your control how can you create an opportunity for yourself did you just lose your biggest client congratulations refine your sales F and start reaching out to prospects did your partner just break up with you amazing make a list of the characteristics of your ideal partner and start showing up as that person today did you just get passed over for a promotion fantastic promote yourself and start showing up as someone at the next level now

I can't guarantee that saying yes means that everything will always go your way but it will build your confidence and you will create opportunities for yourself and you will never look back so my challenge for you tonight is to think of one action you can take to create an opportunity for yourself and do it like actually do it tonight not tomorrow not next week tonight so get out there say yes to your own path and create opportunities for yourself

Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.