With all the hullaballoo surrounding the upcoming Summit in 2 weeks, I've had a tough time staying "present." Today I got snapped back to right here, right now.   

 

We won. Jessica Kizorek and I won The Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge with our Business Plan for Make Them BEG! 

 

Winning feels pretty good, I have to admit, but so does being wrong... being wrong about losing. You see, this is my 3rd time submitting to this competition. 

 

6 years ago, I submitted for a blow-dry salon concept called "Walk In, Blow Out," for which I was a semifinalist (not a total loss). 3 years ago I submitted again with a plan to help corporations mentor, nurture & promote their female talent, and lost again (not even a semifinalist that time).

  

These submissions took HOURS to develop, craft, tweak and send around for feedback, so this time around, when Jessica Kizorek said "we should submit Make Them BEG," I resisted. Not only was I sure we'd lose, but I really didn't want to waste my time so close to the big event. 

 

But Jessica (AKA: "Little Miss Bossy") cajoled, prodded, and pushed, and ultimately I relented. So about 48 hours before the plan was due, I had to pull an almost-all-nighter to get it out the door. 

 

Boy am I glad.