One of the most important things I've done while being is grad school is join the Tulane Entrepreneurs Association, and was eventually voted Vice President of the association. I was responsible for running the business plan competition, a nationally recognized comp, and it was awesome. I found hundreds of judges, solicited money for the prizes, coordinated sponsors, dealt with the competitors, you name it, I did it. Much of my ability to do this came from a previous awesome job and organizing destination conferences. (C + M, love you guys.) I ran the TBPC for two years. The first year was beyond amazing. The second year was very, very, difficult. Lots of additional issues, compounded with increased pressure from my new job made this year's experience nearly unbearable. If I could have quit, I would have. If I could have run away, I would have. I very nearly lost my sanity and came thisclose to not passing a few of my spring classes. On the day before the competition, I finally met one of my final round judges in person.
It turns out that he does exactly what I want to do. On a different scale, yes, and in a different genre, yes, but we quickly realized how closely aligned our goals are. I want to produce. He is a producer. I want to stay in New Orleans after I graduate. He wants to expand into the NOLA market, because there are not any prod companies based here.
At the Gala event following the competition, I worked up the nerve to ask him if I could come shadow him for a day. He did me one better. He said, why don't you come out and intern for a couple weeks with me?
Cue the heavenly chorus.
After some lengthy negotiations with my academic advisor, and coordinating work and school schedules, it's locked & loaded. I am so stoked.
So basically, he's going to teach me a lot of stuff, and I’ll prob go out there one more time before I graduate, with the ultimate plan in the next year and half to form a producing partnership.
To crib a phrase from QBS, the only word to describe how I'm feeling right now is HEARTGLOW.
Finally, finally, finally, I can see the bend in the road ahead. The tiny light at the end of the tunnel.
As my lovely LL said, "Holy crap, that's so awesome." (She is a television producer & knows her stuff.)
My other lovely JRK started crying when I told her. (She is a writer & former producer's assistant & knows her stuff.)
This is one of those moments that you hope exists, that shows you that hanging on is worth it, that working hard can pay off, & that all the muck & mire you've been plowing through has a purpose.
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