Karyn Pettigrew is an intuitive business and professional consultant, author, motivational speaker, and teacher. Through her company KP Consulting she is hosting her first “Blind Spot Breakfast” on June 18th, at 7:30am, at Ina’s restaurant on Randolph. I talked to her about the Breakfast and a whole host of other things in Part 1 of my profile of her yesterday. My original questions all answered, Karyn and I kept talking on and on about what she sees as the most important lessons we can internalize as business people, her visit to the White House, and what she hopes to teach her own children. I capture those thoughts here in Part 2 of my profile.
ML~Your event is about Blind Spots and helping people overcome them. Have you ever had a blind spot? How do we do overcome them?
Karyn~I have had not one, but a couple. One of the biggest ones was around this idea of how I needed to fit in… not fitting, being the odd man out. What I thought was really a projection of my own insecurity on some level, that created a level of anxiety about what I thought I needed to do to be seen as an equal. And it colored the choices that I made, this feeling that I had to be “better than.” Some of that is cultural. Some of it is a result of being a woman. Now, having authenticity changes things. My intention is to do good, and that needs to be in alignment with what I need for me and my family.
I don?t think we examine truth enough. I think we have to, continually. If I look within, and if what is true-if what comes back to me is, ?I am feeling overwhelmed? or ?I don?t like that?, then I need to adjust. One of the greatest challenges in this is the fear of looking at “it.” Generally our fears sit just behind us, as if in a football stadium, shoulder to shoulder sitting in the stands. You just know there?s something really big and scary behind you, but you don’t want to look. But if I push clients to really articulate it, articulate that fear, they shine light into a dark space. When you take (the fear) out and really look at it and label it, the mind can take action. You have to be courageous and really look at it. The truth is, you already know that it’s there. There is a discomfort and a dis-ease present. (Ultimately), it?s a battle between the mind and the heart. Let’s say you are unhappy at your job but stay there you are still “sitting in the stands”. If you say “I am really afraid to leave my job I won?t have money”-you label it (and then) you can go into action mode. There is a lot you can do once you label it. You can set aside salary, you can give yourself a time-line, you can say here is my deal breaker. There are lots of things you can do, but if you don?t look at it, the intellect will turn on itself.
ML~What do you think is the most important lesson that new business entrepreneurs need to remember?
Karyn~Do not be afraid to ask for what you need. Never feel like you have to do it alone. Those two things cycle around each other. When you share a question or comment with a group you can discover some amazing options. Even if the answer is not found you may still find the connection to an answer. Don’t be afraid to work in a group, to find the answer collectively. You can?t afford not to have efficiency in your work, and have things operating as completely as possible. Be bold. Ask for help from people who you even think are off limits.
ML~You recently made a special trip to Washington DC to be a part of the Women’s History Month Celebration hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. How did that come about, and who all was a part of it?
Karyn~I’m not really sure. I got an invitation from Desire Rogers to attend. I think it (speaks) to their intention to create a more open house, a house that is representative of our true country. (The idea was to) show these young people the accomplishments (that could be achieved) from different arenas. It was a varied group.
(The delegation included Debbie Allen award winning choreographer/actress/dancer, Ambassador Nancy Brinker U.S. Chief of Protocol and founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Bobbi Brown founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Sheryl Crow singer/songwriter, Maggie Daley first lady of Chicago, Dominique Dawes Olympic gymnast, General Ann E. Dunwoody first 4 star general, Fran Drescher actress, Denyce Graves vocalist, Judith Jamison artistic director Alvin Ailey, Dr. Mae Jemison first African American woman in space, Sarah Jones Tony award winner, Alicia Keys grammy award winning singer/songwriter, Debra Lee Chair/CEO of BET Networks, Lisa Leslie Lockwood 3 time WMBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist, Marissa Mayer VP Google, Penny Pritzker business exec, Phylicia Rashad Emmy/Tony/NAACP award winner, Vivian Stringer Rutgers Head Coach, Tracee Ellis Ross actress/NAACP award winner, Kerry Washington actress/NAACP winner, Alfre Woodard Oscar nominated actress, and Karyn, intuitive business pioneer.)
ML~What part of the days’ event impacted you the most?
Karyn~There was a reception for the young women, being in the presence of their energy and the questions that they asked, (that touched me most). They wanted to know. The energy was so high in that reception that I was moved by the potential that I could feel for them; the excitement that they had for meeting so many people. But it was genuine, they wanted to know. It will have ripple effects that cannot even be measured today. It will affect their families, their friends. It’s affecting us as participants too.
ML~What is the most important lesson you hope to teach your own children to prepare them for their professional futures?
Karyn~I really think it?s to discover their voice, and to learn how to speak it respectfully. If you know what?s true for you and always feel that you have the right to share it, but to share it respectfully. Whether or not it is going to be accommodated is a whole ?nother story, but you should share it, always.
And share she has done. I echo Karyn’s sentiment. We must teach our children to be respectfully loud and proud, and we must not allow the lesson to be lost on ourselves.
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SMILE On!
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ML
You can find Miss Lori “Musing from her Minivan” at her new blogsite MissLori.TV, as well as on ChicagoMomsBlog, facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Myspace and her own performance website Miss Lori’s CAMPUS.
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