Recently, we’ve been spending a lot of time sitting at tables with incredible, inspiring individuals. Some are business owners we’ve just met, some we’re reacquainting ourselves with, and some are old friends turned family. Around these tables, we’re finding people with different perspectives, expertise, experiences, and creative gifts, and we’re creating space for them to dream, share, invest, and grow together. It’s not lost on me how privileged we are to have a seat at these tables, much less to set them ourselves.
I remember what it felt like on the outside looking in. When I saw groups of successful or interesting people gathered around a table, discussing big ideas and making plans, I’d think, “If I could be a fly on the wall.” I admired them from a distance, assuming there was some invisible threshold I needed to cross before I could be included. Then something shifted.
I started asking for meetings, coffees, and dinners with people I admired. And, to my delight, they obliged. I realized that sometimes the only thing standing between you and a seat at the table is the courage to ask for one.
Years ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of reaching out to half the individuals we’ve had the opportunity to work with through Lola. I was timid and unsure of my purpose. I was really good at talking myself out of taking chances—or, as the kids say, shooting my shot. Sometimes, I still find myself in that doubtful mindset. Even with years of experience, successful outcomes, and confidence built through hard work, it’s easy to forget that you belong in the room.
Somewhere along the way, I learned the goal isn’t simply to find a seat at someone else’s table. Sometimes, you get to set the table yourself.
A friend reminded me recently to surround myself with “high-frequency” people–those who have a positive mindset, invest in themselves and others, and generally buzz with constructive energy. In this season, more than ever, we’ve found it incredibly necessary to sit around more tables with people who pour into us, and us into them. It’s the kind of life-giving, cup-filling exchange that happens over coffee on a front porch or a glass of wine at the dinner table. I think we all need that.
That’s what we hope to create with Lola– to continue a beautiful tradition cherished by our community: bringing people together, sharing their stories, and making room for connection, inspiration, and collaboration. So, we’ll continue to show up, set the table, and extend invitations. We’ll introduce you to women you might not otherwise meet, ideas you might not otherwise encounter, and stories that might make you see your own possibilities a little differently.
We hope you’ll do the same. Pull up a chair. Invite someone in. Make room for another perspective. Share what you know. Ask for what you need. Here’s to a seat at the table– one that is beautifully curated, bountiful, and filled with people who want to dream, share, invest, and grow. We have so much to offer here, and we’re saving you a seat.
-Your Sister Friend Sarah