How to Choose a Power Outfit

I'm having a vulnerable moment. Right now. Right this minute. So I figured... I better start writing, because there's some real honesty flowing right now. On Wednesday morning, bright and early, I'm hopping in the car and driving south to Providence, RI to attend the Business Innovation Factory (BIF) Summit. I'm shitting pickles just thinking about it.

This is a 2 day, $2000 conference, filled with some of the smartest people IN THE WORLD. I'm talking MIT smart. I just checked the attendee list, and I had to stop reading after page 3 because I started to feel like a chump.

Here's why:

Deborah Schimberg, CEO, Glee Gum / Gil Pepi, Chief Strategy Officer, Children's Hospital Colorado / Jamie Casap, Chief Education Evangelist, Google, Inc. / Stasia Savasuk, Personal Stylist/Founder of Stasia's Style School / Georgina Melone, VP of Imbedded Innovation, Hasbro / Brian Goodman, Innovation Manager, City of Boston

Seriously. I could die.

They were giving away a few tickets if you submitted a pitch as to WHY you should be there, and I was selected.

Maybe because the gal that recommended I submit a pitch is friends with the founder... or maybe it was because my pitch was really good.

I don't want to think about which.

If I'm not careful, I could be that girl in the corner, pretending to be doing something really important on her phone, when in reality... I'm just suffering from a serious case of WTF-am-I-doing-here.

The only other conference I've been to as a Personal Stylist is ALT Summit. It's filled with creative types (bloggers, business coaches, other stylists, etc.) who love tulle, red lipstick, unicorns and confetti. Sure, I was nervous the first time I went in June 2014, feeling a little inferior because I had about 12 followers, a 1-day old DIY website, and a closet full of thrifted clothes. But I got over it REAL FAST, made some amazing connections, and had a total blast. In fact, I've been back twice since then.

This is NOT to say that the gals at ALT were not also MIT smart. They were brilliant, innovative, powerhouses of hustle, running BIG companies and making LOTS of money. Maybe it was the red lipstick that connected us. Or maybe it was just humanity.

Hmmm.

But what about this time? Will I find my people at BIF? Will I fit in? What if they laugh at me... Personal Stylist. Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!

See that... THAT'S BAD THINKING!!! I'm setting myself up to sit in the corner. I'm setting an expectation that they WON'T like me, that I'm not smart enough, not innovative enough, and that kind of do-you-think-I'm-cool energy is pitiful and not attractive.

So I'm going to head to my closet right now, and choose something that connects me to my BRAVERY, POWER AND CONFIDENCE.

[PAUSE]

OK. I’m back. I’ve found THE OUTFIT that I’m going to wear to BIF. And I’m going to show you how I spiffed up an ok dress, and accessorized for different temperatures!

1 - no accessories and BORING
2 - great if it's really warm
3 - perfect if it's a little bit chilly
4 - love it if I'm freezing cold

Just like that, I’m feeling CONFIDENT about the conference. This may not be my typical venue, but think how fortunate I am, to be surrounded by such brilliant minds!

Hopefully, I'll come back with some amazing tools and maybe, just maybe, I'll become one of those fancy pants "founders" on that list someday.

It’s normal to get intimidated from time to time. My Q for you is, DO YOU HAVE A POWER OUTFIT THAT YOU PULL OUT WHEN YOU'RE FEELING WEEK AT THE KNEES?

If you don’t, you just might wanna consider joining the next session of Stasia's Style School! You’ll walk about with a whole pile them, using clothes you already have in your closet!

xo Stasia