Project Iowa: Our spring $100 Headshot Partner

Last week, I had the privilege of photographing a group of incredible women and men who are embarking on their own unique journeys into the workforce. These humans make up the latest graduating class from Project Iowa, a nonprofit organization that, among many other things, helps to match employers with people seeking stable, fulfilling jobs in our community.

Julie Fugenschuh, Executive Director of Project Iowa

“At Project Iowa, we strive to help people align purpose and passion with employment,” says Executive Director Julie Fugenschuh. “We believe finding a career that clicks with your values means you’ll stay in the position, ultimately providing security and stability in your life. [The program} is more about a person’s mindset rather than their skillset.”

Every three months, Project Iowa welcomes a new group of students for their three-month program (which is free of charge) teaching them how to excel in job interviews, write an effective resume, network, while also integrating wellness principles and digital skills.

There is so much more than tactical training happening in this program, and it’s evident in the photos I took of the students on the eve of their graduation. The emotional difference Project Iowa provides is far, far beyond simply finding a job. The transformation is both professional and personal: People who go through this program have more confidence, resources, accountability, and physical and mental wellbeing.

Jane, graduate of Project Iowa’s latest program.

“I was in such a bad place when I started this program,” says Shawna, another graduate. “Besides my kids, this was the best thing I’ve ever done. I thought the program was just about getting a job, but that’s the least of it. It teaches you to recognize your thoughts so that you can change your behaviors. Before, I tended to just go into survival mode. But now I’m figuring out who I was meant to be and who I’ve always been before I got so sidetracked.”

At Ivory House, we believe in finding passion and purpose in our work. Project Iowa’s holistic approach to job placement is completely different from the typical agency and aligned beautifully with the Ivory House mission and core values. Project Iowa believes when a job is well-suited to a person’s identity it also shapes their outlook on life. Meditation, yoga, nutrition, and stress management are all incorporated into the classes, which take place four times per week and run about two hours long. When we recognized the in-depth commitment to self it takes to complete the program, we were hooked and immediately on board with supporting Project Iowa.

“This program got me in touch more with my emotions,” says graduate Carrie. “I’ve always been a task manager, very task-oriented. It has helped me refine some of the emotional aspects of working that I’ve been missing for a while.”

“The biggest thing is changing the way you think and how that’s going to alter the way you act, which has been huge for me,” says Jane, one of the graduating students.

Shawna, graduate of Project Iowa’s latest program.

Tears from Shawna, seeing herself in the right light for the first time.

Students of the Project Iowa program come from every kind of background you can imagine. Whether it’s someone who’s been a stay-at-home mom for the past twenty years and looking to get back into the workforce, someone who’s been convicted of a felony, or someone just looking for a fresh start in a new field, virtually anyone would fit in and find value in the education.

A beautiful group of grateful souls, ready to take on the world with passion and purpose.

“There are no labels here,” Julie says. “You’re a person, you have value. No one in our program is a ‘felon,’ or ‘lazy,’ or any of those other labels people might feel ascribed to when they’re out hunting for a job. They do not define you as a person or a job candidate.”

Jane, totally rocking her photo shoot and leaning into herself fully.

“Project Iowa has helped bring out those parts of me that I didn’t know existed,” says graduate Christina, who traveled an hour each way to attend her classes. “I’m ready to apply for things I wouldn’t normally have applied for. I felt like there were a lot of barriers for me, like I shouldn’t even try. I felt like my past was my name, so I settled for minimum wage jobs.

Now I know that I have worth and hidden talents that can make a company more successful. My name is who I used to be, not who I am. Now I’m answering to new names. I’m worthy, and I have things to offer people.”

Christina, confidently captured.

For me, photography is my way to truly see people, and in this case, I was able to witness these graduates transformation. They have been doing the work for months, diving deep into themselves, removing road block and building new skills, but I know from personal experience, that change doesn’t feel real until you see it on the outside.

By photographing them, I was able to mirror their new mindset, label, title, career path and capture it in a photograph that will hopefully remind them of how far they’ve come. And in addition to simply celebrating their growth, having headshots taken was a brand-new experience for many of them. Stepping in front of a professional camera wasn’t something most of them were comfortable with — not because of cost, availability or usefulness, but simply because they had been denying themselves of the recognition.

“I was like, who gets headshots?” Christina laughed. “It made me feel important. It made me feel like I was someone to watch out for.”

“Last time I had my pictures taken was graduation,” says Shawna. “I felt like I could smile again. It’s so cool to be given a decent chance.”

The reactions are ALWAYS the best part.

“Whatever we do, we do it together,” says Julie. “It’s not just about what Project Iowa could do for you. It’s about who you have in your corner, in your community. We are part of your team. We are someone you can rely on, no matter what your goals are.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. If you’re ready to be seen and support a great cause, grab one of our 80 $100 Headshot timeslots. At the time of publishing this blog, the session are already 50% sold out so DON’T hesitate to show yourself and your community who you are and what you’re capable of.

SPECIAL THANKS TO WHISTLER STUDIO and Anna Jones for donating the space for these shoots. If you’re ever in need of a gorgeous shooting space, with perfect light, we highly recommend.

2019: Year in Review

Every year I take stock of the biggest points of impact, both in my life and my community. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me. Your participation in and support of my abilities is what propels me forward every year.

40 Under 40

At 32, I received the distinguished honor of Des Moines Business Record’s 2019 40 Under 40. To me, this was recognition of the contribution one small business owner can make in their community. I was so proud to walk across that stage, knowing that my HR department is my mom, my team includes my 2 dedicated employees and loads of friends, and every single hour and resource I donate to my community come directly out of my own pocket.

If I have one goal in life, it’s to lead by example and inspire EVERY person to know they can make a difference simply by showing up and having the confidence to walk out on to the shaky, unstable branches of life, contributing everything they have to the causes and community they love.

I photographed over 100 individuals for $100 Headshots

I started the $100 headshot campaign in 2017. The concept is simple. Once a year I lower my portrait prices to $100 for 15 minutes of my time and one polished file. On top of that great deal, I donate $10 from every session to a charity of choice.

This year, there was so much interest, I ran two $100 headshot sessions, one to benefit Dress for Success and the other benefiting Food Bank of Iowa. The most mind-boggling part of the whole experience? These offers sold out in less than 48 hours. Talk about an all-around win.

Your Personal Brand Launch: Online Course Launched in 2020

Emily and I started Brand Launch with one major goal: teach people how to elevate their lives and business through intentional personal branding. After 2 years of successful workshops, we’ve poured our hearts, souls, and knowledge into this course curriculum and couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve created! The course launched TODAY, Jan 8th, and is already bringing us so much joy and fulfillment.

On top of this great accomplishment, we wrote our first E-book, Showing up Social, sharing our perspective on why social is important and how you can make an impact by simply telling your own story. Grab the E-Book HERE.

HEARTCORE LEADERSHIP

The Universe sent me all sorts of signs this year and I was finally in a mental position to listen. One of the biggest signs I received was during No Meetings March (read past post on that). My friend and client Kathleen Riessen called me during this meeting hiatus and I actually had the energy to pick up the phone. Kathleen said, “Whitney, I’m in this leadership program right now and this is it. This is what you need to do. Here are the dates and here is the price point.”

At the time of Kathleen’s call, I was digging myself out of a deep emotional hole, working hard to correct 3 years of working from the burnout zone. I knew I needed something but I didn’t know what. I took Kathleen’s call as a sign and I paid the deposit the next day. Little did I know the massive amount of serendipity I’d just set in motion.

From August to December, I traveled to San Diego 4 times, diving deep into myself and my leadership capacities. I learned more, grew more and built more in those 4 months than I have at any other point in my life. Of the life-changing experiences I’ve been through, this one takes the cake. I chose it. I committed to it. And I completed it. And at the end of the day, I received a sense of calm in myself, grounding and clarity I never thought possible. Of the things I’m most grateful for this year, HCL and the friends I made there are at the top of the list.

DSM Hummingbirds went from a concept to a platform!

In July of 2018, Emily and I launched the concept of DSM Hummingbirds, a community marketing strategy pairing enthusiastic community members with brands, services, and experience that need a little buzz and momentum. The idea was simple. EVERYONE has influence, especially in hyper-local markets and we were eager to show what impact your neighbors could have on local business growth.

Over and over, this concept continues to prove itself. Our Hummingbirds LOVE trying new things and sharing their experiences with their friends on social and in person. And the businesses? They are getting new ideal client exposure with the added benefit of authentic social posting. EVERYONE WINS.

And this year, we started the long process of creating the technology to support this. It’s been a long journey, but we’re so excited to say that by mid-2020, we’ll have a fully functioning Hummingbird site and are looking to expand outside of DSM! We’ll keep you posted on these exciting developments.

I wore shorts

and lived to tell about it.

I realize that this might seem like the silliest win of 2019 but for me, it was huge. 2019 was a year of true body acceptance. It was also the year I discovered Eloquii, the site where curvy girls like me can go to unload all their extra money and come out looking fabulous.

Because of this site, I wore shorts, crop tops, many jumpsuits, sequin skirts…. the list goes on. I preach a lot about what it means to be unapologetically extra, being bold in our bodies and our brains, but even I struggle with giving my external self the praise it deserves. So here’s to 2020, perhaps this is the year of the two-piece bathing suit. You never know!

Left to right: Megan, Production Manager - Whitney, Chief Empowerment Officer - Amanda, Operations Manager

My teams GREW!

Running two business’s isn’t easy and I don’t do it alone.

Megan and I have been operating as the dynamic duo of Ivory House for too long and we desperately needed an admin to keep everything on track! Amanda Arnold entered our lives at the most amazing time and provided both of us the support and space we needed to really take Ivory House to the next level. With Amanda by our side, we’ve honed in on our systems and made Ivory House an efficient business with loads of personal impact!

Left to right: Callie, Integration specialist. Whitney, Co-Founder. Emily, Co-Founder, Amanda, Operations Manager. Matt, Technology specialist.

Our Brand Launch team also grew! Emily and I have been doing as much as we can as a duo, but we were pleased to bring on several team members in 2019! Amanda, also joined the Brand Launch team as our operations manager (so basically she runs every aspect of Emily and my calendar), Callie came on board this summer as an intern and we quickly found that she is an extraordinary integrator. Now we can’t imagine our team without her. And Matt came on the team earlier this year as our technology lead to take DSM Hummingbirds to the next level. It’s with his help and guidance that we have watched DSM Hummingbirds grow from a concept to a platform.

I had my first fine art gallery show in DSM!

And I did my first artist talk and I sold my first fine artwork ever!!! These are pretty big personal wins. I loved being able to share my thesis work, Self Control, with the people of DSM and Liz Lidgett’s Gallery was the perfect place to showcase this work.

Presenting at LEAP on the Power of Personal Branding!

I got a jump start on my public speaking career!

I got to stand on lots of stages this year and it absolutely thrilled me! I spoke on topics ranging from personal branding, community marketing, being your own nano influencer to being unapologetically extra and defining your own path. Every single one of these opportunities was a thrill and a learning opportunity.

These lead me to my 2020 goal of speaking on 10 big stages across the country. So if you know of anyone looking to bring in an Unapologetically Extra speaker or personal brand strategist, let me know!

May in Amsterdam!

On a personal note….

I traveled to:

1. Denver

2. Charlotte

3. Rochester, NY

4. NYC

5. Copenhagen

6. Took a river cruise down the Rhine from Amsterdam to Frankfurt

7. San Diego (4 times) for leadership training

8. Kansas City

9. Napa

Every single one of these adventures adds to the beautiful, vibrant texture of my life and l’m so grateful for this life I get to lead.

AND…. I fell in love. Yup, if you’re reading this to the very end, you get the juicy bits. I met a man named Erik in June. We bonded over a mutual love of the Enneagram, tacos, The Storytellers Project and deep conversations. We’re pretty smitten and having a great time doing life together.

Learning to Be a Plant Parent

When I bought my new house and was preparing it to become both my home and work space, I realized that I needed to freshen the place up. To inject a little more life into these spaces that I was making my own, I asked Shylah, plant stylist at Des Moines’ Art Terrarium to come over and impart some much-needed advice on how plants can invigorate my space and, maybe more importantly, how I can be a good plant parent and keep them alive and happy.

Pictured: Andrea Metzler, owner and Shylah, plant stylist at Art Terrarium.

When Shylah came into my home to begin our consultation process, I think she knew right away that this space would benefit from some greenery. She is, after all, a professional plant stylist: a career she began recently when she realized that many people coming into the Art Terrarium shop wanting more plants in their lives but weren’t sure what or where or how. And with a background in art and event facilitation, she decided to let her creative spirit guide this burgeoning consultation business.

“Plant styling is a title I made up to describe a role where I show up with plants for people, and put those plants in places,” Shylah says. “For Whitney, having just moved into a new house, I get to be a part of the creative process that brings her home to life. It’s so special.”

We started room by room, identifying whether each will be a personal or work space, and what my goals are for each. Shylah assessed the amount of natural light that would be reaching every corner. (The lighting proved to be a bit challenging because of all the gorgeous mature trees around my house. I love them, but they sure block a lot of sunlight.) We also talked about how often I’d be able to pay attention to them and water them. This particular factor made me want to lean more minimalist. I didn’t want the chlorophyll of dozens of dead houseplants on my hands!

Shylah took down my goals and feedback on a notepad and returned to the shop to start pulling some plants that would be suitable for my space. “I worked with Whitney’s budget, picking out some specific things. Keeping her goal of moderation in mind, she wanted greenery in every space. This was a little tricky because they all had to live near the windows, but luckily there are many types of plants that thrive in lower lighting.”

She invited me to come check out what she had pulled and to bring in the few vases and vessels that I already had in mind to put plants in, plus pick out some more from the shop. I was so impressed by both their selection and by Shylah’s styling suggestions that my initial impulse to keep things minimal went straight out the window.

When she brought the plants over to my house to finally stage them, I could barely contain myself. The difference that a dozen or so fresh, green, lively houseplants made was unbelievable. I was totally hooked. And I might have mellowed out right then and there, but Shylah assured me so thoroughly that I can indeed keep these plants alive and thriving, beautifying my home and impressing friends and clients alike, and they looked so amazing in little groups, rejuvenating each room...well, I got more plants. I am now the proud parent of 33 happy plants, breathing life into every room in my house.

How, you may ask, did I go from killing cacti to confidently raising so many houseplants? I have Shylah to thank for that. On top of her wonderful styling skills, she gave me some very simple, straightforward advice that seemed to take the mystery out of plant parenting.

Shylah’s Simple Tips for Raising Houseplants

1. Most of the problems with plants come from overwatering them. People think that watering them equals caring for them, when in fact, most plants just kinda want to be left alone.

2. Light = food, so pay attention to how much your plant is getting. South-facing windows get more direct light than north, so stage your plants accordingly.

3. Plants are very resilient. If you notice them turning yellow, it’s most likely either from overwatering or not giving them enough light. Move them around in your home and find a spot that makes them happier.

4. Having daily contact with your plants gives you a chance to check the soil, prune any dead leaves, and make sure they don’t have dust building up. This also ensures that you are watering them as needed, and not just when you think about watering them.

5. Practice with your plants. Don’t be afraid of killing them, and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. There are lots of great resources on the Art Terrarium website, plus the folks at the shop love sharing their plant knowledge!

If you’re still unsure whether plants are right for you (spoiler: they are), or are looking for someone to come in and tell you exactly what plants you should get, where to put them, and how to care for them, Shylah is your gal. Check out this great new styling service here and start the process of elevating your home or office space. The best part is, their $75 consultation deposit is redeemable toward your plant purchase of $350 or more. Shylah also does plant rentals and staging work for parties and large events.

I can’t thank Shylah enough for her styling skills, advice, laid-back approach to plant parenting, and most of all, her confidence in me. If I can successfully care for 33 plants in the middle of my nonstop schedule, anyone can!

Keynote Address for the 2018 Dress For Success Luncheon

Yesterday, I had the privilege of delivering the keynote address at this year’s Dress For Success luncheon. (If you have not heard of this amazing organization, do yourself a favor and check out the incredible work they do every day to empower women in our community and around the globe.) I was nervous the whole time I prepared for this speech, right up until the moment I climbed up to the stage. But as soon I looked out over the audience and saw so many familiar, supportive faces (including my mother’s), I knew that this day was about so much more than getting over my nerves. Read on for my full speech, and find links here and here to learn more about our incredible experience with the inspiring, impactful women of Dress For Success.

Hi Friends,

It is truly an honor to stand in front of you today. Thank you for having me and for supporting this amazing organization. The video you just watched was the culmination of a few months of planning, lots of happy tears, and the hard work and talent of many willing hearts.

Under the direction of Executive Director Jody White, founding partner Theresa Choi, the boots-on-the-ground service of Nicole Sickels, and Board leadership of Christine Osborne, Dress for Success serves as a guiding light for so many women looking to better themselves and further their professional careers. When searching for a female-empowering non-profit to partner with, there truly was no other option in my mind than Dress for Success.

The women in this video are participants of Dress for Success’ Professional Women’s Group. These women have worked hard on their lives, making changes, setting goals, and working their way toward personal success. But progress is hard to see from the inside. While supporters congratulate us on massive milestones and achievements, we’re still bogged down in the everyday experience of our own journeys.

I believe in my gut that a powerful portrait is transformative for the participant. Having an image that reflects your worth and value serves to reinforce your worth and value. The idea of playing a small part of the Professional Women’s Group’s journey to success – of being someone who could reflect and reinforce all their hard work, perseverance, and value – that idea excited me!

The day of the Dress for Success shoot, we had 10 women arrive, bravely willing to take a risk with us. In addition to my own team, I had arranged for three hair and makeup teams plus a videographer to be on site to create and capture the experience. By the time the women arrived in my studio to be photographed, they were glowing. It was apparent that the attention of my amazing colleagues had succeeded in making them feel truly beautiful. These women had just experienced the luxury of sitting for two hours, having professionals fussing over every detail of their appearance. If you’ve ever had your hair or makeup professionally done, you will understand just how amazing it is to be pampered in this way.

As I started in on my process, assuring them that I would do all the work, that all they had to do was follow directions, I could still see the apprehension in their faces. Can I do this? Will I like the way I look? Will I like the way I am represented?

As I turned the camera around to show them their powerful presence on the small screen, I had the pleasure and pride of seeing their whole demeanor change. Some women cried, putting their hands up to their mouths or waving the tears away from their eyes to keep their makeup in tact. Every single person had a variation of the same reaction: “…Wait, that’s me? That professional, boss-lady of a woman in that photo, that’s me?”

It was in that moment, a small shift in their demeanor, a sudden and real mental realization, that they were, in fact, already the professional women they had been striving so hard to be.  

I see some of the faces of these women in the audience today. I’ve had the chance to touch base with a few of them. Jasmin was recently on Wednesdays with Whitney with me, and is moving ahead full-force in realizing her dreams of owning her own business. Randi recently got a new job and was able to proudly use her headshot for their website. These women both verbalized to me how transformative our experience together was for them. How with one click of a button, one moment in time I captured as proof of what they had always hoped to be, I could turn the camera around and show them how much grit they had in them and how much potential they had yet to realize.

You see, this moment they were having. This is the moment I get to witness all the time. Those of you who have shot with me, and I see so many of your amazing, supportive faces in this room, you know that I take control of the situation and assure you that you can’t mess it up. I’m there to guide you and coax out all that brilliance and beauty you’ve been hiding under modesty and reservation. I live for the moment when I turn my camera around and my client gasps or sighs with relief, acknowledging that for perhaps the first time, they feel like they’ve truly been captured. They feel like they can relax, because somebody sees them for who they are, somebody sees their worth and has captured it on camera.

I often say, modesty has no place in my presence. Whatever you are good at, I want to know about. I encourage people to brag to me. Tell me what you’ve accomplished. Tell me your big dreams. Be bold in front of me. Be unapologetically extra. That is what the Dress for Success women were that day. They were bold, beautiful, polished, and completely and totally themselves.

Who out there in this audience has declined to be photographed? I won’t make you raise your hands, but I’m fairly certain I would see around 400 arms in the air, and mine would be one of them. Can you hear the words you say to yourself when you make a quiet excuse to step out of the frame? I can pretty much guarantee that the words you just said to yourself are not words you would say to your best friend or your child. These words are the foundation for the apprehension and the mindset we bring when we’re  being photographed. This is the hurdle we set out for ourselves. This is the hurdle I am there to coach you over.

I see it as my duty and honor to create space in my studio. Space for the people who enter to truly be themselves, to dig into their power, their presence, their ability to stop traffic and command attention. I hope to create a space where people can prove to themselves that all the good, amazing, powerful things they say to themselves are, in fact, true. And then, together, we create visual proof of their power.

We encounter situations every day where we are forced to either prove our worth, advocate on behalf of our worth, or resign ourselves to the thought that we are not, in fact, not worth it. That the job we didn’t get an interview for, the text we didn’t receive after a 3rd date, or the work meeting where your idea was ignored…. That these moments validate our deepest insecurities. And that little shadow of self-doubt creeps in, whispering to us that perhaps we are not worth it.

Then imagine you have been incarcerated or physically and emotionally abused by someone who, at one point, you said yes to loving. Imagine if you had a mother who told you you weren’t enough, or a father who left and never called. Many of you in this room don’t have to imagine these scenarios. You have lived them, breathed them, struggled to overcome them, and somehow, miraculously, come through on the other side. You have woken up every morning and decided to continue, decided to keep fighting, to keep being yourself.

But that question, that nagging question, am I worth it? Am I valuable? This is the question we never verbalize, but it affects every single action and decision we make. This is the question that is the hardest to answer because we have to do for ourselves, by ourselves. And we need tools to be able to make the right decision.

So what are these tools? The pathways to deciding that you are worth it? I’m afraid it seems, like so many of life’s mysteries, there is no right answer and no paved path. Everyone reaches the curve in the road to self love at a different point, with different pit stops and U-turns.  

But today I’ll give you my strategy. This is not foolproof. I fail at giving myself credit and validating my own worth almost as many times as I succeed, but I do believe that these strategies have propelled me forward and brought me to stand in front of you today.

Number one: Take small risks.

Two years ago, I started planning out a weekly video segment. I even pulled out a video camera and did a few interviews around town with the intention of cutting and splicing until the content was perfect and I felt “comfortable” with the outcome.

It should come as no surprise to you that you’ve never seen those first few episodes of Wednesdays with Whitney, because they were never produced. My need for perfection, my insecurity that I would look bad on video or say something inappropriate held me back from producing a final product.

A year of this dance passed, and I realized I was playing chicken with myself and that I had to step it up. I made a commitment to myself to start taking one small risk every week. And that’s how my Facebook Live series, Wednesdays with Whitney, was born. Because I decided I was worth it. I trusted (or hoped) that I could do it. And that any mistake I made would be worth the risk.

I am now 56 Wednesdays into this risk, and this weekly series has given me so much. It taught me all about the beautiful repercussions of generous collaboration. It taught me the value of  planning ahead, and preparing content and guests for weeks in advance. It taught me to ease up on my vanity, and that the show must go on. I have filmed Wednesdays with Whitneys wearing no makeup, wearing the same outfit I wore the day before, on very little sleep and after an outburst of tears, sometimes all of these things at the same time. But I don’t skip a week. And so many of you continue to watch and support me and even join me on camera.

So what is that one risk you’ve been playing chicken with? What is the thing you want to do, that takes a little bit of effort and feels a little uncomfortable? I encourage you to do it. Do it and then honor your risk by allowing that risk to turn into habit. And then let your habit build you up to your next risk. And then you take another leap because you’ve built up trust in yourself.

Number Two: Reach your limits.

There are lots of books and quotes out there telling us to be kind and gentle with ourselves, to let ourselves be and do what we can. I personally don’t subscribe to that philosophy. I think the best way to learn our limits is to reach them, and then figured out how to get beyond them.

I encourage you to figure out what is creating your limits. Because very often, what we see as external or permanent is simply a limit we allow ourselves to observe. Our society sets out arbitrary measures of success. And it is my opinion that the bar is set fairly low. Once you reach these benchmarks, we are encouraged to slow down, sink in, and get comfortable.

You have a notecard in front of you. I ask you at this time to write down your limit. Let this be a gut reaction. Be bold on this page. It is today’s playground.

Now take a look at your limit. What is stopping you from going past it? Do you need to take a risk? Make a plan? Ask for help? Or do you simply need to shake the dirt off, get out of your Netflix binge cycle, and realize that you get to set your own limits?

Change doesn’t live in comfort, and neither does impact. To have an impact, you have to jump and you have to land hard on your goal. To make an impact, people have to see that you leapt, hung out in the sky for a while, and then came down directly on your mark. To make an impact, you have to first decide that limits are yours to define.

Number Three: Have a mantra that reinforces both your beauty and your ability.

My mother gave me a great gift when I was younger. She told me at every downturn and every precipice of decision or disaster, “everything always works out” for you.”  Now, this was not told to me because I was lucky, or she would save me, or that life would be easy, but because she wanted me to believe that I had control over my destiny. That if I believed everything could work out, I would take all the necessary steps to ensure that it did work out. My mom has continued to repeat this mantra to me as I’ve experienced every moment (or month) of crisis and self-doubt. As I’ve had to build and rebuild and use every last ounce of my strength to reach my goals. My mom is the creator of my mantra, but it is my job, responsibility, and right to make this mantra work for me.

She also told me consistently and without hesitation that I am beautiful.

“I am beautiful.”

I’d like you to take a moment and repeat those three words in your head. Just those three words. No caveats and no rebuttals.

When I look at myself in the morning, I try first to think that I am beautiful, before I think anything else. And when the barrage of harsh secondary thoughts start flooding in, of all the things I could do to elevate or improve upon that beauty, of all the times I have failed my body and myself by not living up to my own standards, I try my best to go back to the beginning and remind myself that I am beautiful. I think this belief and knowledge of my own beauty is one of the reasons I’m able to encourage and coax out the beauty in my subjects.

So I encourage you to hold two mantras close. They don’t have to be mine, but they can be if they give you strength. The first mantra reinforces your capabilities. You are capable. You can achieve more than you ever thought possible. Things will always work out for you. The second affirms your physical worth, because I do believe we need to value ourselves physically just as much as we do mentally. And then repeat these things yourself daily, hourly, or by the minute if you need to hear it. Say nice things to yourself and let those nice things you say become your truth.

Thank you for going on this journey with me today. Thank you for nodding along and smiling up at me, for contributing every time I’ve asked. The amazing ability of the people of Des Moines to show up and support one another is the model on which I’ve built both my business and my life. You all have led the way, and I’m so honored to be a part of your journey.

Today, I got on this podium as a person who had never given a keynote address, as someone who was nervous that perhaps I wouldn’t do it right or wouldn’t meet my own, very high expectations. I’ll exit this stage proud, as someone who took a risk, surpassed yet another limit, and affirmed that I am beautiful and everything always works out for me. Friends, today I decided I was worth it and believe me when I say, you are, too.

The women of Dress for Success did a live suiting on stage of the lovely Q, whom I’d met at the Economic Centet for Success’ Dreambuilders Workshop. I can’t wait to see how far she’ll go!

Girl Scouts Grown Up

Click the image above to watch my Wednesdays with Whitney interview with Jessie Tobin of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa.

I love working with women, promoting women-owned businesses, and empowering women in our community. One common thread that I’ve noticed with these women is that many of them are former Girl Scouts, which makes complete sense when considering the skills, resolution, and morals of the organization and how they transfer into a well-rounded and well-supported adulthood! For this week's installment of Wednesdays with Whitney, I talked to my friend Jessie Tobin, who is the Director of Philanthropy at Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, about some of the amazing qualities the Girl Scouts can instill in a person. I also rounded up some of my clients who were Girl Scouts growing up and asked them about their experiences. Read on for some favorite memories, skills, and (of course) cookies! 

Belle DuChene

One of my favorite memories is earning a hologram bookmark as a prize for being a top cookie seller. It was a great day because it represented all the hard work I had done to learn how to ask family and friends for their support, by phone and in person. I was a shy little girl, so that was a huge growing experience. (I still have that bookmark somewhere!)

My first sewing experience was learning to attach my badges to my sash. Little did I know, a Textiles and Apparel Design major was in my future!

My favorite cookie is Shortbread (Trefoils).

Christina Baker:

When I was in Girl Scouts, my troop took a trip to a ranch and learned horseback riding, archery, and the value of grooming and cleaning up after animals. While I don’t use these skills daily, they definitely supported my love of being outdoors and kindled passion for horseback riding, a hobby that I’d like to reconnect with as an adult.

Earning my cooking badge taught me so much about safe food prep techniques, measuring, patience, and resilience when something didn’t turn out right that isn’t taught in schools today. I continue to use these skills to cook and bake to this day. Some things turn out better than others, but I continue to learn!

I loved Samoas growing up, but now I think they are called Caramel deLites.  Simply indulgent and heavenly!

Sarah Noll Wilson

I'm a proud Girl Scout from Troop #238 Dubuque, Iowa! Growing up, I had terrible home sickness (I suspect this was really anxiety) and my poor mom would take me to the bus to get picked up for summer day camp. I would cry so hard it would make me sick. (Keep in mind, this was just day camp, we weren't even spending the night.) Finally, my mom told me, "I want you to try it. If you come home and didn't enjoy it, you don't have to go the rest of the week". Once I was pushed outside of my comfort zone and arrived at camp, I fell in love. I meet great friends, learned cool skills, and knew that someday I was going to be a counselor. While I didn't end up working at Camp Little Cloud when I was older, I worked as director of a day camp for at-risk kids for two years. Next to my current work, that was the best job I ever had. I might not have had that experience if it weren't for Girl Scout camp and a little push by my mother.

As a Girl Scout, I learned lots of great skills from camping, to helping others, to sales. But perhaps the best lesson I didn't learn until much later in life. My mom was our Girl Scout troop leader, and we were competing in a sock hop lip sync competition at my school. We chose to lip sync "Leader of the Pack." I wanted to be the lead girl so badly, but my mom chose a newer member of our troop. As a kid, all I knew is that I wasn't chosen, and I was upset. But the pain was numbed when we won first place. It wasn't until I was much older when my mom and I were talking about our Girl Scouting days. I had shared with her how bummed I was when I wasn't selected to be the lead in the competition. My mom asked if I knew why she chose the other girl. Of course I didn't, because as a kid you only see the world through your own perspective. Mom told me that this girl (who later became a good friend of mine) had had a really tough life, raised by a single mom who didn't have much money, and my mom thought she could benefit from having the spotlight on her. At the time I hadn't seen those challenges, but as an adult I could. I can confidently say my mom, our Scout leader, made the absolute right decision. I love the fact that lessons from my time in Girl Scouts still persist.

Hands down, my favorite cookie is Samoas (or Carmel deLights). What's not to love about coconut and caramel?

Christina Moffatt

One year when I was in Girl Scouts, I worked so hard to sell cookies so that I could earn this puppet that looked like  a rabbit in a hat. And I did it! My mom kept that rabbit for years because I worked so hard to earn it.

My favorite badge to earn was the cooking badge. My love for food and baking started when I was a Brownie, and now I own a bakery! As an adult, I sell cookies and baked goods from my bakery, and help a new generation of Girl Scouts earn their baking badges and business badges.

My favorite cookie has to be the Tagalong! (Now Peanut Butter Patties - chocolate and peanut butter, hands down.)

Jody White

I loved my time in the Girl Scouts. My mom was one of our troop leaders. I remember being so excited about the meetings and wearing our Girl Scout uniforms: the brown dress, long socks, white shirt, ribbon neck ties, and of course the “sashes!” I think the best skills we learned were how to be a leader and how to be a good salesperson. I would sell boxes of cookies at a local bank. Just by selling cookies, you learned about event planning, how much time it takes to set up and tear down, inventory, and money management. It’s definitely a valuable life skill learned at a very early age! To this day, I still love planning events!

My favorite cookies have shifted over the years. My favorite growing up was Trefoils. Today, I like Lemonades and frozen Thin Mints...and still Trefoils! Yum!

Katie Patterson

I attended and worked at Girl Scout Camp Tanglefoot from fourth grade through mid-college. I'm still proud of the day I earned my silver award. It was one of the first times in life when I truly took responsibility for my own work getting completed and seeing something through. My time with the Girl Scouts inspired some of my life's best memories, and it proved to be a completely foundational experience for who I am today.

As for cookies, I love Peanut Butter Patties. The blend of soft peanut butter with the crunchy cookie covered in chocolate is everything.

Michelle Wilkie

There are so many great memories from my time as a Girl Scout in Honolulu. I got to participate in a lot of different activities, like having a sleepover in a former Hawaiian royal home (which was basically like having a slumber party in a museum - still not sure how they trusted a bunch of young girls to not break anything), camping all over the island, meeting dignitaries from other countries, and having culture days where we learned about the different backgrounds of the girls who represented our troop.

The relationships built through Girl Scouts is the constant thread and the best memory. The laughter and sometimes childhood disagreements around who got the best camping cot, those are the moments that stick out. My former troop leader actually attended my bridal shower. Many, many, years after I was in her troop. She still keeps in contact with all the girls and has talked about having a reunion in Las Vegas (at least we wouldn't have to fight over cots!). I hope it works out. Either way, it's amazing to see how these relationships have stood the test of time.

I was the highest grossing cookie salesperson on my troop and had a badge for it. To this day, my family will joke about my strategic sales plan as a six-year-old. I could literally walk up to anyone and sell them a box of cookies. I even had my territories mapped out! That experience provided me with the strong skill and ability to sell my ideas, and the courage to pitch those ideas to anyone. I didn't realize this was a unique strength until others started commenting on my fierceness to go out and strike up a conversation. To me, it's completely natural. And I honestly think I got that from Girl Scouts!

Samoas are the best cookie! Hands down! Although I learned after moving to Iowa that in the Mid-West they're called Caramel deLights. The cookies are slightly different but both still give that delicious coconut, caramel, chocolate goodness I love.

From Whitney:

I wanted to give an extra shout-out to some of my FemCity ladies and special supporters of the Girl Scouts! Left to right, a big thank you to Dr. Rebecca Lake of Shine Chiropractic, Michelle Swanson, and Kelsey Russell of Remax Precision Realty. (Not pictured is Trish of Trixie's Salon.)