The Scariest Email with the Greatest News
About a month ago, I got an email that read, "Congratulations! You are accepted into iFundWomen Seattle, a new crowdfunding + pitch competition experience for women-led startups and small businesses."
Gulp.
I had no idea emails could be so scary, need so much help and that I would come to love telling Motive's story as much as I do.
I was no stranger to crowds or funding or pitches or competitions. Once upon a time, I was recruited to compete at the collegiate level in fast pitch softball where big crowds gathered and lots of fund--- ok. I’ll stop there.
But, seriously, that’s how far out of my league this news felt. I had that butterfly feeling in my stomach. The one that activates certain digestive processes a little more than you'd like; the same one I used to get before softball games.
Slightly frantic, I scrolled through the email searching for info about what the hell I had just gotten myself into and secretly wondering if there was an "unapply" button somewhere. Then, my eyes settled on the big green button at the bottom of the email that said "Schedule Your Free Coaching Session" with an IFundWomen campaign expert. That seemed like a good next step even if for no other reason than to bail!
Low and behold, the next day at 9am sharp, my phone rang. I answered. A high-energy woman named, Kat, greeted me with another “congratulations!” and we dove into what this all meant. I emerged from that conversation excited. Still a little nervous. But, I was really excited! I knew creating a crowdfunding campaign with iFundWomen would provide Motive with immense opportunity to stretch, reach and blossom in a way we hadn’t been able to yet.
If you’re wondering what the heck a crowdfunding campaign is and how it will help us grow, let me explain. All new ideas and businesses need capital to become reality. Motive began with good-ole-fashioned bootstrapping but there are also bank loans, grants, investors... And there’s crowdfunding— a rewards-based fundraiser whereby your community and your community’s community get the chance to support an idea they believe in. At the heart of this is community support and we love that!
There are many reasons I started Motive and even more reasons that I wish for it to flourish. I began teaching yoga because I wholeheartedly, from-my-toes believe that yoga positions us to step more fully into our lives— to see ourselves and the world around us with deeper respect and infinite potential. For me, there is no more meaningful work than this. There is no greater honor. No harder task. No bigger responsibility. No deeper joy.
“I began teaching yoga because I wholeheartedly, from-my-toes believe that yoga positions us to step more fully into our lives— to see ourselves and the world around us with deeper respect and infinite potential. ”
What Motive is creating has great significance. We know because our students and teachers tell us with their commitment and their stories of growth. And yet, in order sustain this work going forward we need to expand our community. With our upcoming iFundWomen crowdfunding campaign we will be able to channel resources to more deeply nurture the community we have created while inviting more people into it.
As a founding member of this community, we want to thank you for giving us something to crowdfund for! In honor of you, we are having a party. We’ll celebrate this community that we’ve co-created and the launch of our campaign.
Save-the-date for
September 7, 6:30-9pm.
If you can't make it to the party but want to learn more aboutbthe crowdfunding campaign, click here and we'll reach out once our campaign is live!
Let's grow together!
P.S. Selfie videos are no joke. It took me a few tries. Hoping for more efficiency going forward!!!
