The Power of Showing Up
At 23, I was making $7/hour with no benefits. I didn’t even know what benefits were. I answered an ad for customer service reps at T. Rowe Price. The hiring manager didn’t want to hire me — I didn’t have a college degree. But I convinced him to give me an interview and promised I’d finish school, with no idea how I’d actually do it. A few months later, a snowstorm hit. I didn’t own boots or a winter coat, but I made it into the office early. Weeks later, a letter arrived from the company President & CEO: “Your dedication made it possible for us to open on time for the markets and our clients.” That letter mattered. But the bigger lesson was this: Showing up — even when it’s inconvenient, even when you’re underqualified, even when it’s uncomfortable — can change everything. Fast forward ten years. I was applying to Loyola University in Maryland’s MBA program. On paper, I wasn’t qualified: didn’t finish high school, no college degree. But I had something else. Months earlier, I had shown up for a nonprofit in my community. A contact there wrote me a great recommendation. When I asked if he knew George Collins — the same executive who had written me that letter a decade before — he did. And Mr. Collins agreed to recommend me for the MBA program. Against the odds, Loyola said yes. And three years later, I walked across the stage and earned my MBA. That’s the power of showing up! – Show up for your employer. – Show up for your community. – And, most importantly, show up for yourself. It won’t always guarantee an easy path — but it can change the trajectory of your life. 👉 I’d love to hear from you: What’s one moment when simply showing up changed everything for you?
