Owning It.

Yesterday, I headed to the Levo League offices for a live version of their bi-weekly Office Hours to see the one and only Kelly Cutrone.

image via The Levo League

One thing I don't think many people realize is that Kelly Cutrone is nice. I mean extremely nice.  When I first met her a few years ago at Fashion's Night Out, I couldn't get over how incredibly kind she was. If you've read her books, you will come to find out that while she may have a tough love style, she is not this monster that people try and make her out to be.

After that initial meeting at FNO, I read her book, If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You, and was blown away. I've read my fair share of books in the "Self-help" category, but none of them have resonated with me like this one had. To see how Kelly Cutrone built her business from the ground up, developed herself, to become this strong and successful business woman is inspiring. Her passion for ensuring that women really try and find themselves, that they stop tearing other women down, and embrace being strong and successful, makes her the ultimate cheerleader for girl power (that needs to make a comeback!)

I guess all of this overwhelmed me to the extent that when Kelly and I were talking, I actually started to cry. No, not Kim K ugly cry, but there were some tears. The whole situation was ironic not because I very rarely cry, but there I was in front of the author of a book called "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside..." crying. We laughed about it and had a great conversation. I wish she could be mentor!

Old me would have freaked out and been embarrassed. And I'll admit, I was briefly. But I own it. I own the moment and the emotions, because it was real and it was how I felt at the time. I guess that's the thing about growing and coming into one's own self... things like that no longer phase you. 

The event was great and filled with useful advice for young women to use in their work and personal lives.  You can watch the live Office Hours here. (I highly suggest you do!) 

Here are my favorite tips from the afternoon:

What's a moment in your life that you owned? Have you read Kelly Cutrone's books?