The Power of Showing Up
From isolation to leadership: one woman's journey of connection and belonging through the simple act of showing up.
Show Up: How Building Community Changed My Life
When my husband and I moved to Boerne, Texas, I found myself in a position many people experience but few talk about.
I knew absolutely no one. No family. No longtime friends. No professional network. No built-in community.
At an age when many people already have established circles and routines, I was starting over in a brand-new town.
Today, I lead a business organization, serve on community boards, help manage successful businesses, and have built friendships and professional relationships that have enriched my life in ways I never imagined.
The interesting part is that none of it happened because I had a grand plan. It happened because I showed up.
Success is rarely built alone
Growing up in Las Vegas, life was not always easy. My parents divorced, and during my high school years, our family struggled financially. Like many young people from working-class families, I learned early that if I wanted something, I would have to work for it.
I worked throughout high school and continued working while attending college.
Those experiences taught me resilience, responsibility, and perseverance. But they also taught me something I would not fully appreciate until much later in life: Success is rarely built alone.
Nearly 29 years ago, I married my husband. Together, we raised two incredible children. Our son has built a successful career in cybersecurity, and our daughter, whom we adopted at the age of four, now proudly serves in the United States Air Force.
As parents, we hoped our children would learn that circumstances do not determine their future. Character, effort, and determination do.
That same belief has guided me throughout my own life.
I joined a book club
When my husband and I moved to Boerne, Texas, I found myself in a position many people experience but few discuss. I was starting over socially and professionally in a completely new community.
I could have stayed home and waited for connections to happen naturally. Instead, I joined a book club.
That single decision changed everything.
The women I met introduced me to new opportunities, friendships, and organizations. Soon, I became involved with Hill Country Women in Business, the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce, and the International Live Events Association.
Through those organizations, I met people who encouraged me, challenged me, and inspired me to become more involved in the community I now call home.
One opportunity led to another. One introduction led to another relationship. One volunteer role led to another leadership opportunity.
Today, I have the privilege of serving as President of Hill Country Women in Business while also working in the events industry, helping create meaningful experiences for families, businesses, and community organizations.
Looking back, none of those opportunities appeared because I had the perfect résumé, the perfect background, or the perfect plan. They appeared because I was willing to walk into a room, introduce myself, volunteer, and build genuine relationships.
We underestimate the power of showing up
In a world that often celebrates achievement, I think we sometimes overlook the simple actions that make achievement possible.
- We underestimate the power of attending the meeting.
- We underestimate the power of introducing ourselves.
- We underestimate the power of supporting another woman.
- We underestimate the power of saying yes before we feel completely ready.
Many women wait for confidence before they take action. I have learned that confidence usually comes after action.
- Every leadership role I have accepted felt intimidating at first.
- Every new opportunity came with uncertainty.
- Every meaningful relationship began with a conversation between strangers.
The women who have influenced my life the most were not necessarily the most successful or accomplished. They were the women who made others feel welcome, opened doors, shared opportunities, and believed in building community rather than competition.
Those women taught me that leadership is not about being the most important person in the room. Leadership is about helping others feel like they belong in the room, too.
Show up
If I could offer one piece of advice to women who want to grow personally or professionally, it would be this:
- Show up.
- Join the organization.
- Attend the event.
- Volunteer for the committee.
- Ask the question.
- Introduce yourself.
- Reach out to someone you admire.
You never know which conversation will become a friendship, which friendship will become an opportunity, or which opportunity will change the course of your life.
Looking back, I realize that community is not something you simply find. It is something you build. And building it begins with being willing to walk into a room where you know no one and introduce yourself anyway.
