I wanted to be sure that I dressed the part since I would be around hundreds of other fashionable and unique girl bosses. So I partnered with JCPenney, a main sponsor behind the conference, and a one-stop shopping destination offering a variety of stylish and affordable fashion and home decor merchandise. Yeah, I said home decor—you should have seen their booth at Create and Cultivate, it was essentially the office of my dreams! (See the photo above!)
JCPenney offers a variety of high-quality, stylish pieces for plus size women at great value. I wore this Worthington Stripe Tie Front Jumpsuit, which is priced at only $34.99. I ordered a size 18w, which is my usual size, and it fits perfectly. Y’all know I love a good, versatile jumpsuit, and this one didn’t disappoint. It was so comfortable, and hugged my curves in all the right places. The stripes and the tie waist were subtle details that created a bold look, and I will definitely be making this jumpsuit a consistent part of my wardrobe.
Now, let’s get into some real talk: Earlier in this post, I said I wanted to “dress the part,” and here is why: In crowds, I can feel anxious and I also compare myself to others especially when I am around women in my same industry or line of work. It’s something I really dislike about myself, but I also know that many women experience this same feeling. I recognized that an event like this, I may be susceptible to feeling insecure. But one way that I move through these insecurities is through fashion. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I turn to clothes as a way to build confidence and channel power and strength during moments of weakness. So it was critical that I wore an outfit that made me feel powerful, beautiful and confident. As soon as I slipped the Worthington Stripe Tie Front Jumpsuit on, I felt a rush of confidence, and I knew that I was ready to take on this conference like the boss babe I was.
I attended panel discussions and keynote speeches around building an audience, the evolving workforce of tomorrow, shattering the glass ceiling, and fearlessly pursuing your passion. It was refreshing to hear so many women share their career paths and the lessons they learned. But seeing the look on their faces and tone of their voices when they spoke about their passions was truly captivating. The emotions conveyed an experienced that really reinvigorated me to approach both my career and side hustle with gusto.
Here are some of the most memorable takeaways I got from attending Create and Cultivate with JCPenney:
– Regarding compensation at work or on a project you are working on for your side hustle: ALWAYS negotiate. Women are grossly underpaid in the corporate world. Research ways to negotiate and ask for that raise! Make sure you backup your request for a raise with salary statistics for your position in your location, as well as a list of accomplishments you have reached while at your company. When ti comes to pricing a project for your side hustle or sending your rates to a potential client, know your worth! If people approach you with special projects or work, they see value in you. If they say they don’t have the budget, negotiate or respectfully decline the opportunity if it’s not worth it for you to extend your services for free!
– Don’t give up! Everyone faces obstacles, not just entrepreneurs developing a new business or product. Assess your obstacle and determine a way that you can adapt and overcome it. Don’t let it stop you in your tracks. The sooner you figure out a plan of attack, the closer you are to achieving your goal! Never let an obstacle derail you!
– Storytelling is everything! As a society, we are so compelled by the stories of others. When trying to effectively communicate your message, create a story and share your narrative! People love when they can genuinely relate to others.
– ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, AND MOVE THROUGH LIFE BOLDLY AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY!
SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 18w in this Worthington Stripe Tie Front Jumpsuit, which is my usual size, and it fits perfectly!
Photography by: Rorie Raimondi
