How do you show up?

One of the things I love about writing this newsletter is how it pushes me to be more conscious about learning from my daily experiences. Instead of just moving through life on autopilot, I find myself reflecting, growing, and applying lessons from even the simplest interactions and experiences.

Recently, something cool happened that reinforced an important truth.

As many of you know, I travel quite a bit for work. I love what I do and feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities. Of course, leaving my family is always the hardest part, which is why I bring them along whenever I can. But last week, I was on my own.

This particular industry conference is an exclusive event, and for the past three years, I’ve been fortunate to attend through my company’s sponsorship. This year, I had the incredible honor of speaking on the main stage. (And might I add—I was the only female speaker!)

After my presentation, a gentleman approached me and shared how much he enjoyed my talk. Then he said something that caught me off guard—he had just seen me speak at a different conference in Orlando the week before! I was amazed that someone had heard me speak in two different states, at two different events, within such a short time.

As we continued talking over dinner, I got to know him and his business, and we quickly formed a great connection. Later in the evening, he mentioned something that stunned me—he had actually first heard me speak years ago, before COVID!

I was shocked. I asked him how he even remembered me after all this time. He told me that back then, I was speaking about sales and overcoming objections. He recalled how I had invited the audience to throw any objection at me, and I had answered every single one without hesitation.

I don’t even remember doing that! But to him, it made such an impact that he instantly recognized me again, years later.

This moment reminded me of something powerful: We never truly know who we are influencing.

Every action we take, every conversation we have, every way we carry ourselves—someone is always on the other side of it.

Most people don’t go through life intending to harm others, but do we go through life with the purpose of positively impacting others? Do we show up in a way that lifts, encourages, and inspires—even when we don’t realize anyone is paying attention?

I want to be more conscious of how I show up at the grocery store or drive down the freeway. I want more purpose in how I speak on stage or sit next to another mom at swimming lessons. We can make a difference with the smallest things!

How we act matters.
How we treat people matters.
What we say matters.
How we present ourselves matters.

This experience reinforced something I strive for daily—I want to bring charisma, positivity, and motivation into the world. But that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we work on ourselves, manage our emotions, and prepare to show up as our best selves each day.

So how do we get better each day? We gain knowledge— through books, conversations, study, prayer, and practice. The more knowledge we have, the more motivation we build. And with motivation, we take better actions that help us and others grow. This can come in the form of health, faith, family, career, finances, and so much more!

I want more moments like the one I had with my new friend. More genuine connections. More reminders that showing up matters. And the only way to make that happen is to be intentional about how I present myself and how I impact those around me.

Moral of the Story: How we act shapes the opportunities we attract. The way we present ourselves builds trust, respect, and meaningful connections. And those connections can open doors we never expected. So here I am, choosing to try and show up even better than I was yesterday. Because I want YOU, and all those around me, to feel a little bit better just because of an interaction with me.

So, whose life are you going to change this week? Let me know!

Erica ❤️🌺