A guest post by Ji Eun (Jamie) Lee.
I had the rich privilege of presenting Hands-On Negotiation Workshop at the first (2013) and second (2014) annual Bullish Conference in Miami. This year, I’m returning to BullCon as an attendee, and here are my reasons why:
1. I work hard
…as a consultant and speaker. I can use a vacation. If I can vacation in Palm Springs while making new ambitious feminist friends, that is my definition of grand! After all, I work hard to make money so I can spend some of that discretionary income on experiences that bring me pleasure and joy. The Bullish Conference is an experience in feminist uplift, made all the better by the tropical setting, relationship-building and skills-building.
2. Because Palm Springs
I’ve never been to Palm Springs. Have you? I’ve only seen it on TV, when Sarah and Tammy got married at a Palm Springs resort in the Amazon series Transparent. It was beautiful. I like palm trees and hot springs, and the idea of basking in the desert sun is especially appealing for fall when the temperature is starting to drop and leaves starting to turn, back at home in New York City. At the first Bullish Conference in Miami, attendees and I workshopped at a poolside cabana. It felt just right to be luxuriating while developing negotiation skills at the same time. My bet is that networking and designing my 2017 by the pool in beautiful Palm Springs will feel just right too.
3. Bullicorns are my tribe
I want to continue to grow my network of smart, ambitious women who hustle to win the game, and networking is a big part of winning the game. Here’s the story of how I met Jen Dziura. Back in 2013, I was networking to get my negotiation coaching business started. I reached out to Kelley Hoey, who put me in touch with negotiation expert Carol Frohlinger. Carol referred me to Jen who signed me on as a speaker for the first Bullish Conference. There, I met the audience of my dreams, women who aspire for bigger successes and don’t shy away from negotiating for what they desire. Meeting Bullicorns in the flesh solidified my will to keep developing my lady business and to improve my game.
4. It’s on my list of 2016 goals
Back in December, I was feeling down and sad. Things were just the pits. A friend who is into astrology suggested I write a list of my goals and dreams for 2016 as part of a “new moon ritual.” I’m not making this up to be sarcastic. I wrote a list and Bullish Conference was on it. So I am going. You can call it manifesting. You can blame it on the moon. I call it doing what I want.
5. I’m still learning
I consider myself a lifelong student. I came to America when I was seven and I’m still learning English as my second language. I started teaching negotiation a few years back, but I will continue to study negotiation and read books on it, probably until my late eighties should I live that long. I heard that Jen is leading an assertive training, and I immediately thought, yes, I want that. I want to learn how to be assertive in a feminist bullicorn way. I want to learn how being assertive can help me become a better negotiator, and I think that can help me become a better negotiation trainer too.
So, all that being said, see you there?
Only 12 days left to register for #BullCon16! Cart closes Aug 31.
Jamie Lee is a She Negotiates consultant and public speaker who specializes in helping go-getters slay their fears of negotiating and speaking up for themselves. At Jamie’s workshops, attendees get real-time coaching on how to present with poise, ask with confidence and respond to pushback. She believes in leading by listening, embracing “no” and making ambitious asks.
Twitter: @jieunjamie, @shenegotiates
