Becoming S.M.E. (Becoming Me)

 

There are moments in business that feel big.

And then there are moments that feel… quiet.
Almost ordinary.

The kind you could walk right past if you didn’t know what to look for.

This is one of those moments.

It started with a dinner invitation.

Sitting in Sydney, Australia, around a table with entrepreneurs from around the world, sharing stories, laughter, and that unspoken understanding that everyone there is building something meaningful.

At the table, something unexpected happened.

Ali mentioned — casually, almost in passing — that I was near the top of the leaderboard in the program.

New members. Momentum. Movement.

But the real moment?

It happened after dinner.

We took a group photo — one of those happy, slightly uncoordinated moments where everyone squeezes in, smiles, and captures something you know you’ll look back on later.

And then, just like that, the group shifted.

People moved. Conversations changed.

And there was this small, almost invisible window of time where Ali was there, just around the corner.

So I walked over.

He asked a simple question to break the ice.

And I responded with something that had been quietly sitting with me since the very beginning.

“I mentioned in my email… that I would consider myself successful in business if I traveled internationally.”

A small pause.

“And here I am… thank you.”

There was a look — the kind that says I understand.

And then, just as simply:

“Any time you want a 1:1, just ask.”

A nod. A smile. Maybe a blush.

And just like that, the moment passed.

But not before one more scene.

As I stood there a little longer, I found myself looking over the railing at the escalators below.

And there they were (Ali and Izzy) — laughing, dancing, completely in their own world — being carried away to whatever came next.

It was light. Effortless. Joyful.

And it hit me:

If I hadn’t walked around the corner…
I would have missed it.

Later that evening, I returned home.

Still holding the energy of the night.

Still processing everything that had just happened.

And waiting for me was another moment.

An email.

An invitation to become a Subject Matter Expert (SME) with Community Futures.

So today, I did something simple.

I logged in.
I joined a Zoom call with my friend Jenine, another SME.
And I was encouraged — gently — to go for a walk, grab a drink, and just…

become a S.M.E.

And somewhere in that moment, the words shifted.

From acronym…
to meaning.

Becoming… me.

There’s more to this story. Including an invitation for a podcast with Ali's team.

More moments just around the corner.

But for now, this feels like the beginning of something.

And I’m so happy to share:

Today, I am becoming S.M.E.

Because, today, I am becoming me. 💛



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