Texas Style Council’s Conference Keynote Speech: Inspiration from Kendi

Kendi often wears a necklace which says DREAM BIGGER in braille.

Do you remember the games you played as a little girl? Did you cook on the Fisher Price kitchen for the family? Were you the doctor for all of your stuffed animals or dolls? Or perhaps, the school teacher keeping the neighborhood kids in line? Now, think deeper….is it possible that your life’s purpose could be rooted within those first childhood games?

For blogging “rock star” Kendi, it was! With right at 14,000 followers on her blog and a successful boutique in the Dallas area, Kendi’s klout is now off the charts. But, she still speaks with the humility and childlike vision of the little girl who began to set up stores as a child. “I believe passionately that everyone has a path that they need to find and follow it. As a little girl I had a desire to run a store…I owned a donut shop and a clothing store. My mom let me use whatever was around. Years, later, I always went back to this. I would doodle in college and dream about boutiques,” she said to the auditorium filled with women of all ages hoping to follow a similar path.

Humble and Humorous…she is a pleasure to listen to!

A path which began to crystallize when she started a blog and dragged her husband outside to snap photos every day. “From this, I took a close look at my closet and that led to the 30 for 30 challenge which really made my blog,” she said. As her audience grew, she would work diligently to monetize the blog, quit her day job, and finally open her store seven months ago….with real garments and not toys.

From her website, Kendi’s dream: to open a retail store front with pieces that fit perfectly in the closet of the every day woman.  A place where you can find unique pieces to add to your wardrobe that make it feel like you.”

But, in her own precious way, Kendi was quick to caution that all of our paths are different. “Whatever your path is, it doesn’t have to be glamorous and a whole lot of people don’t have to watch. Also, your day job is not your enemy. Your path may not include leaving your job,” she said. From experience she knows bloggers will look at lots of blogs and compare their lives to one another. But, she lamented that all listening in the audience could not march down together to a local tattoo vendor and have these words permanently penned on their bodies: COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY. “We will never be satisfied with another’s path,” she said.

Kendi’s husband and family members listened from the front row!

The auditorium filled in preparation for her speech.

 She spoke of many life lessons learned at her young age:

1. Learning to ask in a strong voice WHAT IF I DON’T TRY?; instead of, in the weak voice, WHAT IF I FAIL?

2. If I jump, I will land…it may be on my face and not my feet…but I will land.

3. Why don’t we talk more about DREAM BIGGER? We learn that risks are foolish…but Steve Jobs said, “Stay Hungry, Stay foolish!”

4. Listen to yourself and not anyone who would discourage you from taking your own path.

5. Blogging is not your purpose…you have a much greater purpose. It is just a blog, but nothing without you and your perspective. Let the blog drive your purpose. You can make it whatever you want it to be…what will you make it?

The little girl with the donut shop has grown up and is now the stylish young woman business owner. The opportunities are endless for those who dare to DREAM BIGGER.

Blogger and new author, Elissa Stern, finished some work before the speech.

http://prettyshinysparkly.com/texas-style-council-recap/

This is the first picture I have seen of me moderating the
panel.  It is number 10 on Kristina’s post!

How many reading are dreaming bigger these days??

13 Comments

  1. "Comparison is the thief of joy!" Would that we would all really really get that. In the blogging world, it's what we tend to do. It's easy to forget that we all put our best foot forward on our blogs….and what's portrayed may not always be as glamorous as it seems. We create our own glamour. Thanks for highlighting this speech from such a charming young woman! Hugs! ~Serene

  2. Hi Pam, great post with good lessons for everyone. I loved seeing the picture of Elissa. I got to meet her at IFB con in NYC last September, which was a treat. I love the phrase 'Comparison is the thief of joy.' I think I am going to write that on a piece of paper and leave it somewhere I can see it many times a day! XO, Jill

  3. I've seen a couple photos of the audience today…and am amazed by how many are attending this conference now. Kendi sounds much like herself in this synopsis you've shared from her keynote. Her words about comparison are so true.

    When do we get to hear what YOU had to say?

  4. Pam I wish I could have been there, how inspirational!! Congrats on your involvement!

    Please do come over to visit, I have a New Giveaway from Fresh Produce I think you will love!

    Xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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