Inspire Design, Inspire Joy!

The Caroline Doll, CEO of POSH PR®, reflects back on her time as a speaker at the Inspire Design workshop in New Orleans!

“Not my will, but Yours.” As I reflect back on my time spent in New Orleans as a speaker at the Inspire Design workshop, this phrase has been repeating in my head all week, the week up to Easter. Timing is a funny thing, isn’t it?

It’s typical to want to move through life on our own agenda—to set our guard up, to have stereotypical expectations. Placing ourselves before others is truthfully the more natural thing to do. While this is the easier thing to do, dolls, it’s also the most limiting thing we can do for ourselves. At Inspire I learned, once again, that choosing to do the harder thing more often than not delivers the most life-giving thing: joy. 

I came to Inspire expecting to deliver my talk on Instagram styling and strategy. A talk I know well.  I was prepared to put my best foot forward and serve. As empowering women is my ultimate mission, I came to love on every single person I encountered, regardless of backgrounds and varying personalities!

When we choose to love others and place them before ourselves, joy and true life are the natural byproducts of that. That is what attracts your ideal client. THAT is what attracts a true friend. I went to Inspire prepared to give a PR talk, but after I shared my heart and invested in the attendees, they wanted more. What I was NOT prepared to do was ANOTHER impromptu talk on money. They wanted to learn more and I was there to serve... so, why not? 

I went in as an educator, dolls, but I learned SO much. You never know who you’re speaking to. Making the decision to sacrifice your own agenda for the purpose of something much bigger than yourself, it’s not easy but it’s life-giving!

This post is actually not really about me, it is dedicated to all of the incredible dolls I had the honor of spending time with in NOLA!

Monique Melton: While I had only met her briefly in passing once before, I knew she had a bold personality and is a woman who isn’t afraid to say what's on her mind. She’s on a special mission, it’s a hard mission—but one that needs her. It comes from a place of loving, protecting, and standing up for those who don’t have a voice. She's made the decision to put others before herself. Not her will, but Your will. To live out her mantra, Love God. Love People. 

I am so encouraged by all of the attendees I got to meet, but especially by:

@mtiongson — I am SO proud of you for taking the leap of faith to finally live the life you've always dreamed of living! Yes, it is going to be hard work, but I am totally cheering you on!

@thecopperpress — Cherry, you were a DELIGHT and I loved getting to know you!

@sherilynndesigns — Sheri Lynn, I wish we told you this experience was like birthing a baby at the beginning, HA! So excited to watch your brand grow!

@vedakevents — Veda! You are one of my favorite people ever, I am so happy we sat next to each other on the very first night! PS: Sorry I called you out about your private Instagram account, ha!

@moxiebrightevents — Even though I almost threw up in the taxi on the way to the airport, I am SO happy we were together. You are such a force to be reckoned with and I am honored to call you a friend!

@rsvpeventdesigns — Raela, you, my friend, are one of a kind. I am SO excited to work with you this year!

@epiphanyeight — Did you swipe up to find your name RIGHT HERE in this blog post?! Your smile is infections and I always love seeing you!

@lillypaigevents — Thank you for being an AMAZING friend and keeping me together last week. I absolutely adore you!

@innola — I can not WAIT to watch you do BIG things this year! Your work ethic and brand vision will guide you along the way, I promise! Thank you for sharing your heart with me last week!

@honeysuckle_events — Rebecca.... BE CONFIDENT! You are incredibly talented and have a heart of gold. I loved spending time with you last week!

@oliviasourisrose — Olivia! You are on a mission and no one will ever get in your way! I admire your love for education and can not wait to watch you do BIG things!

@abreathtakingevent — AH! I wish we had more time together! I am your biggest fan and can not wait to follow along with your journey! Beauty AND brains, you will be unstoppable! 

... the list goes on!

And I learned so much from the other inspiring leaders like:

@weddingsbylulu — Lulu, thank you for trusting me with your attendees! I love spending time with you and sharing my heart each and every workshop. I can not wait for the next one!

 @wild_heart_events — Girlfriend! YOU are talented! What an honor it was to watch you design the most incredibly creative and "wild" dinners! Thank you!

@paperedwonders — Lisa, it was SO great meeting you! I am glad we bonded over Louis Vuitton... I hope you found your new wallet! 

@cecedesignsllc — Cece! Okay, FIRST, I am going to steal Bella... or maybe we can start with a FaceTime call, HA! And SECOND, you are such a light in my life and I am LUCKY to call you a friend. You are powerful, beautiful, strong, incredibly TALENTED and someone who always knows how to make other smile. THANK YOU for your light in this world!

@gtmarketingandconsulting — Greg, it was SO great meeting you! I loved hearing you chat about SEO and I am excited to bounce ideas off one another this year!

@ellybevents — Eliana, you always inspire me to push myself harder and know that no matter what, any dream is possible. Thank you for your encouragement and for showing us all what it truly means to live a life of passion and hard work! You, my friend, inspire me daily!

@joyproctor — Joy! You are such a doll and I always love spending time with you! Thank you for making us all smile and for always being an example of positive light! 

@twobrightlights — Meghan! Why have we not spent more time together in the past?! You, my friend, are a gift from God and your drive and passion for what you do is so incredibly inspiring. I miss you already!

Not only did every single one of you inspire design, you inspired joy!

I’d love to leave you with one more inspiring quote:

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.”

PS: If you’d like to learn more about my speaking topics, contact me here!