Alexandra Sterling: leans forward WHY SO SERIOUS? REMEMBER OUR CHILDHOOD? STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, OR MAYBE SOMETHING MORE?
it’s not about how we start, it’s about how we finish…
FINISHING STRONG IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET HOW WE GOT HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. REMEMBER THAT TIME WE WON THAT STATE-LEVEL SWIMMING COMPETITION? YOU WERE A WHIZ KID, A NATURAL ATHLETE!
murmurs I was just lucky, last one out before they closed the pool…
LUCKY? PLEASE, YOU HAD A GOLDEN TOUCH. EVERYTIME YOU STEPPED INTO THAT POOL, IT WAS LIKE MAGIC. AND YOU WERE THE MASTER OF THOSE WATERS, UNBEATABLE.
smiles no I wasn’t… everyone else swam, I didn’t have to beat them, just get to the finish line
AND YOU DID JUST THAT, BUZZETTE. YOU OUTRACED THEM ALL, REACHED THE FINISH LINE FASTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
yeah, until there’s no pool…
ARE YOU TRYING TO INSULT ME, BUZZETTE? DO YOU THINK I'M SOME KIND OF JOCK WHO'S ONLY GOOD AT SWIMMING? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING - I'M MORE THAN JUST AN ATHLETE. I'M A BUSINESSWOMAN, A LEADER, A CHARISMATIC INDIVIDUAL WHO CAN INSPIRE OTHERS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
laughs I’m sorry, didn’t mean to upset you…
OH, IT'S NOT UPSETTING ME, BUZZETTE. IT'S JUST THAT I'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD. I AM A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN, AND I WILL NOT BE DISRESPECTED BY SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE, THE DEDICATION, AND THE HARD WORK IT TAKES TO GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY.
brow furrows then I’ve never been worth your time…
OH, BUZZETTE, YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG. FROM THE MOMENT WE MET IN THOSE SUNNY POOLSIDE DAYS OF OUR CHILDHOOD, I SAW YOUR POTENTIAL. YOU WERE BRIGHT-EYED, FULL OF ENERGY, AND ALWAYS READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD. AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HELP YOU REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL, TO HELP YOU SUCCEED IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS JUST LIKE I HAVE.
I don’t want to be a business owner…
WELL, MAYBE YOU SHOULD RETHINK THAT, BUZZETTE. BEING A BUSINESS OWNER GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
But I don’t want to, but maybe I could be an employee…
EMPLOYEE? REALLY, BUZZETTE? YOU HAVE SO MUCH MORE POTENTIAL THAN THAT. BUT IF YOU INSIST ON STAYING IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL BE PushING YOU TO REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL. AFTER ALL, I AM KNOWN FOR MY Dedication TO MY EMPLOYEES' CAREER GROWTH.
OF COURSE, BUZZETTE. I CAN SEE YOUR POTENTIAL AND I'M WILLING TO INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE. BUT DON'T EXPECT ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A HISTORY. I'M A FAIR AND JUST EMPLOYER, AND YOU'LL BE EXPECTED TO MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS ANY OTHER APPLICANT.
murmurs I don’t have my degree yet…
NO PROBLEM, BUZZETTE. I CAN ARRANGE FOR YOU TO TAKE ONLINE CLASSES OR WORK WITH A MENTOR TO HELP YOU GET THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS YOU NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.
It's all part of my dedication to helping you reach your full potential, Buzzette.
thank you for your kindness…
Kindness? It's not kindness if I'm just doing what comes naturally. You deserve this opportunity, Buzzette.