It was a hard day, perhaps the most disappointing one in awhile but I knew I had to look on the bright side. And, when I did look on the bright side, I realized that it just was as sour as it was sweet and perhaps it was better that what happened did happen.
We got our answer for our Phase 2 proposal from the potential sponsor. We were almost sure we would and could land the deal but we had both agreed that Snickers would have to sell it to them himself. The person we were approaching, though a female herself, has never been fond of me and so I sent in Snickers to work his Korean charm magic.
Our proposal was denied.
They denied it not because they didn't think our plan would work or that we wouldn't be successful. They denied it because of me, and I quote, because I am "too strong minded" and "not Korean enough". What does that even mean?! Of course I am not Korean. Maybe my natural ash brown hair or my last name with it's 10 letters gave hint to that.
I didn't realize the success of my business depended on my ability to bend my thinking to that of a Korean. Two years into Hulk's and I'd like to think that it's because I am strong in my thinking and think outside of the norm here (because I am not from here) that my business is as successful as it is. When I think of all the flat-out crap I've had to deal with, everything from Pesky Parkers spitting at my feet, visitors treating me like I'm some kind of part time help there to make coffee for them and get them slippers, to random drunk Korean men having to be escorted out of the club, there is no way I could have gone through it all if I were to be any less strong than I am and that it has all made me. I am not one to sit back and let a man handle the situation and I know that shocks the socks of some because I do speak up. Many times Snickers wasn't even around when such things occurred nor was any other man for that matter so does that mean I should have taken it, let that Pesky Parker spit on my shoes, ignored the lack of manners from visitors and allow that drunk man to continue to harass my members?! Maybe some think so but I think not. Instead, I made that Pesky Parker buy tissue and clean my shoes, I sarcastically told that visitor that I don't get paid to make coffee, I get paid to kick butt, and that I'll get them some slippers but then they'll have to drop and give me fifty. And then I literally carried that drunk man out of the club. I'm not above anyone because I'm the manager here but I'm also not below anyone because I'm a young, female foreigner either. And that has been my biggest weakness and also my biggest strength -- I'm a young, female foreigner. It's given me extra power but also extra handicaps and today I was greatly handicapped because of it.
To tell me you are not sponsoring me because I am not a typical female Korean is both as insulting to me, a Westerner woman, as it it to your fellow country woman. The Korean woman is changing, I see it everyday with my own eyes. They're not the submissive, weaker woman they were when I first met them 10 years ago and anyone that wants to encourage that old school mentality is just outdated and discouraging. So yes, please don't sponsor me if you think I am too independent and too strong minded as a woman. I was never taught strength was a characteristic only privileged to the men. It's because of my strength and set determination to do what I want and be who I want that I have earned and attracted the sponsors I have and I don't want to be associated and supported by those who think else what because honestly that's not supporting me at all.
It was disappointing to hear that it was ultimately because of me we missed out on a massive six digit financial sponsor. I could have cried on the spot but I sucked it up, whispered some "too-strong-for-a-girl" words and got back to work. I'm not going to lower myself because a weaker woman can't respect my strength. I gave her my time today but that's all she got. I had my introduction sponsor letter for the Nigerian team to finish so that's what I did. Letter completed and it was 15 pages long with all the scanned legal documents I had to include in it. Felt good to get it done but it felt even better knowing that I did it all by myself.
What's that, I'm legally sponsoring and bringing over a team of 7 from Nigeria for a month all by my itty-bitty, little female self?! A girl can do such a big thing? Yuppers, watch me. Try to wrap your old school head around that.
Our proposal was denied by the only one person we actually proposed it to so we can't and won't give up hope. There will be others we will approach regarding it and yes, they may say no too, but you never know if you don't ask. Sometimes it's not even a matter of asking but instead a matter of believing strongly and sharing your big ideas with those around you -- sharing your passion. We never asked Wow to sponsor us, he approached us, as did Adidas France who reached out to me after seeing a video I made on YouTube. So we will keep on asking, keep on talking about our Phase 2 plan, and continually stay passionate about our hopes and dreams because nothing is impossible and ain't that the truth!!!
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