What happens when ADHD, hot flashes & a microphone walk into a pitch competition…
OMG mi gente, let me set the scene:
- Event: Lehigh Valley LaunchBox Ladies Pitch Competition
- Plot twist: After hours of practice and full-on “I’m-gonna-win-this” manifesting, ADHD and peri-menopause pulled up like uninvited co-hosts and hijacked my nerves – BIG TIME.
- Symphony of surprises: Teary eyes, voice tremors, and a stage light hotter than abuelita’s cafetera.
Did it sting? Claro que sí.
Regrets? Cero, boo. Every stumble was tuition at the University of Showing Up & Owning It.
“I’ve learned that every emotion is good.” – Inside Out 2
(Listen, even Pixar understands emotional messy-ness.)
CBT Corner – ¡Sigo Practicando, Porque Practice Builds Progress!
Bombing onstage can drain your confidence faster than you can ask Google for an emotional-support churro. I whipped out my CBT survival kit—did it turn me into a fearless stage goddess? Not quite. But every shaky attempt is one more rep at the mental gym, and gains are gains, bebés. Here’s what I tried (and will keep flexing until it sticks):
| Quick Technique | What It Is | How I Tried It | Reality Check & Next Step |
| Box Breathing 4-4-4-4 | Inhale-hold-exhale-hold, 4 counts each | Duck-walked to the hallway, traced an invisible square, breathed hasta que el pulso bajara. | Nerves still salsa-danced, but my heart rate dropped.Plan: Practice daily, not just crisis-mode. |
| Fact-Check Self-Talk | Swap drama thoughts for neutral data | Changed “I totally bombed” to “Three nods + one ‘great slide!’ = algo hice bien.” | The gremlins kept yapping, but volume definitely lowered.Plan: Keep a “Receipts List” of wins for quick access. |
| Present-Moment Labeling | Name what you see/hear/feel to anchor yourself | “Red blazer, applause, floor under heels.” | Gave me a precious 10-second zen bubble—solid gold, trust! Without it, I’d have gone full telenovela, ugly-crying at max volume.Plan: Pair with a grounding object (smooth stone, worry coin, or fidget widget). |
Spoiler alert: these tricks didn’t turn me into Beyoncé—but they absolutely kept me from tapping out.
Practice > Perfection. Next time that mic shows up, these tools and a few fresh ones—will be sharper.
Try it: Screenshot this table, stick it on your phone’s lock screen before your next big meeting, and watch your brain chillax.
Why Showing Up Messy Still Wins
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with queens like Winner Yuliya Semenovych, Runner-Up Donna Tomlin, and fellow finalists Kelly Lotito & Dana Alyss reminded me of what I always say…
- Courage/Consistency compounds. Every shaky mic grab today = steadier hands tomorrow.
- Visibility beats perfection. LinkedIn crowds don’t clap for perfect—they clap for relatable.
- Our missions need airtime. Trauma-Informed Care + Emotional Intelligence aren’t buzzwords; they’re life jackets for the modern workplace. This has never been more important than in this era!
My A.L.M.A.™ framework (Assess • Layout • Mobilize • Anchor) deserves more than a notebook cameo. It’s getting a world tour, starting AHORA!
Gratitude Roll-Call (because none of us rise solo)
Fam-Fan-Club – To every cousin, colega, and coffee-fueled friend who screamed my name—¡los quiero un montón !
Amiga Action Challenge
Work a Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) move into your routine three times a week so it’s muscle-memory when the spotlight hits.
Tag me on LinkedIn telling me which skill you used – use #HRAmigaUnfiltered.
What’s Next?
- I’m teaming up with two powerhouses—Shelley Maley (Dreamcatcher Career Coaching, LLC) and Yde Segura (Segura HR Solutions)—to cook up an all-new workshop that blends trauma-informed vibes, career-boosting strategy, and spicy HR real talk. Stay tuned… juicy details dropping soon!
- Podcast Sneak Peek!
This Thursday, July 3 at 7 p.m., tune in to HR Amiga Unfiltered as I give my LaunchBox Ladies pitch the remix it so deserves—and spill the tea on how to flip a “whoops” moment into a fearless win. Don’t miss it!
Looking for a speaker who brings equal parts strategy, corazón, and LOLs— and isn’t afraid to stumble, learn, and turn it into a masterclass in growth?
Let’s chat!
info@sunnyworksinnovations.com | 917-207-0124
Seats, downloads, and diary slots fill up fast—slide into my inbox before they do!
Gracias de corazón for riding this roller-coaster with me. Let’s keep showing up—messy, passionate, and real—because workplaces won’t heal themselves.
Hasta la próxima,
Jessica “Your HR Amiga Unfiltered”
Founder, SunnyWorks Innovations
