I recently interviewed Karen Lawrence, owner of It’s My Affair, for a video about the Democratic National Convention’s vendor directory. In that story, Lawrence talked about landing a contract to help with accommodations for delegates. Last week, Lawrence’s company was one of 13 companies awarded contracts for event planning for the DNC. I reached out to her for a simple quote, but she sent me a testimonial about God, faith and friendship.
What’s happening for me now is a result of answered prayer. I am more than excited and I’ve shed a tear or two. There was a period of time in business when I felt like I was kicking against the bricks. When I heard Charlotte would be hosting the 2012 DNC, I got together with 5 other business and professional women to commit our businesses to prayer. We knew we had to make sure everything was in line with our businesses and go through the proper channels as we all do. But we wanted to form a camaraderie to show our community that minority businesses -especially women- can come together and support each other in sincerity and in action. We’ve done that. Wherever there was need for support, we left our egos behind do what needed to be done for the other. I believe as a result of our commitment to each other and prayer for the other, opportunities opened for each of us. We all are now doing business in some way with the DNC. To be awarded two contracts has exceeded my expectations and is moving my business into a much different space. I am excited about being in the moment, being a part of history and being an example to others as to the power we have when we come together. I received a call the other day from a lady out of town who was struggling with her business and had thought to give up. I did not know her. She read my success story. She wanted me to know, that I was an encouragement to her. Getting contracts with the DNC is exciting but knowing that my success in landing these contracts has actually helped someone else to fulfill their purpose lets me know that I’m doing something right.
In the video below, Lawrence discusses her other DNC contract:
