The Spritzy Moment
A Soloprenuer’s Start
A few years ago, newly into my solopreneur journey, a friend I had made over the course of several emails and phone calls during the Pandemic offered to introduce me to a friend of hers. This woman was a seasoned solopreneur who generously offered to show me the ropes as I entered this daunting world of freelance consulting. I was elated and so freaking grateful.
She invited me into her home (er, technically patio because pre-vaccines, guests were best kept in the backyard) and after some tea and talking, she offered to introduce me to two other women in her network. They also were founders of their own consultancies and just so happened to live in my neighborhood.
Meeting of the Minds
The four of us planned to meet for wine the following week. While our matchmaker got stuck with a flat tire on the way, the three of us remaining proceeded to drink and nosh on Greek food over our shared interests and career paths.
We tossed around professional resources we found helpful, including the myriad of self-help podcasts it turns out we were all devouring during this “uncertain time.” We should have invited Brene Brown and Oprah to join us for dolmas because those ladies were already a part of our newly formed circle.
A Personal Board of Directors
I recalled one of Brene’s latest episodes in which she posed the idea of constructing a “personal board of directors.” A group of people you could count on to weigh in on tough decisions, offer fresh perspectives, and help sort through the big stuff, just like a board of directors does for an organization.
New to consulting, I had started to realize that not having a cubicle mate, an office full of coworkers, or even a boss to give me guidance and feedback was an unexpected, somewhat uncomfortable change. So over a bowl of hummus and another bottle of wine, I pitched the idea of starting our own Personal Board. We formalized it immediately- we are consultants after all. Calendar invites were sent, agendas were crafted, and follow-ups cataloged action items to hold each other accountable.
Over time, the nature of our monthly-ish meetings evolved. As much as we needed support, we also recognized the need for celebration. Not only did we miss having a work bestie to bounce ideas off of, but silence is deafening when you accomplish something you’re proud of and there’s no one to validate your win. Heck, there is no manager to offer feedback in your end-of-year review (though I truly don’t miss that).
Just Add Aperol
At one somewhat impromptu, rather informal Board Meeting last summer, we gathered over a round of $9 Aperol Spritzes for happy hour (that’s a deal if you live in SF). While there was no agenda this time, it ended up being a particularly productive meeting. One of us shared a mini victory from the previous week, to which we reflexively lifted our glasses and declared, “That’s a Spritzy Moment!”
It immediately stuck.
The Magical Moment
In a matter of seconds, we had christened the idea of The Spitzy Moment.
A Spritzy Moment doesn’t have a formal definition…on purpose. For us, it’s anything cheers-worthy. It’s not a significant life event like a birthday or retirement requiring formal celebration, but it does deserve acknowledgment. It’s usually related to work, even if somewhat tangentially, but not always. Sharing a Spritzy Moment ignites a collective kudos from the crew and often validates the hard, yet good decisions we have to make to better ourselves and our careers.
Here are some Spritzy Moments we’ve celebrated as a group:
Pivoting industries to try something new
Negotiating a phenomenal exit package
Adopting a “no asshole” policy for new clients
Advocating for a better maternity leave policy
Declining a highly sought-after opportunity that didn’t make financial sense
Quitting a job that was sucking everything good out of life
By affirming achievements of all varieties, I grew more confident in pursuing less grandiose, praiseworthy endeavors. When LinkedIn posts applaud promotions, hype awards, and promote work anniversaries, it’s easy to forget it’s actually an accumulation of many Spritzy Moments that lead to the major milestones that flood your feed.
Over time, I found it easier to turn to past colleagues I admire, peers I respect, and friends I trust, when I needed help, advice, and even criticism. Those challenging perspectives often led to changes and choices that ended up benefiting me, so it felt less scary and just plain savvy to unearth my weak spots and uncover areas for improvement.
My Personal Board (et al) has organically expanded to a vast network of advisors thanks to the foundation of the three OGs who helped fortify a new concept of community- one based on candor and a commitment to celebrating and supporting personal and professional growth in all increments. I would never have guessed that from the depths of a global pandemic, a circle of support might emerge and catalyze a journey of growth, commemorated by Spritzy toasts that prove acknowledging our small wins is just as crucial as conquering giant feats.
Cheers to that!
