Date 2014

Setting

The Ohio Small Business Development Center [SBDC] invited me to their annual luncheon. They sat me at their table. Although perplexed, I embraced it + enjoyed the company of the relationships I'd built within the SBDC.

Walking into the ballroom, one detail caught my eye. Every table was decorated with purple flowers. Purple was/is the color of my hair + I'm known as the girl with the purple hair. I smiled to myself. "That's a happy coincidence." I had no idea what was coming.

The Reveal

My chair faced away from the stage. As lunch wrapped up, people around the room started pointing behind me. I turned to find my headshot filling the giant screen. WTH?

Everyone at my table smiled. "You'll find out," they snickered. Moments later, my name echoed through the ballroom. Approximately 350 people were in attendance.

Then, I heard the words: "...the Ohio Small Business Development Center proudly presents Angie Giltner with its Small Business of the Year Award..." Once again, WTH?

The Emotional Truth

From the stage, I wasn't celebrating. I was crying. Ugly, shocked, overwhelming tears, snot bubbles + all.

I felt:

• confused

• bewildered

• honored

• completely overwhelmed

• + battling a serious case of imposter syndrome

Because here's what nobody else in that ballroom knew...my business account was quickly falling to $2.84 with no revenue in sight. While everyone else saw success, I was questioning whether my business would survive.

Another Surprise [image below]

Then, Governor John Kasich walked onto the stage + handed me a recognition from the State of Ohio. I don't remember what he said. My brain had stopped processing words. I definitely remember my thoughts, "If they only knew the truth."

Why this award mattered

Most people think the award recognized business success. I saw it differently.

The SBDC saw something I hadn't fully seen yet.

They saw my:

• drive

• grit

• tenacity

• resilience

• wisdom

• leadership

• a heart for service

They recognized potential before the results + my brain caught up.

The Ripple Effect

Because they believed in me, I kept building + continue to perservere today.

Today, I've served 891 female entrepreneurs.

Of those:

• approximately 300 launched new businesses

• approximately 550 were established business owners

• roughly 75% are still operating today

Some women intentionally closed their businesses after discovering entrepreneurship wasn't aligned with the life they wanted. That's not failure. That's clarity + I helped them avoid years of pursuing the wrong path.

My husband, John's words that meant so much, "I'm proud of you." Then, he added something that now feels prophetic: "If anyone can have a successful business, it's you."

My biggest achievements aren't trophies.

They're moments where someone else recognized my potential before the outcome existed.

• the CEO underestimated my worth

• the SBDC recognized my potential

• my husband reinforced his belief in me

• my 2014/2015 coach recognized the CEO I'd become

This thread of events became one of the defining narratives of my life. They've shaped how I coach + serve female entrepreneurs today.

P.S. Don't recognize Empower Training & Assessment Company? My business + I have evolved over the past 13 years. Therefore, so did the name of my business.