Alumna Guest Post:Why We Must Ask For Help
I am a high producer. It’s who I am. Depending on who you ask, some may consider the efficiency with which I move through a to-do list either a superpower or a serious sickness. And honestly, the line that separates those two perspectives is very thin. I don’t struggle with getting stuff done. I am a pro at creating structure. I achieve goals. I always just motored on. Until motherhood.
In the past couple of years, the complexity of life skyrocketed. I birthed my son in May 2021, and my husband has been pursuing his master’s in data science through Georgia Tech, leaving me a single parent as I attempt to do the grocery shopping, food prepping, lawn care, house cleaning, laundry, and take care of our precious little boy on the weekends while he does homework. All while working full-time. My plate is very full. My energy levels depleted.
Yet I am not alone. My situation is not unique. While we grind to see an inch of forward progress, there remain the unflinchingly rigid laws of space and time. We can only produce so much in a 24-hour period. Every woman knows that high output over an extended period of time without proper recovery serves as the perfect conditions for burnout. For a cataclysmic mental breakdown. So what do we do about that?
Every year in March for International Women's Month, local leaders initiate purposeful discussions on how to support the growth and stability of female and people of color entrepreneurs in Wichita. While it is important to show financial support by regularly patronizing these businesses and promoting them on social media, sustainable economic growth for these underserved populations requires more. We must also strive to create a culture that celebrates female professionals who seek help, support, and encouragement from their community. Providing an emotional support system for female professionals and entrepreneurs who work tirelessly every day is just as crucial. This collective values authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty. This community not only serves as a soft place to land for those female change-makers who need a pep talk but also as a well of wisdom and compassion.
For most of my career, I’ve worn this superwoman cape facade and valiantly declared, “I’ll do it myself.” My best guess is that I thought this approach was the valiant, noble way to live. But when we reach the end of ourselves and there’s still more work to be done - who do we turn to? What’s the plan B? This isolationist mindset landed me in a garbage heap of self-doubt, burnout, and stunted growth. As a solitary force, our capacity is finite. Constrained. Fixed. But imagine multiplying the work of the dreamers, the risk-takers, and the mavericks - and the production potential is beautifully boundless.
Wichita can have a stunning number of female and minority-owned businesses that are the crowned jewel of economic progress but in order for that growth to be sustainable, we must construct a culture that values and supports those who are brave enough to admit that they need help.
This culture shift not only values the business, the entity, and the economic contribution of each individual, but places a higher priority on connection, mental health, and community.
And this is the most meaningful way we can move forward as a collective.
Caitlin Slemp is a video producing wizard with over 7 years’ experience in the film and digital marketing industry. She's the queen of creativity, constantly pushing boundaries to develop compelling marketing content for local brands, including documentaries, web series, and dynamic social assets.
As a lifelong learner, Caitlin is always leveling up her skills to bring nothing but the best to the table. With an impressive range of expertise in video production, social media marketing, digital storytelling, and project management, she's like a Swiss army knife in the marketing world. Her main passion is sharing stories of audacious people working to better their lives and make an impact on their communities.