Everything Has Led to This Moment

Hello everyone! It’s February and I am buzzing. I just got back from Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics and what can I say?! Wow. It was an amazing few days. The conversations were thought-provoking, challenging and inspiring. The speakers were at the top of their game. I learned, I laughed. It was incredible. 

And one of the biggest takeaways for me was just how excited the industry is for 2024. 

Disruption has been a big part of the last few years. And it really had taken its toll. But, when you’re in the thick of it, you just push on. You get your head down, you do what you can to solve problems, explore opportunities, and navigate your way through. It’s only when you come out the other side, that you can really reflect on what you’ve been through, and apply all of that knowledge in moving forward. 

And that really was the vibe at Manifest. Now, I’m not saying disruption is behind us! Disruption is a constant. But it’s all about the mindset, the lessons learned, and the strategy you bring to the table before, during and after. And Manifest has shown me that there’s really been a shift there. We’re no longer seeing frantic firefighting. Supply chainers are coming in hot! They’re having the right conversations. They’re being honest about their failures. They’re opening up possibilities. And they’re looking to the future with positivity and enthusiasm. 

And I can’t help but be struck by the parallel to my own life. 

If you follow my content regularly, you’ll notice that, over the last few months, I’ve been getting more reflective, thinking about the roller coaster that my life and journey has been so far. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting a little older, my step-kids are grown or it’s my years of therapy kicking in (!), but I’ve been coming to realize just how important it is to reflect on where you’ve been, if you want to figure out where to go next. 

As I’ve thought more and more about this wild ride, I’ve realized: I’ve spent my whole life preparing for what I’m doing now. Everything has led to this. 

And I want to share that with you. 

This year, I’ll be taking you on the journey with me, and highlighting a different part of my story in The Monthly Hustle. We’ll dive into the highs, the lows and the (many!) lessons I’ve learned along the way. And I want to hear from you too!

Together, through Let’s Talk Supply Chain, Blended and now The Secret Society Of Supply Chain, we’ve built an incredible community. A warm, supportive, and collaborative community. And we can all learn so much from each other, if we’re honest and open-hearted. 

So get ready for a taste of me, raw and unfiltered! I’m going to be diving into everything that’s made me who I am. Entrepreneurship and bankruptcy. Bullying and therapy. Travel, step-parenting, gaming, raving, public speaking, anxiety, a failed wedding. 

And… Denise Richards?! 

That’s right. The absolutely gorgeous actress Denise Richards plays a part in the first little anecdote I want to share with you. 

Believe it or not, I was always terrified of public speaking. Shaking, sweating, panic attack terrified.

But I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. Nor am I one to do things by halves. 

So, instead of taking the usual route and going to Toastmasters, I took the Sarah Barnes-Humphrey route! I went out and got a talent agent. The agent got me a few gigs that pushed me well out of my comfort zone and forced me to face my fears. 

And that’s how I ended up - with absolutely fabulous Charlie’s Angels-style hair -  in a campaign for Denise Richards hair care product line!    

I was hired to work on the campaign at the Shopping Channel for a day. I think I was chosen because of my picture - the blonde hair was obviously the look they were going for! It was a long day, about 12 hours, and our campaign was featured three times. I was SO nervous, but I knew that nerves were part of the process, and I reminded myself that I was doing this for a reason. 

Before the last show of the day, Denise offered to buy us dinner as a thank you, and I drove her to a restaurant across the street to pick up takeout. Of course, the staff at the restaurant all wanted pictures with her, so I briefly became her photographer as well (!), and took pics of them all before we drove back to set. Then we all ate the takeout together in the dressing room!

My slowly developing confidence was tested once again when I was asked to join Denise on Breakfast Television, a leading morning show in Toronto. I had to wake up at 4am to drive downtown, get my makeup - and of course my hair! - done, before joining Denise for a segment on live TV. There are no words to describe how nervous I was. But I wanted to learn to speak in public. And what better way than on live television, with a Bond girl no less?!

So, from now on, make sure you never miss an edition of The Monthly Hustle. Because if you think that’s a crazy story, let me tell you - it’s just the beginning. 

Sarah