even thought about. And one of those biggest doors shout out to you, Paul Traynor, if you're listening. I'll know if you listen to this. One of those doors was having my first speaking engagement as a result of Paul telling me, I think you need to do some teaching. You're so passionate about your work a lot. You're really good with people. I said to him pretty much the same thing I said to Gable when they called me about the podcast and told him he was insane. Who's going to listen to me in our industry with my journey? I'm not an architect. They're going to tell me I'm full of you know what and kick me out of the room. And he told me I was wrong. And he convinced me. So I picked the first that he convinced me to apply for on what is our big stage, which is the CSI National Conference. That was the first time I ever spoke in public. So fast forward, that was about 10 years ago. And that I had never done any kind of speaking engagement outside of just normal kind of, here's where we're at, at work kind of things. And I've. I, don't know how many it is now. The last time I counted it was over 400. And that was a year ago. So it's probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 altogether now.
Randy Wilburn: Speaking engagement is what you're referring to?
Cherise Lakeside: Yes.
Randy Wilburn: Okay.
Cherise Lakeside: And that is what ultimately. And that and getting also involved in social media, because I thought social media was the stupidest thing ever. I'll own it. I'm totally fine with saying I was so wrong. I went to a presentation that my friend Joy Davis, who was another big advocate for me in my early days of total imposter syndrome and lack of confidence, went to a presentation she did on social media after I told her I thought it was a bunch of garbage. And she said, come to my presentation and then tell me that when you're done. And I said, okay. And I sat through it, and I'm going, oh, okay. She's got some points here. Does it work that way? I got involved on social media, and that's how, eventually I ended up meeting Mark Lepage and Demetrius. I knew them and was connected to them on social media for a number of years. Never met him in person. Yeah, I was doing the podcast for about a year and a half before I finally met Mark in person, which is just bizarre. And so there are all kinds of side stories in there. That's kind of the main. Hopefully, it’s the short version of that journey. Randy Wilburn: Well, first of all, I, really appreciate you sharing that. I think what you just shared early on is something that young people should hear in terms of getting involved with the design industry and how they do it. There are a lot of opportunities for people to learn what this industry is all about, how you cut your teeth in it, and how you get started. And, I mean, your whole approach is, I think, refreshing to hear. I see you
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