“I bet they wouldn’t treat me like this if I was Oprah.”

That’s what I’ve been thinking a LOT lately.  I’m climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on June 26th and fundraising for several charities.  As a result, I’ve been doing a lot of asking.  Sign up for the competition!  Will you be a sponsor?  Maybe you want to contribute!  Would you share my website/status/ tweet/ e-mail/ link?  

The way I see it, people are grouped into two categories: Oprah (or Ellen or whatever celebrity you happen to hold in very high esteem) and everyone else.  The weird thing is most of us aren’t celebrities so this process of only doing things for celebrity worship just means less is happening for the common good.

I don’t know what you think when you see me.  You might be thinking, good luck lady- that looks like a lot of work for nothing.  Or, you may be in the everything-looks-easy-for-her camp.  Here’s the truth:  Sometimes it’s easy and most of the time it feels like an uphill climb. One thing I know for certain: it would be so much easier if I was Oprah.  All I want to do is climb a mountain, launch a new coaching program, raise money for a worthy cause and inspire you.  Don’t get me wrong, some people have invested and promoted my cause, but many more will not be contributing, going or seeing anything- because of one of the 4 reasons below.  

• Oprah Expectation #1:  Sure I’ll get behind you!  You just need to be PERFECT or a BILLIONAIRE.

Oprah is not perfect.  It’s part of her genius; she relatable and authentic.  For the rest of us, fighting a weight problem, not getting married, or starting big magazine and television projects without experience is a near impossibility.  We give Oprah a pass because she a sure bet with millions of viewers and billions of dollars.  I am not a sure thing.  I haven’t changed the trajectory of book publishing or created a frenzy for tee-shirt bed linens with my singularly expressed opinion. As a result, when I ask people to get behind my projects, they may acqueisce but often only if I’m willing to live in perpetual gratitude.  Or it’s a “no for now,” until I get my Youtube views up, lose a few pounds (yes that one happened for real) or get published.  If only I was…well never mind, let’s keep going.

The ordinary woman’s advice:  Look for opportunities to invest in people who deserve your attention, money and influence.  Instead of offering an immediate “not worth it” for us not-Oprah people, listen to the requests that makes sense.  Don’t pass on people who don’t have a lot of money, or don’t look exactly right for the opportunity.

• Oprah Expectation #2:  Unless you can give everyone a car, I just don’t see how you will pull this off.

YOU get a car and YOU get a car and YOU get a car!  EVERYONE gets a car!  Maybe you remember the adrenaline-driven moment on the Oprah show or better yet, the Saturday Night Live skit starring Maya Rudolph (click on the photo to view the video).  After that, tickets to the Oprah show became impossible to get; you never knew if you might be the lucky audience member to receive something free because Oprah felt it was time to wave her magic wand.  I too have several events:  webinars, a Charity competition, group coaching sessions and speaking engagements.  Every year I grow my business, it becomes increasingly easier to get butts in seats.  But, I’ll never forget the enterprising few who attended those first events or signed up for a program purely for it’s value.  I don’t have a car to give those early adaptors but I have created a fantastical place called “Liz Island.”  On particularly discouraging days, I imagine making it big and  and inviting those who believed in me to my very own island to enjoy massages and private screenings and everyone’s favorite foods that I magically know because I’ve been watching and listening and I’m ever so grateful.

The ordinary woman’s advice:  As much as I would love to hand out cars like candy at my events, virtual or otherwise, it’s probably not going to happen for a while.  In the meantime, my causes are worthy and driven by purpose and passion.  I would also like to publicly state, I am already on the road to wild success.  Bet on my drive and focus, not my ability to give you a car.

• Oprah Expectation #3:  The “oh, it’s only you” phone call or voicemail.

Have you witnessed an Oprah phone call?  They scream, they repeat themselves, they share it on all social media websites known to man.  Any conflicting vacation plans are cancelled and new clothing is purchased (probably orange, O’s favorite color).  Needless to say, they are excited.  All from the potential in a simple phone call from the office (certainly not Oprah herself) of the Oprah Winfrey Network.  The rest of the voicemails, you know the ones from mere mortals, are returned out of obligation or sometimes not at all.  At this moment, I have no less than TWENTY unanswered voicemails, texts or e-mails.  It’s not that the respondents don’t admire my work or believe I’m grand; they just aren’t impressed.

The ordinary woman’s advice:  This suggestion is two-fold.  First of all, call people back.  It’s just the right thing to do.  And secondly,for those of you out there slogging away as non-Oprah-ites.  Just keep calling until they respond. It’s what us mere-mortals have to do to succeed.

• Oprah Expectation #4:  If I can’t ruin your life, I must not be a big deal.

I’m sure plenty of people have underestimated Oprah since the Texan cattle ranchers in the 90’s.  I’m also certain a good many people treat the most influential woman in television with respect and civility because they don’t want to make her pissed.   Granted, she wields considerable power to shed light on your inequitable treatment of animals, plagiarism or undelivered political promises.  Non-Oprahs can’t ruin your life with a single statement on the Larry King show.  But, does this mean you can quit without notice, decide not to pay me for my services, change the rules of an investment or under-market me for a speaking event? Just because I don’t wield such terrible influence?

The ordinary woman’s advice:  With the advent of social media and the interweb, our global reach has transformed us into small-town gossips.  Every has a voice and as a result, everyone has power.  Everyone has influence.  It’s best to treat everyone with respect and consider what they might say about you and your behavior.  Long term respect is proliferated by grassroots connections not big and glitzy responses.

If I’m being completely honest, it’s my dream to be a sort of “Indian-Oprah.”  I would LOVE to have the influence and resources to change the world.  But until that moment happens, I will soldier on to extraordinary results with my ordinary life.  In fact, I’m stealing a page from her playbook.  Taking a stand for what I believe, giving generously, rallying others to do good, not waiting for others to take responsibility- it’s not such a bad thing to consider.  It’s not easy to command respect without the bank account or the television show but the world still needs us non-Oprah’s to make a difference, one step at a time, one mountain at a time.

Perhaps you are now guilted into responding to Liz’s e-mail or contributing to her Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.  Just click here and check it out.  She promises you won’t be disappointed.