Before you meet Sandy Parker Martinez, there are a few things you should know.
First, do not casually ask her, “So, what are you working on?”
You do not have that kind of time.
She is working on a book, a podcast, a speaking career, a community, a live event, a sermon, three websites, seventeen collaborations, and something she thought of in the shower this morning that already has a domain name.
She may tell you she’s “cutting back.”
This means she has eliminated two projects and added six.
Sandy is 70 years old, which she mentions primarily because she considers it evidence that the rest of us have absolutely no excuse.
She has replaced both knees and both hips, lost more than 100 pounds, reinvented her life several times, and apparently interpreted all of this not as a reason to slow down, but as upgrades.
Do not tell her something “can’t be done.”
You have now accidentally assigned her a project.
Also, be careful saying, “Wouldn’t it be fun if…”
She will have purchased the URL before you finish the sentence.
If Sandy says, “I just had a little idea,” alert the family.
There will soon be graphics.
And possibly a lobster.
Speaking of lobsters: don’t ask.
Actually, go ahead and ask. You’ll eventually hear the story anyway.
She believes lipstick is a philosophy, glitter is a legitimate strategic resource, rhinestone tennis shoes qualify as formalwear, and women should stop waiting for permission to live their own lives.
She also has a remarkable ability to turn an ordinary trip to dinner into an entire intellectual framework.
Most people spend too much on lobster and think:
Well, that was expensive.
Sandy spends too much on lobster and thinks:
THIS IS A BOOK.
Then there is the enthusiasm.
Sandy doesn’t really have “mildly interested.”
She has:
THAT’S IT!!!
Followed approximately seven minutes later by:
Wait. Do we like it?
Followed twelve minutes later by:
I LOVE IT. Don’t change anything.
Followed shortly thereafter by:
Okay, one more tiny thing…
There is never one more tiny thing.
If you are a designer, please hydrate.
She is also a world-class connector. You may arrive knowing nobody and leave with three new friends, a speaking opportunity, a collaboration partner, and a vague feeling that you have somehow volunteered for September 17.
And don’t be fooled by the pink glasses, lipstick, laughter, and sparkle.
Underneath all that is a woman who notices things.
She notices when people make themselves smaller.
She notices when capable women start believing they’re finished.
She notices when somebody has quietly stepped backstage in their own life.
And she has very little patience for it.
So here’s the actual warning:
The actual warning
If you’re perfectly happy staying exactly where you are, avoid Sandy.
Because she will probably ask one question you weren’t expecting.
She’ll make you laugh.
She’ll tell you a story involving a lobster, a gas gauge, asphalt, lipstick, or possibly all four.
And somewhere in the middle of it, you may suddenly realize:
Oh, crap. She’s right.
You’ve still got some living to do.
And Sandy Parker Martinez is absolutely the kind of woman who will remind you of it,
whether you asked her to or not. 😂
