This blog post is six weeks overdue, but better late than never.

The story starts on a Wednesday, June 27, 2024 around 4 PM, with a fire alarm going off at the strip club where I worked. I hadn’t made a dollar all of June and had decided that if things didn’t improve, Friday would be my last day. Little did I know, this would turn out to be my final shift.

Normally, I’d focus on the front door while multitasking with homework on my phone. But when the fire alarm blared, it threw everything into chaos. The manager couldn’t fix it, so I decided to take a break. The club allowed us to do so as long as we checked in. During my break, I smoked and caught up on finance class assignments. Despite not earning money from stripping in June, I made sure to use my time productively.

Back inside the club, I received a text from the Big Boss: “Where are you?” I replied, “I’m at X club.” She responded, “Great, you’re not far. I need you here at this master class speaking event.”

Before replying, I took a moment to observe my surroundings. The club was shrouded in darkness, misery, and emptiness. The music, which I hadn’t noticed before, looped four songs, with the fourth being my favorite, “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” by Puff Daddy. I don’t believe in coincidences. All these signs—the fire alarm, my break to smoke and work on my credit, my favorite song on a loop, and the boss’s text—made me realize that my time as a stripper was over. I told her I needed to change into professional clothes from my trunk (I always carry a few outfits and various shoes and heels in Las Vegas, where anything can happen), do my makeup, and then head over. Although I hadn’t done my makeup as a stripper for a year, except for special events, I wanted to look my best for this opportunity.

At the event, I was welcomed with, “We were waiting for you.” I wasn’t sure if they meant it, but I had arrived as quickly as possible. What followed was a profoundly eye-opening experience.

The opening speaker, P.J., spoke about how butterflies symbolize transformation. This resonated deeply with me because my first tattoo was a butterfly, chosen to cover up a scar from a belly button piercing that had caused an allergic reaction. Despite the doctor’s assurance that the scars would fade in six months, they remained. I had hoped the butterfly tattoo would be a cute way to hide the scar, and although the piercing didn’t work out, the tattoo served its purpose.

P.J.’s talk about butterflies made me reflect on my own journey and newfound freedom. Then Christoff spoke with remarkable power. He had us stand in a circle, repeating “I AM” affirmations, which reinforced our ability to speak with power, tell our stories compellingly, and impact lives with our narratives. That’s exactly what I intend to do.

Christoff shared a deeply personal story that brought me to tears because it mirrored my own experiences, though not as extreme. His openness allowed me to share my story with the audience, spontaneously and emotionally. It was at this event that I vowed to stop stripping. I drove home, threw my stripper bag in the trash, and closed that chapter of my life.

This event marked a turning point for me, and I highly recommend investing in Christoff. His book, which I’m grateful to have received an autographed copy of, is titled The Customer Experience. I value quality customer service and believe that when people invest their money, they’re affirming that we are worth their investment. As producers, it’s our responsibility to meet or exceed customer expectations, or we fail them. Christoff understands this well.

My favorite quote from the night was, “He’s gotta break you before he blesses you.” God has broken me in ways I never thought possible, but I’m still standing tall. I am grateful for the breaking because it has led me to understand and appreciate the blessings that followed.