Opportunity literally rang twice for HGTV's Egypt Sherrod while she was working in radio and for a real estate broker.
Growing up in a family of real estate brokers and being bitten by the radio bug, Sherrod said she was able to find a way to merge her two worlds early in her career, she told a packed Black River Coliseum during the 31st annual Women Aware Conference on Thursday.
"I would tell real estate stories on the radio about my experiences," she said. "A casting director heard me and called live on the radio and asked me to host a show on HGTV."
With a producer who was always pulling pranks, Sherrod hung up the phone much to the disbelief it was not a prank.
She immediately asked for the person to call the station back if it was truly not a prank.
"Luckily opportunity rang twice," she said.
She received the phone call on a Thursday, flew to Canada the next day to meet with executives and by Monday was offered "Property Virgins" on HGTV.
"Never what I imagined in my life was such an incredible journey," she said.
Life did not always fall into place so easily for Sherrod early on.
Describing herself as "a Philly girl who beat the odds," Sherrod was the first in her family to graduate college and does not take anything for granted.
She has been married to husband, Mike Jackson, for eight years and is the mother to two daughters and one on the way.
Like many mothers, Sherrod wants to protect her children from "bumping their heads," but realized this was not possible.
"As adults we can offer a seasoned perspective, but can not protect them from everything," she said. "It's important they learn and go through things because that is what builds character."
Sherrod's character was built through a couple important life lessons she learned.
"When I came out on the other side I realized there really was a blessing in that lesson," she said. "They helped me recognize change and recognize it can be good to work from the spirit of gratitude and always be able to find and get back to my center no matter what is going on."
Sherrod's first lesson she shared was be careful with what you hear about another woman.
"How many times have you distanced yourself from someone because of what you heard about them," she asked the crowd.
The problem with this, Sherrod said, is sometimes we are blocking out our blessings because new people in our lives can usher in new chapters.
"Those who are telling you to stay away or gossip are often men who could not have them or women who felt they had to compete with them," she said.
Sherrod added people talk about things they obsess over, fear or intimidate them.
"If people are talking about you, your light is bright," she said.
Learning this lesson allowed Sherrod to vibrate from a space of light.
"Vibrate light," she said.
The next lesson Sherrod shared was individuals have the ability to manifest their own destiny.
"If you don't like what you are reaping, change what you are sowing," she said.
Every morning we wake up is the chance to get "it" right and decide if we want something different, Sherrod added.
"Ladies, if we have the God-given power to create life, don't you think we have the same power to manifest the lives we want," she said. "Vibrate power."
Realizing not everyone can go with you on your journey was the next valuable lesson she learned, Sherrod said.
Like the Little Engine that Could, people begin to pull the baggage of others behind them, and sometimes it's from the people we love the most, she added.
"It's okay to say 'I love you, but I'm going to love you from a far for awhile because I love me more,'" Sherrod said.
Realizing it is not always easy to let go of relationships with people who are holding us back, Sherrod said we have to stop opening the door for toxic people and seek closure.
"Vibrate wisdom," she said.
According to Sherrod, the toughest lesson she learned in her life was how to get out of her own way.
This lesson goes back to an event, Sherrod recalls, taking place when she was 3 years old.
She witnessed her biological father choking her mother, jumped on his back to stop him and was thrown down a set of steps.
"It's amazing how experiences early in life take root and carry through and you don't realize," she said.
After having a lot of trouble with all types of relationships as a teen and young adult, Sherrod said she was carrying vibrations of chaos like a dark cloud and didn't know it.
"Energy is transferable and introduces yourself before we introduce ourselves," she said.
Once realizing this character flaw and the need to handle it, Sherrod said she took action the only way she knew how -- to write her troubles on paper and burn them.
"For me it was a symbolic burning of limitations and what held me back," she said.
As she watched the black cloud of smoke, Sherrod said she felt the energy leave her body and gave herself permission to get out of her own way.
"Vibrate peace," she said.
After hearing this thought a few years ago, Sherrod found the concept that many are living with a mindset of "lack" or "just enough" because that is all you think you deserve as very profound.
Whether due to timing or pressure from others, Sherrod said some settle, but are grateful for what they have.
"You put yourself on the clearance rack," she said.
Sherrod encouraged the women to know their self worth and that is chosen by what they choose to accept.
"You are a designer, custom-made original," she said. "You don't belong on the sale rack or clearance. You belong behind the glass case with other valuables."
Sherrod told the women in attendance when they were born, they were the most precious thing on Earth in their parent's eyes and at some point, they decide they were not and accept less.
She went on to encourage women to ask for what they want and create their own destiny.
"Vibrate prosperity," she said.
Trusting her gut was another important life lesson Sherrod has discovered.
"We have the ability to know when something is not right or trouble," she said. "Sometimes we hear it and don't listen and we should have trusted our gut."
Much like parenting, Sherrod said sometimes we have to go through situations to learn our lessons and help build character.
"Lessons are our blessings," she said. "Vibrate forgiveness."
The encouragement to "vibrate" comes from Sherrod's enjoyment of meditation.
"Vibration is also about being still," she said. "You can be still, but your spirits are still vibrating."
Vibration is not only meditation, but prayer or any other way to get someone back to their center after a few minutes of sitting and quite.
"Growth comes through reflection, not necessarily movement," she said.
Sherrod then led the Woman Aware crowd through their own few minutes of "vibration."
"Have power to vibrate peace, power, love, wisdom and higher," she said. "Vibrate higher."
In addition to Sherrod's keynote address, breakout sessions are another large part of the Women Aware Conference.
The Renovation Queen, Haley McClure, showed women how to decorate seasonally without spending a lot of money.
She took a fall centerpiece and swapped out some items that could be found from other decorations to carry it over for a Christmas piece.
"It's the little things you add last minute that add the wow factor," she said. "I start out with something I love and build around that."
McClure's love for making old things pretty again began as a child and redecorating her bedroom. She then moved to refinishing furniture about four years ago.
"If I could do everything, I would do everything," she said.
McClure's products can be found online at www.etsy.com/shop/renovationqueen.
Melissa Eason and Amanda Spencer, with Productive Staffing, attended Women Aware as a first time and seasoned attendee.
For her first time in attendance, Eason said she loved all the events and panels at the conference and of course the shopping.
"It being women focused is a plus," she said.
Eason also praised how involved the community is to pull off such a large event.
Spencer enjoyed being able to talk with other women who wear many hats and the opportunity to network.
"I have an awesome time each year and this is a great experience."