Getting Kicked In The Butt – Natali Del Conte

Getting Kicked In The Butt

A very close friend (read: ex-boyfriend) emailed me last night out of the blue. I hadn’t heard from him for a while and I think it is safe to say he doesn’t really follow my career very closely but he sent me an unsolicited email of encouragement at a time when I really needed it. He reminded me of a saying that he and I used to find comforting. It was so perfectly timed that I thought I would share it with you. Brace yourself for these words of wisdom:

If you’re getting kicked in the butt, at least it means you’re in the front.

I’ve had a rough few days re-assimilating to New York after a blissful week in San Francisco. I caught a cold on Sunday morning, my flight back was slightly delayed, I was missing my family and friends, and my doorman scared me with a tale of two women getting mugged at gunpoint right in front of my building on Monday. I was feeling displaced and alone when this email came along. It was exactly what I needed to hear in order to remind myself that I moved here for a reason. I am making sacrifices for a reason. I am lucky to be able to do the job that I do every day and I have to allow myself those occasional “I’m doing it!” moments.

The kicked-in-the-butt saying does not necessarily mean that I want to be better than everyone else by being in the front. On the contrary, I don’t navigate my career by comparing myself to other people. I just want to be the very best that I can be. Then again, I don’t always want to live my life getting kicked in the butt. I am in transition right now, learning how to be successful while keeping a balance in my life that keeps me from going insane. I’ll find my way. In the meantime, I must focus on kicking some figurative butt of my own and by that, I mean the butt of the Big Apple.

This entry was written by Natali, posted on June 25, 2008 at 1:31 pm, filed under Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
  • Marcelo
    Natalie, there is something very special in just looking at you. I wish you the best this year. Take care Marcelo
  • Caroline
    Natali-

    You are trully the best inspiration for myself and others like me about to graduate and head out into the working world. To follow you and see how you handle the bumps in the road that had never occured to me and to see how you handle everything with such grace and professionalism inspires me to be strong as I face a roadblock similar to yours. Juggling several commitments and (oh yeah) a personal life is the hardest thing a professional woman can endure if you ask me. It's worth it and you are raising the bar for the rest of us. I'm sure I will be a long time fan of yours.
  • Um, You were the only one to kick butt on that Fox Show that attempts to be funny!


    Keep it up!


    Ill be sure to add this blog to my bookmarks :)
  • Roberto
    Keep up the good work! Even though your far away, remember, we are at an age of TECH, I'm sure a phone call or even a web cam with your family will cheer you up ;) Things will be fine =)
  • Life is a learning experience,we learn from our mistakes and i triumphs,which in the end makes us better people.
    Robert
  • I don't have to add any more encouraging words since you already have gotten many positive responses from scores of viewers & your mom!. But I will just say this. Your present "self" is the product of all the experiences & decisions you have taken so far. And looks like it worked out pretty good so far, don't you think? :-)
    You are an excellent technology journalist that hundreds love to hear & watch. A person with real stuff in the mind. A familiar tech media face that most can easily recognize. Have a loving mom who reads your blogs and responds to them. Last but not the least you have number of people who read your blogs and respond to, whether its tech related or not. :-) That's genuine affection from people. Not everybody can get that.
    So, to sum it up, whatever decisions you have taken till now have landed you in good shape and that includes your decision to come to NY. We see & hear things all the time. All kinds of things. Good, bad, and the ugly. But there is always something that keeps us going. Something that motives us. That's our inner strength. You have abundance of it. May be you have plans to eventually move to Cali. But whatever your plans are, you will be successful in every walk of your life, no matter where you work and live. That’s because your inner strength will always be with you no matter where you go. You have hundreds of well-wishers and a good family. So you go girl. Continue your best work. Be yourself.
    -Trivi.
  • Mom
    It's a known fact that with all the technology available today, it doesn't matter where you live. But it does to me....Hurry and Come home!!!!

    Lovya Mom-Bear
  • sunsnapper
    Every once in a while, you have to take a breath and appreciate all you have accomplished... while not losing sight of the next goal you have to reach.

    Stay on offense, and attack, attack, attack... until you have kicked the Big Apple's butt and have nothing left to say, other than...
    What's Next
  • draggon
    I have admired you in your moments of professionalism and grace in the short time I have seen you since joining CNET. I have gained a greater respect for you through the humanity that you have shown through your blog and this post. I wish you the best and will send positive thoughts that you continue to feel better your way.
  • Sean
    Hi Natali, for whatever it's worth, I lived in new york city for a couple years and like you, was a bay area transplant. I ended up moving back to california to go to school but would prolly move back to nyc in one of its minutes. :-)
  • Joshua
    I know exactly how you feel, just have moved to NYC myself. This city can kick you in a lot of places. It is big, mean, and relentlessness. I too also moved for a job. The subways, the people, and the city all are different. All I do is remind myself, as do you, why I am here, why I moved my family here. In the end it makes you a better and stronger person. Good luck to you!
  • Joshua
    I know exactly how you feel, just have moved to NYC myself. This city can kick you in a lot of places. It is big, mean, and relentlessness. I too also moved for a job. The subways, the people, and the city all are different. All I do is remind myself, as do you, why I am here, why I moved my family here. In the end it makes you a better and stronger person. Good luck to you!
  • "Life is hell but when walking through hell it's best to just keep moving forward and enjoy the parts that aren't as hot."

    a quote from a family member of mine.
  • Miguel Gonzalez
    I knew from an early age that I would be a lifelong New Yorker and that my career would be fashioned as best as it could so I could live my life with all the challenges, heartache, and triumphs of living in the center of the world. It is the one city where people will simultaneously help you and compete with you in order to be seen as the best of the best. You might start your day having to let two subways go by because they are way overcrowded, but then in the same day you might be a part of the final concert of THE POLICE because they couldn't have an impact anywhere else in this world. One only need to go to events like the New York Philharmonic in Central Park to be reminded that good friends and relationships can be created despite the odds and disparate groups of people can bond at a single event. Having the journey be an occasional struggle will only make the victories seem that much sweeter.
  • Ah Natali,

    Please don't feel down. I was recently in the same situation: strange new city, strange new people and a boring University course so I know being homesick sucks. But would you rather live in a place with a Google map of murders? (SFGate: http://www.sfgate.com/maps/sfhomicides/)

    You have a lot to be proud of. C'mon, short of me robbing a bank, you've been on CBS news more time that I'll ever be!
  • ..'if' comes to mind..

    IF YOU can keep your head when all about you
    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
    If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
    But make allowance for their doubting too;
    If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
    Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

    http://ghostwolf.dyndns.org/words/authors/K/Kip...
  • Jude
    Reminds me of my first time walking alone in NYC...i got lost in the subway(of all places). But the thrill of getting through the day is fantastic.

    What doesn't kill you usually makes you stronger. :)

    p.s. You rock on Loaded!!!
  • M3
    Your family, friends, and fans will support you no matter what you decide to do. If this is your dream, go for it! If it is something that stresses you, it is not worth it. Life is too short. Keep smiling and keep up the amazing work!
  • I think we all could see your homesickness these past few shows and appearances you've done. As a person who has been transferred across country by a his career, I can understand the painful transition; I can only imagine the adjustment going from the west coast to the east coast.

    As you can see from the comments, you've got a loyal group of followers and fans. We may not be able to be "there" for you, but our best wishes and thoughts go out to you.

    If it helps, you're doing some amazing work. You're spots on CBS and CNBC have been very good.

    You'll make it. And we're hear to listen along the way.
  • Lizzzard
    mom you better WORK commenting ..LOL i think that pigs are flying
  • Mom
    I enjoyed your blog but I'm with Linz..."Gunpoint"? What the **&&^^%%???

    I'm thinking you should be taking Karate lessons in your spare.

    I'm proud of you!!

    Love U lots!!

    Mama Bear :)
  • Hi Natali,

    Nice post. Thank you for sharing. I really like the quote. I may have to borrow it sometime ;).

    I have a simple, little quote taped to my computer from Bobby Huggins (former basketball coach of U of Cincinnati with an amazing ability to motivate his players) that I look at when I face an insurmountable challenge: "Find a Way".
  • Delboy
    I moved to the US from the UK via Spain and every time I go back to the UK and then come back to the US I always get the blues. Then I remember why moved and how much better my life is now here in the US
  • ryokl1313
    Suck it up Natali and take a deep breath and avoid those butt kicks. Everyone has "One of Those Days" its what you do on the next day and next and next....that matters most.

    Stay safe and kick ass the right way!
  • Those are great words.

    I felt the same way moving from Chicago to San Francisco back in '99. I left a comfortable environment of close friends for the ultimate unknown. For a guy in his twenties seeking some sort of self-identity, making new friends in a new city had been tough.

    Hang in there. Don't think too hard and enjoy the ride in the Big Apple as much as you can =)
  • Lizzzard
    mugged at gunpoint?? how come you didnt tell me.. anyways im proud of you... you have a great attitude!!
  • squeee1
    The Big Apple wont know what hit it.
  • Hey Natali,

    Thanks for sharing your feelings, Natali. Believe it or not, you're an inspiration to us all! No matter how successful any of us become we are all still human and have human feelings.

    For what it's worth, you are a success and poised to become an even bigger one. Hang in there, and all of these dues will be worth it.
  • glad that you got cheered up by a friend. in real life, we all need a little cheer. it would be great that there's a cheering team like in the game of Ouendan/Elite Beat agents. i would have gotten so many things done by now. =p
  • Brian
    My sincere apologies for misspelling your name in my original note Natali.
  • Natali, you're rockin it right now. Keep it up and let NYC know who's boss.
  • Well I'm at your stage Natali I'm getting kick in the butt. Bills coming at me from every way. With no end in sight. Started out my company thinking it would help. But now I'm not so sure. Nice to know other people getting some where in life. I'm very happy for them. Hope soon it would happen to me.

    Vito
    www.totaltrinkets.com
  • Dave Peterson
    The next line should be "and moving forward".
  • I was watching last week's CrankyGeeks and saw you on it. You were great, but I noticed that your whole vibe changed for a sec when Dvorak asked how you were liking your move to NYC. I felt pretty sad for you. I know what it's like making a big move and having none of your friends/family there. Hell, I'm originally from NYC and just moved back myself and I know that I can't stay in this city forever.

    In the end though, everything happens for a reason and this change will lead into larger/happier things for you. You're doing great on Loaded and seem to be popping up on TV more and more often. My only suggestion to help you make NYC more bearable is finding a niche here that makes you happy and dive on in. It's easy to get lost even with so many people so just shrink it down for yourself.

    Keep on the kicking ass and keep smiling.
  • Tim
    It's interesting how those types of phone calls or emails just seem to show up when we need them the most. I know how much a sense of 'homesickness' can really make things difficult but if you focus on the good things about being where you are (NYC in your case) then things get a little easier.

    Good luck Nat!
  • Robert
    Hang in there girlie. You seem to be handling things just fine. You will overcome!

    Great saying, glad it come back into your life at just the right moment.
  • Laura
    Sorry, spelled your name wrong...please correct it if you would like!
  • Laura
    Natalie,
    I agree with Brian. Excellent post. I have been going through something that has caused me to feel displaced and as if I am re-assimilating to life. I had a friend who wrote to me once and said, "As we travel along the road of life we constantly experience the effect of hitting the road bumps. Since they cannot be avoided, the test is not how many we hit, but the way we adjust to the collision." I carry this in my wallet and have for years. Thanks for reminding me to take a look at it!
  • Natalie, I know how you feel. I moved from LA to Baltimore (now in Philadelphia) a few years ago. At first it was hard to adjust but I now know that it was a good move.
  • Brian
    Natalie, excellent post. We grow when we struggle and at the end of the day we are basically a sum of all of our experiences. You are out there, making decisions, living your life. Keep positive and when you are struggling or feeling down, remember that the best thing you can do is to stay confident in yourself, your decisions, and things will work out as they should. I enjoy your show, and following you in this very small world in which we all live. Keep up the great work!
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