Dear Oprah:
Ask and you shall receive. For my entire life, that simple statement has been our family mantra. Whenever I wanted something (for myself or others) my grandma, a pastor’s wife, would simply say to me “Honey girl, just ask… and you shall receive”. I always believed that God was listening…and if we trusted him, he would in fact, bestow his bounty upon us. I still believe that.
The other day I was running…mentally reviewing my goals for 2008 and at the top of the list (as it was in 2007, 2006 and 2005) was “Get on Oprah.” After awhile, the list was done, and all I heard for the remainder of my run was ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE… ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE, ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE. So I’m asking.
And before I ask again, I want to tell you a story. A year ago today, my mother passed away. ALS took this beautiful, strong, successful woman – my friend, my mentor and my hero. In 2004 she had yet to be diagnosed, but her speech was significantly impaired. That didn’t stop her from communicating. On the morning of Dec 24th she proudly displayed (in my presence) my newest business creation, NiteSweatz™, to a friend of hers. She was so excited and wanted so badly to tell her friend all about my “baby” that she grabbed the first piece of paper she could find (a Christmas grocery shopping list) and on the back wrote: “Oprah 6 months.”
That night, I cleaned up the kitchen and threw that grocery list away, only to wake up in the middle of the night to brave the outside elements and dig it out of the garbage. It is now framed in my office — a visual reminder of my mother’s unswerving support and transcendent belief in my abilities. NiteSweatz™, a line of moisture-wicking, thermo-regulating sleepwear and apparel for women experiencing discomfort caused by a variety of heat-generating conditions, like menopause, chemotherapy and pregnancy, debuted in June 2004. It’s a very unique line and we were thrilled to be featured in the February 2008 “Does Your Underwear Need an Overhaul” story in O, The Oprah Magazine. Due to my distinctive approah to business and family and passion to help others, I have also been a guest on “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” and will be featured in the March issue of Entrepreneur Magazine.
At this point, I am just not sure how to approach you in the furtherance of my (and my mother’s) dream for this truly life-changing line of products. I have sent many samples to you on many separate occasions. Should you request it, I will send more. I have a wonderful business model, great manufacturing, solid distribution channels and funding to allow my business to thrive. I have hired a PR firm to spread the message of NiteSweatz to a demonstrably receptive public. I have done my due diligence and I am ready. I don’t know what the “politically correct” next step is, so I will simply ask… May I please be a guest on your show?
There. It’s done. If I didn’t ask, it would have been a denial of the strongest inner urgings and convictions I have had in a very long time – not to mention that mantra of which I spoke. It would have meant not being true to myself and to the belief that my dear mother had in me. I hope you read this letter. I hope you feel compelled to at least talk with me further about NiteSweatz and the golden opportunity it presents to your fans and audiences all over the world. And I thank you so much for your time.
Lesley Hatfield
Founder, CEO,
NiteSweatz Inc.
www.nitesweatz.com
5895 Olde Atlanta Pkwy
Atlanta GA 30024
770.617.3033
800.611.0069
