This week, I had a rather unnerving experience—I filmed a 60-second video as part of an entry for Purina’s Live from Lexington contest. Two grand prize winners will each blog as a Purina correspondent during the 2010 World Equestrian Games to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington this fall. This is the first time this equine competition has been held on U.S. soil, and I want to be there!

Laure Ferlita earned major friendship points for working with me to develop my video entry for the competition. The videos are recommended but not required. I know little or nothing about videoing, so Laure spent literally hours with me, coaching, filming and helping me create a winning video. The coaching part must have been exasperating for her—because appearing on camera started pushing some emotional buttons! Fears of looking silly, or alternately, looking arrogant (instead of confident) began to careen around in my head. Laure made me repeat my spiel over and over (slave driver!) and massaged my ego by telling me, “The camera loves you.” (Snort.) She also patiently dealt with Tank’s infringements on her personal space. (We filmed the video in his paddock.) Thanks to her patience and pep talks, by the end of our filming session, I had pretty much made peace with these silly fears and the camera.

(The complete entry is not yet up on the Live from Lexington gallery, but should be there in the next day or two.)

I was willing to step outside my comfort zone and do this for one reason: I really want to win. I know I will do a fantastic job as Purina’s correspondent. I know it will be the experience of a lifetime. Besides, “outside of my comfort zone” is where all the growth and learning take place.

When I make it to the semi-finals, you’ll be the first to know (well, maybe the second—have to tell the slave driver first) because you can help me win. Semi-finalists will blog for six weeks, readers will vote for which blogger they like best, and the two with the most votes will go to Lexington. I’m counting on you—and everyone else I know or have ever said hello to even once—to vote for me. Stay tuned. Now, about that close up…