Episode 239 Playing Small: It's Time to Take Up Space

In this episode

In this solo episode I'm still thinking about the Fourth of July fireworks — how for a few moments everyone stops and looks up, and the sky becomes impossible to ignore. And it made me wonder: how often do we do the exact opposite in our own lives? How often do we look for ways to blend in instead of standing out? How often do we downplay our accomplishments, dismiss our ideas, or talk ourselves out of opportunities?

So today I want to talk about why so many of us play small — and what it looks like to stop. Playing small rarely happens all at once. It happens slowly, as we learn to prioritize everyone else's needs, worry about being seen as "too much," and wait for one more certification, one more sign, before we begin. We call it preparation, but so often it's just fear. And while small can feel safe, over time it doesn't keep us safe — it keeps us stuck.

I share what five years of entrepreneurship has taught me: clarity rarely arrives before action. Leaving my part-time PR job a year ago wasn't easy, but it reminded me that you don't need to see the whole staircase to take the next step. I walk through four practical ways to stop editing yourself, plus a few honest questions to sit with. The world doesn't need a smaller version of you, friend. It needs you fully present, fully engaged, and willing to be seen. Keep going.