They Assumed I Was Just a Pretty Face

Nobody’s ever looked at me and thought, “She’s smart.”

They see a pretty face and assume that’s all there is.

They see the heels, the energy, the smile. 
They assume soft. Shallow. Lightweight.

Then they meet me.

Blunt. Honest. Strategic. Fearless. 
Empathetic as hell and twice as bold.

I ask the hard questions. 
I say what needs to be said. 
I lead without flinching. 
I don’t shrink. 
I'm done waiting for permission.

If there’s no room at the table, I’ll build my own and I’ll invite others to sit with me.

If I had believed what other people assumed about me, I’d still be stuck.

Instead, I used it.

Every doubt. 
Every dismissal. 
Every time someone said “you can’t.” 
I did.

And I still am.

What Self-Limiting Beliefs Really Look Like

Most of the time, self-limiting beliefs don’t start with us. 
They start with someone else’s small thinking. 
Someone else’s bias. 
Someone else’s opinion about what we’re supposed to be.

And slowly, over time, we internalize it.

We dim it down. 
We second-guess. 
We wait to be invited. 
We hold back.

But you don’t have to carry that with you.

You can let people underestimate you. 
Just don’t do it to yourself.

You’re Allowed to Take Up Space

You’re allowed to be loud. Ambitious. Direct. Powerful. 
You’re allowed to walk in fully capable and still be underestimated and still win.

That’s the leadership lesson.

Stop waiting for someone else to validate your power. 
Use the doubt. Let it fuel you. 
But never let it define you.

Ask Yourself This

If you’ve been feeling stuck... 
If you’ve been holding back or waiting for a sign... 
Maybe this is it.

Who or what have you been letting hold you back?

(Spoiler: it might be you.)

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2025