There’s a guy at my gym in his 20s. Every morning I see him there. He’s a lifeguard at the pool, and whether I’m looking his way or not, he always offers a huge smile and a friendly “Good morning, how are you?”
No one else in that facility does this.
He has the courage to be him — happy, friendly, unapologetically positive. And you know what? It makes an impact on my day every single time I see him. He brings his energy, his vibe… himself.
It got me thinking.
As leaders and high performers, how often do we hold back from showing up fully as ourselves? We compare. We second-guess. We worry about what others might say or think. We quieten our voice so we don’t create waves. We don’t put ourselves forward in case it’s seen as stepping on toes. We hesitate on the sale because we’re worried people will think we’re “too much.” We stop ourselves from positioning our value because of tall poppy syndrome.
And little by little, we get lost.
But here’s the thing: the people who don’t hold back? You notice them. They own their presence. They own their worth. They position themselves strategically so they’re seen, heard, and valued. And you can do that too.
The Benefit of Showing Up as You
When you have the courage to be you:
- You bring energy and authenticity that people remember.
- You stop wasting energy on second-guessing, and start using it to lead with impact.
- You attract the right opportunities because people know who you are and what you stand for.
- You create alignment — and alignment feels lighter, clearer, and more powerful than trying to fit in.
And if the real you isn’t welcomed? You have a decision to make. Because the cost of dimming yourself down is too high — for your career, your wellbeing, and your legacy.
Courage in Action
This doesn’t mean it won’t feel uncomfortable. In fact, your heart might pound, your hands might shake, and your mind will scream “don’t do it!” But courage is about quietening the noise in your head, embracing the discomfort, and speaking up or stepping up anyway.
And the moment you do? You’ll often wonder: why didn’t I do that sooner?