There’s a pattern I’ve seen — not just in clients, but in myself, in peers, in brilliant professionals who second-guess instead of lead:

Waiting for someone else to see it and say something first.

• The value.
• The insight.
• The moment.
• The magic.
• The meaning.

We wait for external confirmation — a reaction, applause, a nod, a yes — before we allow ourselves to fully believe what we already know. And in the waiting, we often shrink.

• Joy becomes quiet.
• Excitement becomes cautious.
• Clarity gets deferred.

In business — and in leadership — waiting for validation is expensive.
It delays decisions. It waters down strategy. It siphons energy from your zone of genius. And most of all? It steals your joy…the kind of joy that should come from showing up in your brilliance and seeing your own work clearly — before anyone else does.

Choosing Joy (Before the Results Come In)

Choosing joy isn’t about putting on a brave face or pretending to be fine.
It’s about trusting your own internal alignment enough to say:

• “This feels right. And that’s enough to move.”
• “This idea excites me — I don’t need everyone to understand it before I act.”
• “This result matters — even if no one claps.”

This underrated strategy doesn’t look good on a spreadsheet but it keeps you anchored.

In Practice, This Looks Like:

• Launching the offer you believe in before getting a testimonial
• Backing the idea you’re passionate about — even if the room is quiet at first.
• Saying “I’m proud of this” before the metrics suggest you’re allowed to be.

The people who move markets don’t wait to be validated. They move in alignment. They choose joy as fuel, and then, ironically, the world tends to catch up.

Alignment Prompt:

Where in your business are you waiting for someone else to say “yes” before you let yourself feel proud, excited, or ready?

Micro Shift:

Take one thing you’ve been quietly proud of — and declare it. Out loud. In writing. On paper. To your team. To yourself, as a practice of trust.

Ready to stop outsourcing your clarity? Book a 30-minute Clarity Conversation and let’s uncover what’s already working — and what’s waiting for you to fully own it. Let’s co-create a grounded strategy rooted in your truth.