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“You just have to be patient.”
That’s what I kept telling myself…
“Wait your turn. Your time will come. Keep doing great work. There isn’t a spot open right now.
Positions are limited anyway. You should feel lucky with where you are.”
But looking back at it now…
I wasn’t giving myself enough credit.
I wasn’t looking for other paths.
I wasn’t taking ownership.
What I was doing…. was limiting myself.
So, I stopped waiting to be given big things (like a promotion, or a big project) and found something big for myself.
It was an idea. A big company problem I wanted to solve.
My idea: I believed we needed an Innovation Space.
We said we were an innovative company, but all I saw around me was cubicle-land.
We needed a space where teams could collaborate, think big, experiment, and try new things.
I found people excited about my idea.
I found people willing to work on my idea.
I found stakeholders ready to help and fund my idea.
I found… I could make big things happen.
Even though I wasn’t a director yet.
Even though I didn’t have political influence yet.
Even though I didn’t have direct reports yet.
Even though I didn’t start with a budget.
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
And in the end… over 65 teams used the space the first year it opened!
People saw what I could do. And seeing is believing, isn’t it? Seeing me lead this idea literally changed what others thought about me.
It changed my reputation. It changed my personal branding. People started to see me as a Leader.
I received more strategic projects.
I received a promotion.
When I wanted to jump to a different function, without traditional training… management took a chance on me because they knew I would figure it out.
You could wait…
But then you give up your ability to control the outcome.
Instead, choose to be a trailblazer.
Choose to take the reigns.
Choose to lead, now.
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
Sophia Amoruso
American Businesswoman
