Maybe You’re Not Going Big Enough
When I was in high school, I joined the student leadership program — basically high school government — mostly because it seemed like the “right” thing to do. Every morning, I’d show up at 7 a.m., an hour earlier than everyone else, to help organize events like prom, fundraisers, spirit weeks, and charity drives. On paper, I looked impressive. Involved. Responsible. But the truth is, for the first couple years, I was mostly just going through the motions. I didn’t feel a real sense of purpose. I wasn’t lit up by what I was doing. I was there, but not fully there.
That changed one afternoon, driving home with my mom. We passed a flyer for the upcoming student body elections. I remember thinking maybe I’d run for something small — secretary, maybe — something safe, something I wouldn’t be devastated to lose. But then this wild little thought hit me out of nowhere: What if I ran for student body president?
My eyes widened at the thought. It felt absurd. Who did I think I was? I wasn’t that girl. I wasn’t cool enough or confident enough to win. Still, the thought stuck. So that spring, I ran for sophomore class president. And I lost.
At first, I felt disappointed. I told myself it didn’t matter, but of course it did. The weird thing was, I didn’t regret running. Somewhere in the middle of the campaign, I had remembered what it felt like to really care about something.
The following year, I ran again, this time for junior class president, and I won. Suddenly, showing up for Leadership every morning didn’t feel like such an arduous task. I started showing up differently each day, not because someone was forcing me to, but because I had something to rise to.
That same pattern has repeated itself so many times throughout my life.
In college, I joined a sorority mostly because my friends did. I showed up for the photos, wore the T-shirts, clapped at the right moments. But deep down, I felt a little disconnected, a little performative. It wasn’t until I was nominated for Membership Vice President — a role I didn’t feel totally qualified for — that something clicked for me. Suddenly, I had real responsibility within the organization. People were counting on me. And with that, I showed up with more passion and devotion than ever before.
That experience taught me something important about myself: I rise to meet the moment when the moment asks more of me.
Which is probably why, when I decided to publish my book on Substack, I knew I couldn’t just casually share a few essays. I needed the stakes. I needed it to feel real. I knew I wouldn’t take it seriously unless I made it a big deal. So I treated it like one. A big damn deal. I built an audio companion for every chapter. I committed to a release schedule. I talked about it like it mattered, because it did matter.
And that commitment, to something bigger than what felt safe, gave me the momentum I hadn’t felt in years.
So often, when we feel stuck or uninspired in our work, we assume the answer is to slow down, rest, or scale back.
But sometimes the answer is the opposite.
Sometimes the reason you feel stuck is because you’re playing too small. Perhaps, you’re under-challenged, underwhelmed, or uninspired by your own vision. Maybe, you’re doing what’s safe, instead of what’s bold.
So, if you’re not feeling lit up by your personal brand or creative work right now, ask yourself:
Where am I phoning it in?
What would going bigger look like?
What’s the bold move that both excites and scares me?
Going bigger doesn’t mean doing more for the sake of more. It means stepping into the role, the voice, or the vision that feels truer to who you really are. It means giving yourself something meaningful to rise to.
Here are four steps I’ve found helpful when I when I am craving something more exciting for my life:
1. Find the Flat Zone
The Flat Zone is that part of your business or brand that feels stale, uninspired, or like it’s just going through the motions. What area of your business or brand feels like it’s lost its spark? Is it your content? Your message? Your business offerings? Wherever you’re feeling a lack of energy, that’s often a clue that you’re not giving yourself something bold enough to reach for.
2. Dare to Go Bigger
Ask yourself what the next stretch looks like. Maybe that’s posting every day for 30 days. Maybe it’s finally launching your YouTube channel, pitching yourself to speak at a conference, or writing the first chapter of the book you’ve been putting off. Bigger doesn’t mean better, it just means braver. You don’t need to “earn” the right to take up space.
3. Commit with Courage
Don’t wait until you feel fully ready. The right next step rarely feels comfortable, but it often feels alive. For me, that first step looked like writing my name on the nomination form for student body president. Years later, it looked like deciding to self-publish my book. Each time, it was the act of choosing that created momentum.
4. Surround Yourself with Support
Big moves require big support systems. If you’re ready to take a leap in your personal brand, come work with me. Whether you want to build a brand, launch a Substack, or grow your audience with intention and integrity, I’d love to help you get there. You can apply to work with me one-on-one or joinPersonal Brand Accelerator, my signature program designed to help you tell your story, grow your audience, and step into the next chapter of your brand.
The truth is, you don’t have to play small just because it’s safer.
You’re allowed to go all in.
To say the thing you’ve been afraid to say.
To start the project you’ve been talking yourself out of.
To bet on yourself, in the boldest way you can.
Sometimes, the most powerful shift you can make in your personal brand isn’t in your logo or your bio or your color palette. It’s in how big you’re willing to let yourself be.
