What’s the real cost of not saying yes to yourself?​
Far too many smart, capable women delay the very decisions that could change everything.

You wait to feel more ready, more qualified, more sure.
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You put off applying for the bigger role, asking for the raise, investing in yourself, or stepping into a room that feels one size too big.
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A recent LinkedIn study found that women apply to 20% fewer jobs than men, despite being equally (or more) qualified. Why? Because they feel they need to meet 100% of the criteria before giving themselves permission to say yes.

Sound familiar?

Yup. You're not alone. It's something we help so many of the women we coach on to go all in on themselves, with the right support system, network and 1:1 guidance to reach their goals faster.

Because that voice in your head telling you "I'm not ready" is a lie. ​
A lie that leads you to decline invitations that stretch, grow and connect you to what you deserve.

I know this well, because I’ve felt it too.

Recently, I was invited to an exclusive event for 7- and 8-figure women business owners by my dear friend Natasha Willis, an incredible business owner in her own right.
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When she reached out to invite me one month ago, her immediate tone was "you need to be there with us!"
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My first reaction? Excitement, yes.​
My second? Doubt.​
The kind that creeps in when you wonder: “Do I really belong in that room?”

Earlier this year, I made a commitment to myself to say YES to more opportunities that serve me well, expand and nurture my network and open up new possibilities.

It was clear that this invitation was one of those moments, so I said yes and I'm so glad I did.

In that spirit, I'd love to share my 3 biggest takeaways from this private event in hopes it helps you say yes to yourself more, so that you talk yourself into things, not out of them. Let's go 🔥

Private party hosted by my dear friend Natasha Willis (far right).

1. The right room stretches you, not shrinks you

At the event, I was surrounded by women who weren’t just growing their businesses. They were scaling them with courage, clarity, and conviction. Despite us all having different backgrounds and business models, we all had so much we could learn from one another and recognized that quickly.
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The conversations we had weren't surface-level. We talked wins, struggles, mindset, mental load, etc. And what struck me most was the full transparency and support for each other in the room.

For most of us there, we had never met in person before this, and yet, the connections felt instant.

Everyone came in open and invested in growing their relationships which brought real, genuine conversations. I was learning from others as much as they were learning from me and that was truly special.

A few things I've noticed about myself every time I say yes to something I initially hesitated on:
→ I make things out to be bigger in my head than in reality.
→ I know more than I realize.
→ I have so much to bring to the table that others appreciate.
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​So here's my challenge for you:

Start intentionally curating the rooms you enter, physically or virtually. Join that leadership circle, sign up for the workshop, attend the retreat, even if you don’t feel ready.
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​Ask yourself: “Is this a room that challenges me to level up?”
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If the answer is yes, lean in.
Say yes before you're ready.

2. The power of women supporting women

There’s a unique kind of magic that happens when women root for each other.

No competition.
No posturing.
Just deep, genuine support.

At the event, I watched women openly share contacts, trade growth strategies, talk about brand pivots, and brainstorm expansion plans without holding back.
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There was no scarcity mindset, no “I figured it out so you should too.”

Just 'you win, I win' kind of energy ❤️️
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Many of us have been burned by unsupportive environments where we’ve had to shrink to protect other's egos and insecurities, stay silent to belong, or compete to be seen.

That’s why spaces like this matter so much. It's also a huge reason why I created our Peak Performers newsletter community where hopefully, you feel this each and every week through my content.

These spaces remind us that our greatest accelerators aren’t always tactics, they’re the people we surround ourselves with intentionally.
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People who see our potential before we do.
People who remind us to go for it when we’re tempted to hold back.

Another quick challenge for you:​
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Support another woman’s next step this week.
Send an introduction to someone in your network. Share a helpful resource. Celebrate her win publicly.
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And if you’re in need of support yourself? Ask for it.
Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It's an invitation for connection and how the strongest circles are built.

3. Proximity changes what you believe is possible

It’s one thing to read about success stories.
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It’s another to sit next to women sharing the play-by-play of how it's done and what they'd do differently with what they know now.

It also helps make "what's possible" feel that much more within reach.

When you surround yourself with people who have done what you're looking to achieve, can remove the guesswork and truly want to see you win, it's a whole other level of expansion.

It's also exactly what we do inside my coaching program by bringing together the right women with the 1:1 support of my industry-led team to level up faster and show up with full confidence.

[Btw, in case you missed the big news, Angela Ying, VP of Business Operations at NVIDIA, is our newest resident guest expert exclusively inside my coaching program. You won't find this access anywhere else!]

My final challenge for you this week:
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Audit your circle. Who do you talk to most about your career goals?
If you’re the most driven person in every conversation, you’re likely capping your own growth.
If you're relying on mentors who will always focus on their growth before yours, it's limiting.
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Instead, make a list of 3 people who inspire you and reach out. Invite a conversation. Expand your radius.

Every time I do, it's the gift that keeps on giving.

Last thoughts

Growth doesn’t come from comfort.
It often shows up disguised as a stretch, a risk, or an invitation that feels just slightly too big.

But here’s what this experience reminded me:
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You don’t grow by waiting to feel ready.
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You grow by saying yes anyways.
You grow by betting on yourself, especially when no one else is watching.
You grow by taking the seat at the table and raising your hand in the meeting.
You grow by walking into the room full of strangers and deciding “I belong here.”

If you’ve been holding back, waiting for the perfect time, the confidence, the external validation...consider this your nudge to just say yes.
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Even if it feels uncomfortable.
Even if you’re still figuring it out.
Even if it feels scary.

Because on the other side of that yes? Is everything you’ve been working toward.

You've got this 💪