You don’t need anyone’s permission to be successful, beautiful, or fulfilled. Just embrace it. You were born for those things—designed by the Creator with that purpose in mind.
Yet, without realizing it, we’ve been conditioned—culturally, socially, and emotionally—to wait for permission to succeed. When we see others thriving in business or enjoying a fulfilling relationship with their spouse, we often feel something must be wrong. This stems from being taught, from childhood, that success and greatness are somehow wrong, and that we should be content with very little.
The gatekeepers of our potential weaponize Bible verses about contentment, convincing us that aiming high is wrong. As a result, we spend much of our adult lives miserable, without understanding why, giving away our best ideas, time, and resources to those gatekeepers.
But look up. It doesn’t matter if you’re 65, 38, or 71—you can decide today to give yourself permission to become everything you were meant to be, because you were born for greatness.
In traditional institutions, there’s often only one CEO, one Head of Department, one Employee of the Year, and we fight for these singular titles, convinced that our worth depends on them. After not receiving the recognition, we toil another year, hoping for the next chance. But we’re fighting over crumbs. Is it really worth it to work so hard for a title that, if we don’t get, we feel lesser?
Why wait for an organization to validate your greatness?
Give yourself the title you deserve and move forward. Want to be a CEO? Start dressing like one. Want a Distinguished Service Award? Design one and present it to yourself. Host a garden party, invite your CEO friends, and hire a professional photographer to capture the ceremony.
I’ve achieved success in many areas that haven’t been recognized, simply because I refuse to conform. Does that mean I’m not great? On the contrary, I’ve exceeded my own expectations, and my worth and impact are immeasurable.
It’s time to throw that garden party!