"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind."
– Dr. Seuss
Do you care more about what people think about you than what you want to accomplish?
I heard that question recently, and at first, I thought, “No, I don’t really care that much about what people think about me,” but the more I thought about it the more I realized maybe I do care. Too much. Almost every time I write something and hit publish or post something on social media, there is a moment right before when I pause to cringe. I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought about something I’ve wanted to write and just let it pass because I just don’t want to sit with the thoughts that float through my head.
Does anyone really care? Will someone judge me? Am I right or wrong? Who do I think I am to even have an opinion?
I am a writer. I am a trained and certified coach and degreed therapist. I am a business executive. I am a successful entrepreneur. I am happily married and have two healthy children.
Yet.
I pause. I doubt. I wonder. I hesitate. I fear.
I keep myself from embracing all that I am and instead limit myself.
Can you relate?
The truth is, showing up as yourself isn’t about being loud or fearless or always certain. It’s about being honest. It’s about owning the whole of who you are, even the parts you’re still figuring out, and choosing to move through the world with purpose.
To approach life with your unique purpose means using your voice, your gifts, and your talents. Using them not to be seen, followed, or applauded, but to serve. To help. To impact. Maybe even to change one life for the better. That’s legacy. That’s the point.
Here’s where that popular Dr. Seuss quote hits home. The people who are meant for you, the ones who will be touched by your words, your work, your way of being, are not asking for perfection. They are not asking for a curated reel designed to go viral or get attention for attention’s sake. They’re asking for REAL. Just be here with me with a helpful heart.
You already have what you need. Your story, insight, and way of seeing the world and it matters more than you know.
So moving forward, I’m going to try to lead with more courage. Say the thing. Share the thought. Use my gifts. It’s time to stop judging myself or feeling like I might get judged. Just do it. Take the step. See what might be on the other side.
Are you with me? You never know who’s on the other side of your courage, quietly saying, “I needed that.” Use your talents. Use your gifts. Use all that experience. Someone needs you.
Show up, not for applause, but for impact. That’s what it means to live with purpose.
TWO TIPS FOR LEADING WITH COURAGE
1. START SMALL, BUT START
You don’t have to make a dramatic leap to live with purpose. Courage often looks like a quiet yes or a small first step. It can be sending the email, sharing the idea, setting a boundary, or signing up for something that excites you a little. It might feel scary but all you need to do is start with one “yes”. Small steps build trust with yourself and momentum over time.
2. FOCUS ON ONE PERSON, NOT EVERYONE
When fear creeps in, shift your focus. Remember that you are not trying to impress the whole world. Instead, you’re just trying to reach one person. Think about the one person your story, your insight, your presence might help. Try to remember when you read or heard someone’s words that really helped you. That perspective quiets the noise and reconnects you to why it matters in the first place.
Bring this message to your team. Living true, not loud, applies to how we lead and work. Traci's Healthy Ambition keynote helps leaders and teams achieve more without burning out. She speaks in Nashville and nationwide.
Traci Schubert Barrett is a Nashville-based keynote speaker and founding executive of HGTV, where she helped grow a fledgling idea into a billion-dollar brand. After two decades in media, she walked away to ask a bigger question: what if there’s more than success? That question became her award-winning book, What If There’s More?: Finding Significance Beyond Success, and her Healthy Ambition™ framework, which helps leaders and entrepreneurs achieve high performance without burnout. She is co-founder and President of Navigate the Journey.
