How long have you been in the waiting room?
Waiting to be ready.
Waiting to be recognized.
Waiting for permission.
Waiting to be affirmed.
Many of us tell ourselves the same story:
Once I have more experience.
Once I feel more confident.
Once someone notices my work.
Then the raise will come.
The promotion.
The better opportunity.
But the longer I observe leadership and career journeys — my own and others — the more I see how easily readiness becomes a moving target. And how waiting for recognition or external validation can leave us in limbo, waiting for something that may never arrive.
In this episode of Creative & Resilient Voices, I reflect on my own struggles with readiness and recognition, the hidden cost of waiting, and what changes when we decide to step forward before certainty arrives.
Sometimes the barrier isn’t readiness, recognition, or permission.
It’s the belief that those things have to come first.
What might change if the next chapter of your life doesn’t begin when someone else confirms you’re ready…
but the moment you step forward in faith?
About Dr. Kenya Nyota Lee
Dr. Kenya Nyota Lee is a storyteller, leader, and strategist whose work explores creativity, resilience, leadership, and the deeply human process of becoming. Through essays, conversations, and community gatherings, she creates spaces where women can reflect on their journeys, recognize themselves in one another’s stories, and step forward with greater clarity and courage.
Read and subscribe: creativeandresilient.substack.com
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenyanyotalee
or send an email to kenya@kenyanyotalee.com
or visit www.kenyanyotalee.com
Subscribe to Creative & Resilient Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you listen.
Your story matters. Your creativity in all its forms is sacred. Your resilience is your superpower.
