POP QUIZ - WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being surrounded by some incredibly talented and capable people. And, I’ve hosted roundtables, accountability groups, and countless coffee chats with people who want to grow, both at home and at work. One thing has stood out to me, something I keep noticing…

Here’s the thing: there are two types of people who show up to these conversations.

The first comes in full of enthusiasm, but they quickly get stuck in the mindset of "If only something outside of me would change, then everything would be better." They’re waiting for something in their external circumstances to shift, and (unsurprisingly) their momentum fades over time.

Then there’s the other group. These are the people who acknowledge the challenges—yes, the environment is tough, yes, that person or situation could be better—but they show up and say, “Okay, here’s how I’m going to do something different. Here’s how I can bring a new perspective or energy to this situation.” Those are the people who gain traction. They’re not waiting for the world to hand them a better deal—they’re creating it with what they’ve got right now.

Is it frustrating when others don’t behave the way we want them to? Absolutely. But here’s the kicker: we can’t control them. We can’t control how our boss runs a meeting or how our colleague handles a project. What we can control is how we show up, how we respond, and how we choose to move forward with intention. It’s easy to blame outside forces, but honestly, that just keeps us stuck.

The same applies at home. It’s tempting to complain about how your partner is behaving, how your kids are acting, or why that friend never seems to call back. But if you’re constantly waiting for them to change, you’re putting your growth in someone else’s hands. And let’s be real: they might change, but they also might not. Either way, you’ll have missed the opportunity to grow in your confidence, your ability to navigate tricky situations, and your power to create the change you want in your life.

At the end of the day, it’s not about waiting for the stars to align or for someone else to make things easier. It’s about choosing to do the work yourself, right where you are. Maybe that means stepping up in your current environment with fresh eyes and a renewed perspective. Or maybe it means taking all those skills and talents you’ve been honing and bringing them somewhere new. But what doesn’t work? Sitting back, complaining, and expecting others to pave the way for you. That’ll only leave you spinning your wheels, stuck in the same spot.

So, ask yourself: How are you going to show up today? How are you going to create the change you want to see? Because you have more power than you think.