I never set out to be a speaker.

There was no five-year plan. No stage-struck ambition. No dream of microphones, spotlights, or standing ovations. I had spent years as a corporate trainer and seasoned entrepreneur—teaching, leading, and building businesses from the inside out. Educating was in my blood.

That was my zone. Safe. Familiar. Comfortable.

But standing on a stage? That felt like exposure. It wasn’t just outside my comfort zone — it was outside my identity. In my eyes, speakers were bold, polished, magnetic, and centerstage. I was bold too, but in boardrooms, in strategy, in building and leveraging things that mattered. Just not that kind of bold. Not yet.

But gutsy doesn’t always come with confidence. Sometimes it starts as a whisper. And one day, I listened.

The Day Everything Changed

A friend invited me to speak, for just 30 minutes, with no formalities. I said yes, assuming it would be a small, friendly group. Low risk.

But when I arrived, I was hit with three surprises:

  1. The talk will be recorded.
  2. I could make an offer at the end.
  3. Oh—and could I add a little humor?

Let’s be clear: I did not think I was funny. I was already nervous, and that last-minute curveball sent me into a tailspin. I was so anxious, I went into the restroom and got violently ill.

I feared getting it wrong. Of being seen and not measuring up. Of finally stepping into the spotlight and hearing silence. But under the fear was something else, a quiet ache to grow into the version of me I hadn’t fully met yet.

So, I walked out, took a deep breath, and stepped on stage. No script. No slides. Just my story. And a room full of strangers leaning in.

When I finished, 37 women came forward and said yes, not just to my offer, but to themselves. That moment wasn’t just a business win. It was a reckoning. I had underestimated the power of my voice. I realized then: you never know who’s waiting on the other side of your courage.

What Happened Next

A week later, I got an invitation to speak in London.

I could’ve said no. I was still terrified. But I had made a promise to myself: if the door opens, walk through it.

So, I got on that plane. That talk led to three more. My international speaking career officially began, less than 30 days after that very first yes.

Here’s the truth: for the next 18 months, I still got violently sick from nerves before every talk. Every. Single. Time.

Eventually, I hired a speaking coach. She helped me reframe two simple truths that changed everything:

  • It’s not about me. It’s about them.
  • I don’t have to change who I am. I just have to speak to the people who need to hear it the way I say it.

That shifted everything.

Gutsy Isn’t About Feeling Brave. It’s About Showing Up Anyway.

We think gutsy people are fearless. That they’re built differently.

But the truth? Gutsy people do feel fear. They just don’t let it lead.

They choose growth over comfort. Purpose over perfection. They say yes, even when their voice shakes and their stomach turns.

Being gutsy might look like:

  • Sharing your story before you feel like it’s “ready”
  • Showing up as you are, not who you think you’re supposed to be
  • Saying yes to the thing that scares you, because it might just be the thing that changes everything

Maybe your version of the stage looks different — a boardroom, a launch, a boundary you’ve been afraid to set. But gutsy doesn’t need to look like mine. It just needs to look like you, choosing to show up in the moment that asks for more.

And here’s what I’ve learned: the first yes is the hardest. But it’s also the one that opens the most doors.

What Gutsy Choices Can Do for You

Looking back, that one yes rewired how I saw myself, not just as a speaker, but as a leader, a woman, and a guide for others still on the edge of their own leap.

Here’s what I know now:

1. Clarity Comes from Action, Not Overthinking
You don’t need a perfect plan to begin. You just need to begin. Clarity is a byproduct of motion.

2. Confidence Is Built, Not Found
Most of us think we need confidence before we act. But confidence comes after the action. Each yes builds self-trust.

3. Your Story Connects More Than Your Strategy
People remember how you made them feel. They relate to your truth, not your polish.

4. Visibility Attracts Opportunity
Once I started saying yes, people started to see me differently. New invitations, partnerships, and possibilities I didn’t even know existed began to open. But none of it could happen until I made myself visible.

Gutsy Is How You Build a Business That Aligns with Your Life

Saying yes to the stage wasn’t just about speaking. It was about alignment.

That gutsy decision led me to build a business that supports the lifestyle I want. A business where my voice matters, my message resonates, and my work creates real results for me and for others.

For entrepreneurs, creatives, and coaches, being gutsy isn’t optional. It’s essential. Whether you’re stepping into a new role, launching a bold offer, or finally letting yourself be fully seen, your next level will always ask you to be braver than you were yesterday.

And the good news? You already have what it takes.

Say Yes Before You’re Ready

Here’s what I’ve learned after years of saying yes before I felt fully ready: our greatness isn’t something we earn it’s something we already have. But it’s revealed when we trust it.

You don’t need permission. You don’t need perfection. You just need to believe that your voice, your story, and your presence belong in the room.

That first stage? I didn’t feel like a speaker. I felt like a woman with something to say and a heart to serve. That yes sparked something in me, something that had always been there, just waiting to be claimed.

That’s what I want for every woman reading this: to know that you are already gifted, already a genius, already a game-changer in the making.

Whether you’ve been hiding, holding back, or waiting until you’re “more ready,” consider this your invitation.

Say yes, scared. Say yes imperfect. Say yes before you're ready.

Because the truth is, your greatness isn’t waiting for the right credentials, the perfect timing, or more validation.

It’s waiting for one thing only: your yes.

That yes might feel small today; a whisper, a decision, a moment of nerve. But it could open a door you didn’t even know existed.

Gutsy doesn’t mean fearlessness. It means choosing anyway. Choosing to speak. To lead. To risk.

Take the mic. Send the pitch. Step on the stage.

Because someone, somewhere, is waiting for your example to give themselves permission to rise.

And sometimes, everything begins with just one brave, beautiful, imperfect yes.