Straight Talk Saturday: Behind Who?

We throw that phrase around “I feel so behind,” like it’s just part of being a woman in leadership.

But behind 𝗪𝗛𝗢, exactly?

Let’s talk about her for a second.

Because maybe you do have someone in mind. Someone whose results make you pause. Whose highlight reel has you questioning your pace.

And if you’re being honest?

You are motivated by her success.

But would you trade places?

Would you swap your 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 for her pressure?

Would you take on her to-do list, her calendar, her reasons for pushing so hard?

Because sometimes, we admire the fruit, but forget to check if we’d even want to plant that kind of tree.

Her hustle might be rooted in something you’ve worked so hard to heal from:

Proving herself.

Earning worth.

Avoiding stillness.

And you?

You’re building from a place of alignment, not anxiety.

From vision, not vengeance.

From peace, not panic.

So no, you’re not “behind.”

You’re just choosing a different route – one with 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁, more intention, and a view you actually want to live with.

Let her run her race.

You’ve got your own rhythm—and it’s 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘀… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Not because one is better or worse. But because your rules are different. Your wins are measured differently. Your motivations don’t match.

Her board?

Maybe it’s all about strategy. Control. Staying ten moves ahead.

Yours?

Maybe it’s about presence. Integrity. Leading with heart, not hustle.

She may be making short-term moves because her long-term vision is blurry. Or maybe she doesn’t even want what you’re building and the feeling is mutual.

You don’t need her board.

You don’t need her clock.

You just need to keep making moves that honor your path.

𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲.

You’re both in the water. You might even wave as she zips by. But don’t confuse visibility for value.

Her ride is fast.

Loud.

Splashy.

It looks like momentum.

But you?

You’re laying bricks.

Pouring foundation.

Strengthening the structure from the inside out.

A lighthouse doesn’t chase the waves. It stands still, tall, and grounded so others can find their way when everything else goes dark.

You’re not falling behind.

You’re rising—𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻… 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲.

She’s not in the speedboat. She’s not building the lighthouse.

She’s standing at the edge— watching. Scrolling. Questioning.

She sees the speedboat and thinks:

“I’m too late.”

“I missed my chance.”

“I should’ve moved faster.”

She sees the lighthouse and thinks:

“I could never build something like that.”

“I don’t have the foundation. The confidence. The tools.”

But the truth is—

She’s not lazy.

She’s not behind.

She’s not broken.

She’s just paused.

Maybe her energy went to surviving. Maybe she’s been caretaking, grieving, over-giving, or healing. Maybe she’s been told too many times that she needs a permission slip to begin. But what she doesn’t see—yet—is that the shore is where discernment lives.

It’s where you decide what your vessel will be.

Not everyone’s supposed to race.

Not everyone’s supposed to build.

Some are meant to chart a new way forward altogether.

And her time?

It’s coming.

The moment she stops watching and starts choosing.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱:

No matter where you are—the speedboat, the kayak, the lighthouse, the shoreline- you’re already in a place someone else is dreaming of.

Someone wishes they had the courage to build like you.

Someone wishes they had the hustle to move like her.

Someone wishes they had the courage to pause like the woman on the shore.

You are not behind!!!

You’re just aware of the choices, the seasons, the pace, and the power.

There’s no one right vessel.

No right speed.

No single board we’re all meant to play on.

There’s just your life.

Your values.

Your voice.

And the path that honors them both.

So before you doubt your place again…look around.

You’re already standing where someone else’s future begins.

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺

These aren’t for the algorithm.

They’re for you.

If something in this message stirred you, paused you, or made you want to throw your phone across the room (in a good way)…sit with that.

You don’t have to journal.

But you do have to be honest.

Ask yourself:

Where in my life do I feel “behind,” and who told me I should be further along by now?

Have I been admiring someone’s results without really asking if I’d want their reality?

If my current pace is slower than I hoped… what is it protecting me from?

What do I value more in this season: movement or meaning?

Have I been on the shore longer than I needed to be—or am I just now regaining strength to move?

These questions?

They come with keys.

To unlock the pressure.

To unhook the comparison.

You’re becoming.

xoxo, LGM 🔑