P11: Unleashing Your Inner Rebel

Reading Time: 5 Minutes

Today’s Pivot is all about AUDACITY.

This week, I heard something that's passed through my lips and from others countless times. But this time, it stopped me dead in my tracks—likely because it's exactly what I've been mulling over for this week's topic.

I was one of only two customers waiting for a drink at my local coffee shop. They called my name for my drink, and soon after, the other customer's order was up.

The woman walked up, grabbed her drink, and then tried to get the barista’s attention, even though he had already moved on to the following order.

“Excuse me, could I please have two packets of Splenda... I’m sooo sorry.”

"I'm so sorry" were more than words at that moment. Her entire demeanor echoed the apology.

Is this what I do?

Do we approach life as if we constantly face the invisible scolding, "The audacity to ask for more," "The audacity to want more, to expect more"?

But what if…

What if we flipped the script?

What if our next chapter was about embracing audacity?

What if, in writing the next chapter of the story, we stopped dreading the worst and embraced ‘What if’ with a sense of audacity and possibility?

That’s exactly what today's conversation is all about.

What If: The Two Sides of the Same Coin

Imagine that "What if" is a coin in your hand.

One side reads "What If + Fear" (illustrated with an arrow moving into an inward spiral until it stops with no space to advance further).

The other side reads "What If + Audacity" (illustrated by an infinity loop).

You can either toss the coin in the air or choose a side.

What if + Fear = Paralysis

What if + Audacity = Possibilities

Interestingly, we often don’t even realize that we leave the most important things in life to chance, and the odds usually favor the fear side of the coin.

"What if I fail?"

"What if I disappoint someone?"

"What if they think badly of me?"

But we can approach the writing of the next chapter in our story with bold and audacious intention.

We can edit the script of the story, the plot, and the way I (the story’s protagonist) show up. And in the process, we choose to be audacious—no matter how small or large our vision for the future may be.

• What if I pursued my dream job, even if it seemed out of reach?

• What if I started that business I've always wanted to, despite the risks?

• What if I spoke up for my beliefs, even if my voice shakes?

• What if I asked for what I genuinely want without apologizing?

• What if I embraced change, even if it felt uncomfortable?

• What if I reached out to someone I admire, even if I fear rejection?

• What if I took that trip I've always dreamed of, even if it's spontaneous?

• What if I allowed myself to be vulnerable, even if it felt scary?

And what if my first appointment of the day is with myself—writing, creating, meditating, praying, walking—rather than with my email and someone else’s to-do list?

The audacity! What a nerve.

To build dreams, elevate others, and change the world starts with the audacity to imagine possibilities. Then come the audacious questions:

• What will I build?

• What story will I write?

• What could life look like one year, five years, ten years from now?

Audacity is Unleashing Your Inner Rebel

Audacity isn't just for the Martin Luther King, Amelia Earhart, or Steve Jobs of the world. Sure, they were audacious, but so were the rest of us in our unique ways.

Being audacious is about letting our inner rebel come out.

For example, nurturing empathy and kindness in yourself and others can be pretty rebellious when the world and systems all around us thrive on quenching them. Here’s an idea:

Where is the rebel in you?

Here are a few ways I've unleashed my inner rebel:

• My first appointment is all about what feeds my soul and fires me up.

• Saying No—a LOT. Because that’s how I fix the plot of my story. Then I can say Yes to the right things, Yes to moving the story forward in the right direction. For example, I say NO to goals but YES to projects (more on this next week).

• Wearing mismatched socks on purpose. Because who says socks have to match, anyway?

• Living a minimalist life. Because there's more to life than trying to impress others with what I have.

• Choosing to “Die Empty”—a phrase I borrow from Todd Henry’s book. For me, it means that I leave this earth without holding back and giving the very best of me every day to inspire others and make the world a better place. That’s why Just One Pivot exists. That’s why I read my eulogy every day.

Pivot Challenge

This week, your pivot challenge is to Embrace Audacity.

In the last few weeks, we’ve talked about powerful pivots to enter the new year with confidence and boldness. Here are questions and links to those issues to help you choose your next pivot with audacity:

• What can I get rid of to make room for what I want?

• What can I do to fight for what I want—and may already have?

• What is the redeeming perspective of this seemingly negative turn in my story?

• What can I do today to move the plot of my story forward?

• What side of the ‘What If’ coin will I choose now—fear or audacity?

• What does my inner rebel want, and how do I unleash it to make a go of it?

That’s it for now.

Remember, audacity is within all of us, and choosing to unleash it is pivotal.

Now, go and embrace your inner rebel and make this year your most audacious yet.

Stay bold, stay inspired, stay kind, and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

With love,