International Women’s History Month Week 3: Unapologetic Excellence – Breaking the glass ceiling without losing your soul
Welcome to Week 3 of our “Torch-Bearers” series. So far this month, we’ve looked at the women leading the way and the art of reaching back to help others. Today, I want to talk about something more personal: the weight of the room.
When you stand on the shoulders of Giants, you often find yourself in spaces that weren’t originally designed for you. In those moments, it is easy to feel like you need to shrink, adapt, or perform to fit a mold. But true legacy isn’t about fitting in; it’s about Unapologetic Excellence.
The Burden of “Twice as Good”
Many of us grew up with the mantra that we had to be “twice as good to get half as far.” While that work ethic is a testament to our resilience, it also can lead to a “survival mode” where we forget to define what we really want.
The Giants didn’t fight for us to merely survive in these spaces; they fought for us to thrive and lead in them. Unapologetic Excellence means:
Owning your expertise without waiting for external validation.
Bringing your full self to the table — your culture, your style, your unique perspective.
Refusing to shrink to make others feel comfortable.
Redefining the Metric
For a long time, “success” was defined by how well you could navigate the existing system. But the Torch-Bearers of today are changing the metric. Success no longer is just about the title or the salary; it’s about impact and integrity.
Integrity: Are you staying true to the values the Giants passed down to you?
Impact: Are you using your excellence to solve problems that really matter to your community?
Balance: Are you honoring your own well-being so you don’t burn out before you can pass the torch?
The “Permission” we don’t need
I often think about Maya Angelou, who moved through the world with a self-assuredness that was infectious. She didn’t ask for permission to be a poet, an activist, or a phenomenal woman; she simply was.
When we operate from a place of unapologetic excellence, we expect everyone around us to do the same. We stop being “guests” in these rooms and begin being the architects of brilliance.
A Reflection for You
Excellence is a form of protest. It is a way of saying, “I belong here, and I am here to do great things.”
Where in your life are you still asking for permission to be great? This week, I want you to identify one area where you’ve been “shrinking” and make a decision to take up your full space. What does “success on your own terms” look like for you?
Please stay connected with us at chrisokeynnokwam.com so you won’t miss the next deep dive!
May God help us and shower us all with both His blessings and the things that make life sweet.
About the Author
Chris is a fiction writer and the creator of the Moral Observer brand. Known for his ability to weave complex ethical dilemmas into gripping narratives, Chris explores the intersection of power, justice, and the human condition across multiple genres. From the high-stakes tension of crime thrillers like ‘Shadow of Justice‘ and ‘Brookhaven Rising‘ to the expansive world-building of ‘The Mystical Land of Zenia‘ and ‘The Verdant Realm of Gissett,’ his work challenges readers to look beyond the surface. As “The Moral Observer,” he provides a unique lens on the “Moral Calculus” that defines our choices, both in fiction and in reality.
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