The Cost of Playing Small (And Why I Stopped)

For a long time, I toned myself down.
Not because I lacked confidence—but because I learned early that confidence in certain rooms makes people uncomfortable.

So I got good at softening. Smoothing.
Making myself “easy” to work with.
And to be clear—I still believe in being collaborative.
But not at the cost of disappearing.

Playing small doesn’t protect you. It just delays your power.

It wasn’t until I started fully owning my voice—my ideas, my ambition, my vision—that the right people started showing up.
Investors. Collaborators. Clients.
Not because I got louder. But because I got clearer.

And now? I don’t whisper when I know the answer.
I don’t sit in the back when I’m meant to lead.

Because shrinking might make you safe.
But standing tall?
That’s how we build something that lasts.