“Fortune sides with him who shows AUDACITY.” – Virgil 

You may not quickly realise what you’re missing out on by not embracing AUDACITY. The life you desire, the opportunities you dream of, and the successful individuals in your field are not necessarily better than you; they simply have more AUDACITY. 

When we see people with audacity, we often mistake them for being arrogant, but that’s a misconception. So, what is audacity? It’s not about being loud for no reason or forcing your opinions on others.

Instead, it’s a stubborn, almost unreasonable belief that you have the right to show up, speak up, and seize your opportunities, even if you fail, it is necessarily unavoidable.  

Consider Oprah Winfrey. She didn’t start with a perfect background; she faced poverty, trauma, and rejection early on. Yet, she had the audacity to continue appearing on television, pitching her ideas, and reinventing herself. Similarly, think of Steve Jobs, who was adopted and a college dropout. His true privilege wasn’t wealth; it was his refusal to accept “good enough.” Audacity often looks like privilege from the outside, but from the inside, it feels like risk, stubbornness, and doing things afraid.

Below are 7 things you’d probably stop doing if you had real audacity, and what staying careful is secretly costing you.

1 You’d stop waiting for perfect timing

Many of us spend months or even years thinking, “Not now. Maybe later.” Audacity helps us realise that “later” is often a polite lie we tell ourselves to avoid the discomfort of starting. For instance, when Tyler Perry repeatedly staged the same play that initially flopped, it wasn’t because it was the “right time.” It was, in fact, the wrong time, but he persisted until it eventually succeeded.

Without audacity, you may find yourself fixated on perfect timing, waiting for the ideal moment. However, with audacity, you become intolerant of waiting.

2 You’d stop asking for permission to exist

Audacity can be chaotic, and the world doesn’t show mercy. You need to prove that you deserve prosperity and that you belong in this business to succeed. Audacity means writing a blog post before your brand is perfect, starting a business with an imperfect logo, or recording a podcast with a faulty microphone.

Consider Issa Rae, who began her awkward web series on YouTube, “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl,” with shaky cameras. No studio gave her permission; instead, the audience supported her after she took the brave step to show up.

If you had audacity, you wouldn’t wait for someone, a potential employer, a prominent name, or even your self-doubt, to permit you. You would simply take action and do it.

3 You’d stop measuring your worth by applause

Audacity isn’t about being loud just to get likes; it’s about being loud even if you don’t get likes or followers like you hoped for. For example, Oprah Winfrey was once told she was “unfit for TV” early in her career and was demoted. Imagine if she judged her worth by just a few people’s opinions or gave up because some folks didn’t like her on TV. 

You need to understand that sometimes others’ reactions to you, your skills, or your work often reflect their fears, insecurities, or dislikes. Therefore, find peace within yourself.

4 You’d stop playing small so people feel comfortable

We often downplay our achievements, say sorry for our ambitions, or hide who we are to fit in. Recognising our worth doesn’t mean we are arrogant. It means we embrace ourselves and don’t shrink to make others feel comfortable.

Take Serena Williams as an example. She faced criticism for being “too loud,” “too strong,” and “too emotional.” Despite this, she stayed true to herself and didn’t change her game or her presence to meet tennis’s expectations. This decision helped her become a legend.

We might struggle to show our strengths. Many of us say things like “I’m just trying” instead of taking responsibility for our actions. If we can be bold enough to share our strengths openly, we can make a real difference. Even when we fail, those experiences can help us grow. As long as we work hard to improve, each effort counts as part of our progress.

5 You’d stop giving up after the first no

Most people hear “no” and take it as a life sentence. Audacity, on the other hand, hears “no” and treats it like traffic, like annoying, standstill, slow-moving, temporary, and we end up getting to our destination, whether late or early, right?. J.K. Rowling, for example. Twelve publishers rejected “Harry Potter.” But, she kept going because she dared to believe the story mattered, even if the gatekeepers didn’t see its potential yet.

One truly needs audacity because when those “no’s” weigh you down and you feel you don’t have the strength to forge ahead, your audacity rises within you. It reminds you of the journey ahead, the many accolades that are coming, the numerous opportunities waiting, and the mountains yet to climb. Sulking won’t help in any way.

Audacity also helps you reflect on why you received a “no,” why a business failed, or why you didn’t pass an exam. It encourages you to see the lessons from those experiences without letting emotions cloud your judgment.

6 You’d stop hiding behind “research” instead of starting

Research is good until it becomes a way to hide from risk. Audacity says: learn, then ship. 

Look at Elon Musk. You can say what you want about him, but he didn’t spend five years debating whether electric cars would sell, he built them, shipped them, and improved them. If you had audacity, you’d still do your homework, but you’d launch before your notes feel complete.

7 You’d stop telling yourself “people like me don’t do things like that”

This thought Audacity can be one of the most challenging hurdles we face. When we say “people like me,” we often bring up feelings of inadequacy, believing, ohhh: 

• I didn’t go to the right school
• I’m too young / too old / too female / too Black / too quiet

But embracing audacity can change all of that. It allows us to release those limiting beliefs and redefine our paths. Think about my favourite, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a young Nigerian woman whose powerful storytelling has reshaped perceptions of Africa. She didn’t wait for permission; she boldly forged her own path. 

So, if you approached life with that same audacity, you could see “people like me” as your starting point, not a reason to hold back. You have the potential to create your own opportunities and inspire others along the way.

Conclusion: What Staying Careful Is Really Costing You

Please don’t take my tone the wrong way, it’s just me showing off my “AUDACITY”. I really want you to see all the opportunities and benefits you’re missing out on by not embracing audacity. Just a heads up, audacity isn’t about making empty promises or giving flashy speeches that don’t lead to anything. Remember that lesson from the book “Show Your Work“? If you haven’t read it yet, are you really ready to dive into this audacious life? Seriously, grab a copy on Amazon. 

So, go ahead and upload that second draft you just wrapped up, even if you’re feeling drained, send out that email to pitch yourself, or post whatever you’ve been working on, even if it flops.

The real question isn’t, “What if I fail?”
It’s, “What might never happen if I don’t even try?”

PS: This is part two of our series, so be sure to check out our next blog post, where I’ll share some straightforward tips to help you elevate your Audacity skills. Who knows, I might even get to celebrate your success stories in my emails!