“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.