The Invisible Black Woman

Consider this an intermission episode.

Today’s BlueNote, “Your issue isn’t that you don’t know your next move, but that it terrifies you,” got me pondering and reflecting. Yesterday marks five months since I was pushed off the deep end into LinkedIn, and while I’d love to tell you that the transition has been breezy like Sunday morning, that would be a lie. In fact, the experience has been anything but. But here’s the thing: I did it scared, and I’m still here. The earth didn’t spin off its axis, the sky didn’t fall, and time didn’t stand still (though that last one wouldn’t be half bad, depending on the situation). I’m still moving, still growing, and still afraid errrrday. But what I’ve learned during this time is that the fear hasn’t stopped me from showing up—and it doesn’t have to stop you either.

Ironically, I wasn’t at all ready to be on LinkedIn, or that is what I told myself. But I didn’t have much of a choice. So I shared a post about being “forced” into this space I didn’t feel ready for, pushed before I believed I was good and ready. Five months ago, I was terrified that stepping into LinkedIn would blow my cover, that somehow my anonymous online cocoon where I could speak truth to power while simultaneously writing out my feelings would be shattered. The very idea of LinkedIn—where people I know and work with could potentially connect the dots—had me shooketh.

Yet, I chose to click the post button. I chose to let my voice speak louder than my fear.

Looking back now, I realize how much I’ve grown since that post. How much I’ve learned about myself, about fear, and about moving forward despite it. And I want to take some time to reflect on that journey and offer encouragement to anyone else who’s sitting on the sidelines, scared to take the next step.

Today I really wanna focus on you. Yes, on you. I bet you didn’t realize that would escalate so quickly, huh? Well, I hope my story will encourage and inspire you to take the plunge. You know exactly what it is you were put on this earth to do. It’s the first thing that comes to your mind. You know that you know that you know in the depths of your soul. And you have lots of ideas that stem from that gift or knowing. I knew that regardless of what people said LinkedIn was for, it would always be a space that would house The Invisible Black Woman. I knew that because before I began writing, I felt even more invisible and unseen. I knew that if I felt that way, there were countless others that this would resonate with. So poor planning or no planning aside, I always knew people would find me there. Your LinkedIn could be a blog, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, a book … a career change. Don’t think this don’t apply because my dragon to slay happened to be LinkedIn. Go ahead and keep on reading.

You, you beautifully brilliant bodacious badass, you know that what you have to share is sorely needed because no one can bring it like you can. Your experience, your perspective, your uniqueness, that’s the secret sauce. No amount of boot camps or masterclasses are gonna put that on the inside of you. You already have the goods. The question really is whether you will continue to allow fear to stop you from sharing that wonder and beauty that is you or if you will keep sitting on the sidelines.

Stop waiting for perfect. I am the long-reigning queen of tweaking and refining and thinking a thing to death until I talk myself out of it. Don’t do that. If it’s the one thing that speaks to you, that makes you smile, that you look forward to doing day in and day out, let the rest of the world in on that! I remember telling Mumma that I would make my debut on LinkedIn because that is where the people I needed to reach where. My only regret is I didn’t take the plunge sooner.

I’m so exited about all the things this gift is going to bring about. I won’t necessarily get it right the first time, but Imma do it anyway: sometimes, scared shitless and all.

I sincerely hope you’ll join me and do it afraid.