The Invisible Black Woman

You are the secret ingredient, so bet on yourself.

This one right here is something I think we all need to remind ourselves of from time to time. Especially when you’re out here navigating the complexities of the workplace, climbing the corporate ladder, running your own business, or even just trying to figure out what’s next for your career—or all of the above. I know it can be tough. Sometimes it feels like no matter how much you’ve achieved, no matter how many accolades you’ve racked up, there’s always this little voice in the back of your mind asking, Am I really enough?

Damn straight you are.

You are the secret ingredient. You are what makes the magic happen. That unique blend of skills, experience, perspective, and personality that only you can bring to the table? That’s what sets you apart. That’s what makes you invaluable. And let’s be real, in these environments that can sometimes feel like they’re stacked against us, it’s easy to forget that. It’s easy to downplay our greatness because we’ve been conditioned to believe that we need to fit into someone else’s mold of what success looks like.

Think about all the times you’ve made a difference in your workplace. I’m not talking about the big, flashy wins (though those count, too), but all the little things you do every day that contribute to the bigger picture. You’re the one who catches mistakes before they become problems. You’re the one who brings a fresh perspective to that stale project. You’re the one who knows how to navigate office politics with grace, all while delivering results that make everyone else look good. And the kicker? You make it look effortless.

But because you’re good at what you do, it’s easy to forget that you are, in fact, the secret ingredient. You’re the one holding it all together. You’re the reason things run smoothly, even when chaos is lurking just beneath the surface. And sometimes, we get so caught up in just getting things done that we don’t take the time to recognize our own value. Or worse, we let other people take credit for our work, as if we’re just a cog in the machine.

But let me tell you something: you are not just a cog in the machine. You are the engine that keeps the machine running. You are the special sauce that makes everything work. And if you’re not careful, you’ll let people convince you that you’re replaceable, that what you bring to the table isn’t that unique. But deep down, you know the truth. They can’t do what you do, the way you do it.

Betting on yourself means believing in your own power. It means trusting that you have everything you need to succeed. It means recognizing that you are worthy of all the things you want out of life, whether that’s a promotion, a new job, or even just the respect that you deserve in your current role. And look, I get it. It’s not always easy to bet on yourself. We’ve all been through situations where we’ve doubted ourselves, where we’ve felt like impostors, where we’ve questioned whether we really deserve to be where we are.

But here’s the thing: you didn’t get here by accident. You didn’t just stumble into your success. You worked for it. You earned it. So why not keep betting on yourself?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I know that I know that I know that I know I was born to write. I know without a shred of doubt that it is my gift. But there are millions writers. What makes me special? Me. I make me special. How I write is my fingerprint. No one else writes like me and I write like no one else. And that’s the sauce. Whatever it is you are good at. The thing you do effortlessly with a blindfold and both hands tied behind your back. That is your gift. And it doesn’t matter how else is doing it. The way you do it is unlike anyone else. It doesn’t make you superior to anyone else. It makes you you. There is no such thing as oversaturation when what your bringing is brought in a way no one else has brought it before. That’s why we have more than one genre of music, dance, and everything else you can think of. And even if you operate in the exact same space as someone else, your lived experience makes your gift unique. Plus we all can’t reach everybody. We reach those in our corner of the interwebs. That alone should be reason enough to bet on you.

When you bet on yourself, you’re saying, “I trust my abilities enough to take this risk.” And look, I know the idea of taking risks can be scary, especially when stability often feels like the ultimate goal. But the truth is, growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. You’re not going to reach your full potential if you’re always playing it safe.

Betting on yourself might mean going for that promotion even when you’re not 100% sure you’ll get it. It might mean leaving a job that’s comfortable but not fulfilling to pursue something that’s more aligned with your passions. It might mean speaking up in a meeting when you’ve got an idea that could change the game, even though you’re worried about how it’ll be received.

Every time you take a risk and bet on yourself, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to grow. You’re showing yourself—and everyone else—that you believe in your own potential. And that’s powerful. Because when you believe in yourself, other people start to believe in you too. Confidence is contagious, and when you bet on yourself, you’re telling the world that you’re worth the investment.

Now, I know some of y’all are reading this and thinking, That sounds good and all, but what if I fail? What if I bet on myself and it doesn’t work out?” And I get that. Self-doubt is a sneaky little thing. It creeps up on you, especially when you’re about to take a big leap. But here’s what I need you to understand: failure is not the end of the road. In fact, failure is often just a detour on the path to success.

When you bet on yourself, you have to be willing to fail. You have to be willing to take those losses, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Because guess what? Even if you fail, you’re still better off than you were before. Why? Because you took the shot. You put yourself out there. And that in itself is a win.

So, how do you start betting on yourself? How do you go from doubting your abilities to fully embracing your potential? Here are the steps I’ve taken since starting this writing journey in earnest…

One, take stock of all your wins. I take the time to look back on everything I’ve accomplished—including my current streak! Sometimes we get so caught up in what we haven’t done that we forget to celebrate the things we have. You’ve got the chops. You did that thing or things. You’ve got a track record. Own that.

Two, don’t play small or safe. This journey as The Invisible Black Woman was a humongous leap, especially transitioning into LinkedIn. It is rewarding and fulfilling yet also terrifying. So, stop setting goals that are safe and comfortable. Set goals that scare you a little bit. Because those are the goals that are going to push you to grow.

Three, don’t talk about it, be about it or “just do it,” as Nike would say. It’s one thing to set goals, but it’s another thing to actually take steps toward achieving them. Don’t just sit on your potential. Put it into action. Start applying for that new role, start pitching your ideas, start building that business you’ve been dreaming about. Don’t wait on the situation to be just right or perfect. I didn’t. Just get started.

Four, get you a solid crew that supports and cheers your wins. You can’t bet on yourself if you’re constantly surrounded by people who doubt you. Find your tribe—people who believe in you, who lift you up, who remind you of your greatness when you forget. Those are the people you need in your corner.

Five, don’t just bet on yourself, trust in the outcome you see for yourself. Betting on yourself is not a one-time thing. It’s a mindset, a way of life. There will be ups and downs, wins and losses, but through it all, you have to trust the process. You have to believe that, no matter what, you’ve got what it takes to succeed.

Those are my five things that help me bet on myself, even on days I’m not feeling as confident as I’d like. The most important thing to remind yourself is that you are the secret ingredient. You are the magic. You are the one who has the power to create the life and career you want. But you have to be willing to bet on yourself. You have to be willing to take risks, to fail, to get back up, and to keep pushing forward. Because nobody else is going to do it for you. You have to be your biggest advocate, your loudest cheerleader, and your most loyal supporter.

So the next time you find yourself doubting whether you’re enough, remind yourself who you are and what you are capable of doing. You have the power to turn your dreams into reality. And as long as you keep betting on yourself, you will always come out on top.

Until next time, I wish you nothing but sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, which are no less fictitious than all of that untapped potential you have on the inside of you ready to be unleashed when you bet on yourself.