When I entered the fitness profession in the early 1990s, I quickly discovered that I did not fit the image many people had of a fitness professional.

At the time, the industry promoted a very narrow standard of fitness, beauty, and leadership. Unfortunately, I did not fit that standard because I was a Black woman with curves and hips. To most, I didn’t look at all like someone who should be standing at the front of an aerobics class, leading and instructing others.

So, unsurprisingly, I kept hearing the same advice.

“Just wait.”

“Your opportunity will come.”

“Be patient.”

At first, the advice seemed reasonable because there are seasons in life when waiting is wise. Not every opportunity is supposed to happen immediately. Timing matters. Preparation matters. Developing the expertise, experience, and confidence necessary for success matters.

However, as the months passed, I noticed something.

The opportunities were not coming!

In fact, after many meetings, I never received a callback.

At first, I felt discouraged because I knew my rejection was NOT due to a lack of knowledge.  I knew deeply in my heart that I was being ignored because gym owners could not see beyond their assumptions and biases about what a fitness professional should look like.

So instead of focusing on who would hire me, I started asking myself a more important question: Where can I serve?

That question led me into churches, parks, community organizations, and eventually even a beauty salon, where I taught fitness classes and motivated people to believe in themselves and their ability to create healthier lives.

Here is the good news:  Teaching in those spaces led to newspaper coverage, speaking opportunities, community leadership, entrepreneurship, national television appearances, and many other experiences that enriched both my life and my career.

More importantly, finding unconventional spaces to serve others taught me THIS important life lesson …..DON’T WAIT for validation when you know you are called to do something!

So this is what I want you to always remember:  Getting wise counsel is important.

Advice matters.

Mentors matter.

Coaches matter.

Experienced voices matter.

Feedback can help us avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary detours.

However, not all advice is rooted in wisdom. Sometimes people can ONLY offer you opinions based on their limitations, fears, and prejudices. And if you listen, you will not do what you need to do to enjoy a fulfilling life.

So, as you reflect on your own life, I encourage you to think about the times you were told to wait and ask yourself a few questions, like:

Was that advice rooted in wisdom?

Did it help you become more prepared, more capable, or more successful?

Did it feel rooted in someone else’s assumptions, fears, preferences, or inability to see your potential?

Did the wisdom help you win?

More importantly, determine where you are being told to wait today.

And determine if the advice to wait aligns with what you know to be true.

Because there are moments in life when we must respect and heed advice. However, we must always discern whether the advice aligns with what we know to be true in our hearts, minds, and spirits, so we won’t abandon our purpose, calling, and dreams.

That way…. we will never let someone’s advice to wait override what we KNOW !

Blessings!

SharRon

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P.S. Let’s Continue the Conversation

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My Blessing for You This Week

May you have the wisdom to recognize the difference between a necessary pause and an unnecessary delay.

May you have the discernment to distinguish divine timing from human limitation.

May you trust your gifts, honor your calling, and continue moving forward even when others cannot yet see what is possible.

May you learn from wise counsel without surrendering your authority.

And may you always remember that a divine calling will be more powerful than any artificial delay.