There was a day (quiet, unremarkable on the surface) when everything shifted for me. I had been doing my job for years, pushing, learning, growing, and striving to be the best version of myself in the role I held. But on that day, something inside clicked. I realized I wasn't just capable at what I did. I was genuinely good at it. I had mastered that chapter in my career. And in that same moment of clarity came another truth: I had outgrown the phase I was in. It wasn't dissatisfaction. It wasn't restlessness. It was awareness. The kind that settles in slowly, then suddenly feels obvious: I was ready for more. Not long after, an unsolicited opportunity found me through LinkedIn, a role I hadn't sought out, but one that clearly sought me. I said no at first. Not because it wasn't right, but because fear has a sneaky way of sounding reasonable. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. Fear of stepping away from the familiar comfort of what I already knew I could do well. Then the VP reached out a second time. And that second knock felt different. It felt intentional. It felt like a door being held open, waiting not for my qualifications, but for my courage. I realized that life doesn't always present opportunity wrapped neatly in confidence. Sometimes it arrives disguised as uncertainty, asking only that you trust yourself enough to try. So I said yes. And that yes became the biggest leap forward in my career, shaping the path that brought me to where I stand today. If there's one thing I learned from that moment, it's this: Don't fear the unknown. Don't talk yourself out of possibility. If someone is knocking, open the door. You never know what future is waiting on the other side.

The burden of comparison is dropped, for my worth is defined by my own growth. In competing only with my past, I find the true strength to both shine brightly and light the way for others.