GROWTH BEGINS AT YESAugust 2025
Why growth often starts before you're ready.
We’re told to protect our energy, guard our time, and say no more often. And it’s good advice. Saying no helps us avoid burnout, distraction, and things that don’t align with our priorities. But here’s what I’ve learned: My most meaningful growth never began with a no. It began with a yes.
When I first said yes to growth
Early in my role at AWS, a colleague asked if I could take his place speaking at a tech event. He told me the talk would be short, just 15 to 20 minutes and the material was already prepared. I only needed to adjust it. At that point, I had completed AWS’s internal public speaking training and earned the certification. But I had never actually spoken in front of a real audience.
Well, I thought: It’s one specific event, the topic is familiar, and the time slot is short. Maybe I can start small. So I said yes.
What I didn’t expect was an audience of over 200 people. I practiced extensively. Edited the slides. Rehearsed every line. But standing behind the podium that day, facing a sea of unfamiliar faces, my nerves took over. I stayed rooted behind the podium the entire time, afraid that if I moved, I’d forget what to say. It wasn’t perfect. But I got through it.
And looking back, that first yes became a defining moment. Not because it was a flawless performance but because I showed up. That’s what growth looks like sometimes: unpolished, uncomfortable, but real.
When “No” becomes a shield
Saying no is sometimes an act of self-respect. But if we’re not careful, it becomes a habit of fear. We start saying no automatically not because it’s wrong for us, but because it’s unfamiliar, uncertain, or challenges how we see ourselves. We stay comfortable. We stay small. We stay in control. But growth doesn’t happen in control. It happens when we take the risk of becoming someone new.
The power of saying yes
Saying yes isn’t about being agreeable. It’s about being open to what’s next, what’s unknown, and what’s possible.
Here’s what “yes” can look like:
Saying yes to something you’re not 100% ready for.
Saying yes to feedback that stretches your ego.
Saying yes to collaboration, even when it feels vulnerable.
Saying yes to being a beginner again.
Every yes is a door. You don’t know exactly where it leads but walking through it changes you.
How to say yes (without losing yourself)
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about saying yes to everything. It’s about saying yes to the right kind of stretch—the kind that shapes you, not shatters you. Here are a few simple ways to do that:
Use a “yes” filter. Before agreeing, ask: Will I learn something from this? Will it stretch me in a healthy way? Am I avoiding this only because I feel afraid? If it excites you and scares you a little, it might be worth saying yes.
Start with small yeses. You don’t have to leap. You can begin with a lean such as volunteer for something you’d usually avoid, speak up when you’d normally stay silent, and try something you’re curious about but unsure of. Small yeses build your courage muscle.
Reflect on your yeses. At the end of the week, pause and ask: What did I say yes to this week? How did it feel? What did I learn Growth becomes intentional when we reflect on it.
Protect your capacity. You don’t have to earn growth by exhausting yourself. Yes to growth. Yes to risk. Also yes to rest. Yes to recovery. Yes to the next yes.
In the end, growth isn’t tidy
It’s not always strategic. It rarely feels “on time.” It often starts in the moment we say yes before we feel fully ready, fully confident, or fully clear. But readiness isn’t a requirement for growth. Willingness is. So when the next invitation comes whether it’s to speak, to lead, to try, or to begin… pause for a moment. And ask not just what could go wrong… but what might grow.
Growth doesn’t begin in your comfort zone. It begins with one small, brave word: yes.
