Stop Running on Someone Else’s Playbook

Two speakers. Same topic. Opposite advice.

I recently listened to two well-meaning speakers talk powerfully about the same thing from different angles.

One said to focus on yourself long enough to get out of your own way, so you can become a blessing to others.

The other challenged self-focused ambition and warned against pursuing visibility and achievement before you are ready.

Both offered something valuable.

But it left me thinking:

What happens when we turn advice meant for one season into a rule for every season?

We often hear contradictory instructions about the same time:

Build yourself. Serve others.

Step forward. Wait your turn.

Be visible. Stay behind the scenes.

In the excitement of a motivational message, it’s easy to adopt someone else’s direction without examining our own circumstances.

In that moment, a borrowed playbook is easy to grab, and it can cost you.

Focusing only on yourself at a certain stage of life may not serve you. Living in fear of premature visibility and achievement can cost you even more.

You can spend years preparing when you already have something valuable to offer.

You can also pursue opportunities your skills and habits cannot yet sustain.

The question is:

What does your next stage require of you?

My take: If you’re early in your journey, invest in your skills, character, and judgment and find ways to contribute as you learn.

If you’re starting later than you hoped, take inventory. Your experience, lessons, and hard-earned perspective may already help someone solve a problem.

Put them to work while you keep growing.

Before you act on the next powerful message, pause and ask:

Does this fit my season?

What problem am I trying to solve?

What action would move me forward?

Take the advice. Test its fit. Write your playbook with intention.