My third grader was getting ready for his first soccer game of the year. 

In years past, he was always one of the fastest and most aggressive kids on the field; however, this past year, he hadn't played with the same energy. One Saturday morning, as we were waiting in line to enter the park for his game, the two of us chatted about the time and energy our family puts into his soccer life. 

After about 20 minutes, he shared that as the kids had gotten stronger and faster, he was more intimidated and scared of making a mistake on the field. I had a visceral response to what he shared. I posed the question, “If you’re going to fail out there on the field, then why not fail trying hard, rather than fail while playing scared?”  

In that moment, it hit me: I need to take that advice. 

It was easy to convince my eight-year-old that he is a talented athlete who is strong, fast, and extremely capable of playing with the older kids, and that we, as his parents, want to see that vitality return on the field. 

But could I convince myself that I am a dynamic, talented, and extremely capable business leader? 

Wow – that seemed impossible.

For the rest of the day, I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment and how deeply it resonated. 

Despite being a seasoned expert recently promoted to partner, and genuinely loving what I do, I often find myself approaching work with a mindset rooted in fear. 

What if I don’t win that new client? What if my metrics fall short? What if I make a mistake – or worse, what if my team does? These questions creep in daily, and I’ve come to see how often I operate from a place of doubt rather than confidence.

But the truth is, I’ve faced these same challenges year after year and consistently delivered strong results. I’ve helped clients solve complex financial puzzles, uncover strategies that save them money, and grow their businesses. I’ve built a team I’m proud of – one that shows up, solves problems, and delivers. 

So why do I still carry these doubts, when my track record proves I’m more than capable?

I also noticed how these doubts had seeped into my world as a working mom, and it became clear that I needed to reframe my mindset there, too. I work hard to ensure my career doesn’t overshadow my kids’ lives. I sign them up for after-school activities, spend weekends at birthday parties, playdates, and spontaneous trips to trampoline parks. 

That leaves evenings and late nights for everything else. 

I often grocery shop after bedtime so it doesn’t cut into their time, and I fold laundry while the house sleeps so I can be fully present on weekends. Still, I often carry a quiet fear that I’m doing it all wrong – that one day, my kids will look back and feel I worked too much while they were little. I think that’s a fear many of us share, even if we don’t always say it out loud.

At that moment, I realized I need to not only listen to the advice I am so quick to blurt out to my eight-year-old, but also be a role model for him and show him how to approach life more confidently.  

It’s up to us to show our children how to live without letting insecurities hold us back. As parents, we need to get out onto our respective fields and kick ass daily. This is even more critical for my daughter. We mothers must show our daughters how to live with confidence and courage every day – both in our professional lives and at home – so that they can live without fear and guilt looming.

So now, whether it's on the soccer field or in the boardroom, I choose to show up with courage – not because the fear or insecurities are gone, but because the effort, the presence, and the example matter more.