Who calls you out when you play small?

When I look back on the last decade, one theme stands out: the danger of playing small.

It always seems to sneak up on you. You pick the safer path, tell yourself it’s not the right time, or promise you’ll try harder once things calm down. It all sounds reasonable, but in reality, you’re holding yourself back. It’s sooo easy to believe your own excuses.

I know this because I’ve been there many, many times.

Back in 2014, Drew Hendry asked me to run his campaign for MP. My first thought was, Why me? What did I know about running an election campaign? Still, I took it on while working my Project Management job, and almost a year later, I became his Chief of Staff.

For ten years, we worked side by side, and I learned so much in that time.

Then, about three years ago, I told Drew I was ready to move on. I wanted to build something different. We talked it through, we planned, and I started laying the foundations of what is now my business.

Through every stage, Drew has been the person who refuses to let me play small.

And what I’ve learned is that no matter how much success you’re building, that pull to shrink yourself never fully disappears. Just last week, I shared my latest plans with Drew. His response was clear: you’re retreating into playing small.

And that hit! Because I knew he was 100% right. I was going into comfort zone mode and was telling myself a different story.

That’s the part no one tells you about growth. You need cheerleaders AND you need the people who hold up a mirror and say 'you’re capable of more, stop hiding!' - the ones who won’t let you retreat into your comfort zone.

That’s the role Drew played for me since those early days of campaigning together and still today - I am hugely grateful for his unwavering support. 

Now, I try to do the same for founders. Systems and strategy matter, but they don’t mean much if you’re just settling for good enough.

Real growth only happens when you stop shrinking yourself and step into what you’re really capable of. A lesson I'm glad to be reminded of when I need it!

And that’s why I created BUILD. It’s a programme to help founders get clear on their goals, set up the right systems and strategies, and have someone in their corner who won’t let them play small. At inpurpose, it is our mission to be that voice that will never let you play small in your business or life. 

You can find out more about BUILD here, but for now, let me leave you with one question....

Where are you playing small right now, and who is calling you out on it?