I almost destroyed a speaker's transformation.

She applied to TEDxRuakura with an idea that fit perfectly into the zeitgeist. Timely. Powerful. The kind of talk that could resonate globally.

I was excited. Too excited.

On the basis of that potential, she was selected as a speaker. But here's where I failed: I didn't spend enough time evaluating where she actually was - both in capability and emotion. I saw the talk's potential. I didn't see her.

This was a deeply personal story. And I pushed too hard. I set expectations too high. Not because her work wasn't good enough - but because I had a vision of how impactful this talk could be.

That was my vision. Not hers.

When I realised I was creating more friction than help, I handed her off to a fellow coach with a more empathetic approach. She gave her talk. She shared her story. She got recognition from the audience.

But I still felt frustrated. I knew what that story could have been.

Then, months later, something shifted.

I started seeing her at every local networking event I attended. She was showing up. Speaking up. Connecting with people. Her confidence had grown massively since she started working with us on that talk.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻.

Not the viral potential. Not the global reach. The transformation.

She had shared something deeply personal on stage. It resonated with many. And that experience changed her.

A win I almost destroyed by prioritising my vision over her journey.

As coaches, mentors, or leaders, it's easy to see someone's potential and push for it. But potential means nothing if we break the person chasing it.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻.

Have you ever pushed someone too hard because you could see what they couldn't? 😉

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