Cleared For Takeoff - (Part 2 of 4)

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Have you ever second-guessed yourself… even after the door opened?

In this episode, we’re talking to the leaders who’ve been working in the shadows, the ones who’ve put in the reps, carried the pressure, and done the hard things when no one was watching. Now the announcement has been made: it’s your time.

But if you’re not careful, you’ll delay your own elevation by asking questions you’ve already outgrown.

This isn’t about arrogance. This is about alignment.
You didn’t hustle your way in. You honored your way in.
Now it’s time to sit in the seat you built.
Because you didn’t skip the line…
You prepaid.

Welcome to Cleared for Takeoff .  Part 2 of our four-part leadership series for the ones rising behind the curtain.

Big thanks to our podcast partners: College of Biomedical Equipment Technology, A.M. BICKFORD, INC., UptimeServices, PM BIOMEDICAL AND GMC Healthcare Solutions. Your support keeps the HTM mission alive! 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Some people hesitate when it's finally their time.
The gate opens, the seat isready and they still look around
like are they sure I belonghere?
You don't have to question whatyou've already qualified for.
You don't need permission toenter the place you've already

(00:25):
qualified for.
You don't need permission toenter the place you've already
paid to be in because you didn'tskip the line.
Remember you prepaid?
Here's the moment I want you tohold on to.
You will clear it for takeoff,not by luck, not by accident, by
consistency, by discipline, bypreparation.

(00:47):
And now the announcement hasbeen made, it's your time.
But if you're not careful,you'll delay your own elevation
because you're too busywondering if someone else is
more deserving.
Let me ask you this Would yourather get to the door and

(01:09):
question if you're ready, orwalk through it knowing you've
been preparing for this thewhole time?
In HTM, we work in the shadows,we're not on the brochure,
we're not the ones gettingapplause in the auditorium, but
every day we're keeping thingsrunning quietly, faithfully.

(01:33):
So when your name is called forleadership, when someone says,
hey, we need you on this biggerstage, and your first instinct
is to back away, don't.
This is not the season toshrink.
This is the season to stepfully into your lane, because

(01:56):
you didn't stumble into thismoment.
You were built for this.
Let me give you somethingpractical.
Many years ago I watched someoneelse get promoted into a role I
thought I was ready for and,honestly, it stung.

(02:18):
I had the skill, the work ethic, the results, but I didn't have
the mindset.
I wasn't ready to sit in theseat.
I was still plain small, hopingsomeone would invite me in when
the truth was, I needed toprepare myself like the door

(02:40):
would open any day now.
So I started acting like I wasalready on assignment.
I showed up differently, Ispoke differently.
I worked like the role was mine, not in arrogance but in
alignment.
And when the opportunity didcome, I didn't hesitate.

(03:02):
I didn't over explain.
I stepped in because I hadalready made peace with my
purpose.
Let me be real with you for asecond.
I know what it's like toquestion yourself, to walk into
rooms where no one looks likeyou, to wonder if your voice
will even matter once you openyour mouth.

(03:24):
But confidence isn't aboutwalking in like you own the
place.
Confidence is about walking inknowing you belong, even if they
don't see it.
Yet You've done the reps.
You've carried the weight,you've sacrificed the comfort.
Now walk like it.

(03:45):
Now walk like it.
Here's what I learned on thatflight, and it applies to your
career, your leadership, yourlife.
Once the gate agent scans yourboarding pass, there's no debate
, no negotiating, no questioning.
You've been cleared and the onething that can hold you back

(04:08):
now is you.
Some of us have spent so longbeing behind the scenes that
when the spotlight shows up, weflinch.
But hear me, you don't have toapologize for being seen.
You don't have to apologize forbeing seen.

(04:30):
You don't have to apologize forbeing recognized.
You don't have to minimize yourgrowth so others can feel
comfortable, because shrinkingwon't make them more confident
and it'll only cost you morepeace.

(04:51):
So to every B-man, every fieldengineer, every department
manager, every one of you risingbehind the curtain, stop trying
to get ready for what you'vealready been cleared to do.
You passed the test.
They didn't see.
You trained in the shadows, youserved without needing applause
, and now the runway is open.

(05:14):
So here's your call to actiontoday Walk in the room like your
boarding pass is alreadyscanned.
Sit in your seat like you'resupposed to be there, and fly
the mission like nobody else can.
Because here's the truth youdidn't hustle your way in, you
didn't network your way in.

(05:35):
You honored your way in, youbuilt your seat.
You honored your way in, youbuilt your seat, you booked your
flight and now you've beencleared for takeoff.
So this is your moment You'vebeen cleared and I'm giving you
full permission to walk in likeyou belong, because you do no

(05:57):
need to soften your shine, noneed to justify the seat, no
need to carry guilt for beingready.
Let them wonder how you gothere, let them speculate about
your rise, but you Walk inclarity, walk in boldness, walk
in peace and don't look back,don't explain your presence,

(06:21):
don't dim your light and don'tlet someone else's uncertainty
become the thing that groundsyour confidence.
This is your season, this isyour seat, this is your flight.
So take it, fly it and don'tlook back.
You didn't skip the line, youprepaid and now you've been

(06:44):
cleared for takeoff.