What does it mean to live your greatness? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself, not as a lofty idea, but as a real, tangible challenge. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on what it takes to align with your gifts, face fears, and take meaningful steps toward doing the work you’re called to do. Here’s what I’ve discovered so far: living your greatness is anything but easy.
It’s not about having everything mapped out or effortlessly achieving success. Living your greatness is messy and uncomfortable. It’s stepping boldly into uncertainty, showing up despite the whispers of self-doubt, and learning to separate the noise of fear from the clarity of truth, so you can trust yourself fully. It’s not a finished product or a final destination; it’s the ongoing process of showing up, taking risks, and growing along the way.
This is my attempt to capture the beauty and the struggle of the process—not because I’ve figured it all out, but because I’m walking this path in real time.
What Does Living Your Greatness Really Mean?
For me, living my greatness means using my gifts to help others see, own, and share theirs. It’s teaching people how to communicate courageously, lead with authenticity, and inspire empowerment from the inside out.
I’ve been told by mentors and clients alike that I’m among the best of the best as a communicator, coach, and speaker. But for years, I struggled to fully believe in my own greatness. I kept showing up to do the work anyway, carrying all the anxiety and self-doubt along with me.
That changed the day Geri, a mentor of mine, looked me in the eye and said, “Misti, you are among the best of the best. It’s just a shame you don’t already know it.” Those words hit me in a way nothing else had before. Something inside me shifted. I realized not only that I could believe her, but that I had to. Believing in my gifts wasn’t just about me anymore. I had a responsibility to give myself the chance to share those gifts with others. It wasn’t just about acknowledging my abilities; it was about finding the courage to fully use them.
Lately, I’ve realized that living your greatness comes down to three things:
- Owning who you are, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Trusting your value, even when doubts creep in.
- Having the courage to share your talents, even when it’s scary.
Living from the inside out means being guided by purpose and authenticity, not external validation or approval. For me, this purpose has always been clear—I love being called to deliver talks and coach others. Speaking and coaching are where I thrive. The challenge isn’t about wanting to do the work; it’s about the waiting.
I don’t enjoy waiting for opportunities to surface, because when they don’t, it can start to feel personal, as if I’m not good enough or have fallen short somehow. That’s why, at times, the idea of selling something tangible feels easier. With a physical product, there are fewer moments of doubt tied to whether I’m meeting the mark or not. It provides a sense of control and removes the emotional vulnerability.
But deep down, I know that my work in speaking and coaching is about more than just opportunities coming my way. It’s about creating those opportunities myself, trusting that what I bring has value whether or not the external validation appears immediately. That’s the work I’m doing now—to step forward, take action, and trust the process while reminding myself that my worth isn’t determined by how quickly things fall into place.
Still, I’ve learned that living your greatness is not about avoiding fear but stepping through it. It’s about allowing your deeper calling to outweigh the resistance that tries to hold you back.
The Honest Struggle
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Even though I coach others on how to step into their power, I’m struggling to live my greatness right now. I’ve spent nearly two decades helping others create breakthroughs in their communication and relationships. I’m known for navigating tough conversations, empowering teams, and inspiring confidence.
But even with years of experience, I’m asking myself the big, uncomfortable questions:
- What’s the next step for me?
- What’s holding me back from fully stepping into what I know I’m capable of?
- Am I really living the message I’m trying to teach?
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t battling fears. What if I put myself out there and nobody shows up? What if all this effort yields no results? These doubts can be paralyzing. But living your greatness isn’t about eliminating fear. It’s about moving forward despite it.
Taking the Next Right Step
Here’s the shift I’m working on right now. Instead of trying to force clarity or obsessing over outcomes, I’m focusing on taking the next right step. For example, just yesterday, I
scouted potential spaces for hosting a training this fall. Today, I began brainstorming topics and creating a loose outline for the experience. My next step will be clarifying who I want to invite and how I’ll share this opportunity with them.
Instead of waiting for the perfect plan to unfold, I’m learning to take small steps. Trusting in the value of my work, even when the results aren’t immediate or obvious. Trusting that by showing up authentically, I’ll make the connections I’m meant to make. Trusting that the bigger purpose of my work—to help people communicate with courage and live from the inside out—is worth the effort.
Trust, I’m discovering, is a muscle that grows with use.
What Living Your Greatness Requires
Through this process, I’ve identified four key elements that living your greatness demands:
1. Know Your Greatness
You can’t live your gifts if you don’t know what they are. I’ll never forget when Geri, with her words of affirmation, helped me see myself clearly. What about you? When have others given you glimpses of your own greatness? What do you love to do that comes effortlessly to you? Pay attention to those clues.
2. Trust Your Greatness
It’s one thing to know your gifts; it’s another to believe they matter. Trust requires silencing the inner critic that says, “Someone else is already doing it,” or “You’re not enough.” It takes courage to trust that your unique perspective has value.
3. Share Your Greatness
This is often the hardest step. Sharing means risk. It means being vulnerable and opening yourself up to failure or rejection. But it’s also the step that brings your gifts to life and creates impact.
4. Empower Others’ Greatness
Real greatness isn’t just about you. It’s about lifting others up, helping them see their worth, and encouraging them to shine. When we empower each other, we create ripples that extend far beyond what we could achieve alone.
Inside-Out Greatness
The most profound lesson I’ve learned is that true greatness doesn’t come from external achievements. It’s about alignment between your inner values and the way you show up in the world.
When you live from the inside out, prioritizing authenticity over applause, everything changes. The work becomes less about achieving and more about being.
Take the First Step
If you’re wondering how to live your greatness, start by reflecting on these three questions:
- What’s one thing I know I’m gifted at?
- What’s currently holding me back from sharing that gift?
- What’s one small, courageous step I can take today?
For me, writing this blog and scouting training spaces were my steps forward. They felt small, but they mattered because they moved me in the direction of alignment with my purpose.
Remember, you don’t need a perfect plan to start. Greatness begins with quiet courage and consistent effort. It’s not about chasing applause or accolades but about confidently showing up as you.
An Invitation
Wherever you are, I invite you to reflect on your own greatness and take one small step toward living it. Own your gifts. Trust in their value. Share them bravely.
Because the world needs what only you can offer.
What’s your next step?
Here’s to your greatness,
Misti Burmeister