Aug. 13, 2025 - No Role Models? So What? Just Create Your Own Path Instead!

 Ever shelved a dream because you’d never seen anyone like you do it?


Not because you lacked skill or drive… but because there was no example to follow.

You might have told yourself:

“It’s probably not for me. Someone like me doesn’t end up there.”

That absence can be heavy. It whispers doubt. It keeps you waiting for proof, for permission.

 

💡 Here’s the truth: Sometimes you’re not meant to find a role model. You’re meant to become one!

Reflection #1 - The Spark

Think of a goal you’ve pushed aside, big or small, because no one “like you” has done it.

  • How would it feel to achieve it?
  • What would people say about you?

Close your eyes: You’re on stage, receiving an award.

What words would you hear?

What’s the look on their faces?

How does your chest feel? Your hands? Your breath?

My vulnerability moment

When I first did this, my mind resisted.

"Who was I, a mid-level manager in the construction industry, to want to become a thought leader? I didn’t feel that successful. I didn’t think I could be perceived as one. I, and my story, weren’t that interesting."

And yet… one sentence “heard” at that award ceremony became my North Star:

“She followed her own path and didn’t let being the first stop her. She broke through her fears.”

Reflection #2 - Traits worth activating

If Future You has achieved this goal, what traits got you there?

Participants in past Coaching-Infused Conversations have named:

  • Courage - to start without permission
  • Authenticity - to bring their whole selves to work
  • Perseverance - to keep going one small step at a time

🖊 Your turn:

  1. Write down three traits your future self has.
  2. Who (real, fictional, famous) already embodies them?
  3. Which can you start activating now?

Small steps, real change

This is where transformation happens: not in giant leaps, but in small, bold moves you can make today:

  • Carla added color to her wardrobe and warmth to her meetings - feeling instantly more like herself.
  • Carmen shifted how she used AI at work, aligning tech with her human values.
  • Charlene broke huge goals into micro-steps - replacing overwhelm with momentum.

Different paths. Same truth: Authenticity grows from action, not permission.

Reflection #3 - One step today

  • What’s one small action you could take today to bring Future You closer?
  • If you don’t take it… what stays the same?

Owning your journey

One client put it perfectly:

“Breaking things into small steps allowed me to face hidden concerns I wasn’t aware of.”

This is the essence of self-leadership - making choices from your values, not from what’s been modeled for you.

You don’t need someone else’s map.

You can build your bridge plank by plank!

The choice is yours

Your bridge to what’s next isn’t built by waiting - it’s built by today’s smallest step!

And if you’d like someone walking alongside you while you draw and follow your own map, that’s exactly the work I do!

I’m Christelle Soto-Suarez, founder of Pistachio-Cassis Coaching, helping mid-level professionals take small, bold steps to lead their own way.

Let’s stay connected:

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💬 Book a 1:1 call - focused support for your path

 

In my next article, I’ll share my own “no role model” leap - from 20+ years in construction to becoming a thought leader for mid-level professionals who lead on their own terms!