The truth? Most women will feel inspired on International Women’s Day… and by next week, they’ll go right back to playing small.

I see it every year. Women attend panels, listen to empowering speeches, and commit to making a change. But then Monday comes. The emails flood in. The daily routine takes over. And all that momentum? It fades.

Why? Because real transformation doesn’t happen from inspiration alone. It happens when you take action—especially when it feels uncomfortable.

If you’ve ever felt the post-IWD motivation but struggled to turn it into long-term momentum, you’re not alone. So, let’s change that.

Why Most Women Get Stuck After IWD (And How to Break the Cycle)

The biggest challenge for ambitious women isn’t a lack of knowledge or ability—it’s self-doubt, hesitation, and the fear of getting it ‘wrong.’

Women in leadership, female founders, and solopreneurs often face:

Decision Paralysis – Overanalysing every move, waiting for the ‘right’ time or more certainty before acting. Fear of Judgment – Worrying about what others will think if they pivot, charge more, or step into a bigger role. The Pressure to Do It All – Believing they must handle everything themselves to prove their worth. Burnout & Overwhelm – Prioritising work over well-being, leading to exhaustion instead of momentum.

If you resonate with any of these, know this: The most successful women you admire once felt the same way—but they took action before they felt fully ready.

How to Make This Year’s IWD the Moment You Finally Take Action

If you’re serious about creating a career and life that actually lights you up, here are three shifts to focus on:

1. Stop Waiting for Permission

One of the biggest patterns I’ve seen in high-achieving women? They hesitate to take bold moves because they’re waiting for someone to validate their next step.

• Waiting for a boss to offer them a promotion instead of asking for it.
• Waiting for the “right time” to start their business instead of just starting.
• Waiting until they feel 100% ready before making a big move.

But here’s the truth: No one is coming to give you permission. You have to take it for yourself.

The women who move forward in their careers and businesses are not necessarily the most talented or experienced—but they are the ones who take action before they feel fully prepared.

2. Let Go of the Need to Have It All Figured Out

Success doesn’t come from knowing every step in advance—it comes from taking the first one.

Some of the most influential women in the world didn’t have a perfectly mapped-out plan—they just started.

• Oprah Winfrey overcame a difficult childhood, started in local radio and TV, and built an empire without a roadmap. She followed her instincts and took risks, growing from a talk show host into a global media mogul.
• Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, had no background in fashion or business. She took her $5,000 savings, believed in her idea, and disrupted the industry with sheer persistence and confidence.
• Arianna Huffington faced rejection from 36 publishers before launching The Huffington Post, which became a media powerhouse. She didn’t wait for validation—she kept going.
• Beyoncé didn’t just become an icon by sticking to a predictable path. She took bold creative risks, challenged industry norms, and built an empire beyond music, entering business, fashion, and film.
• J.K. Rowling was a struggling single mother on welfare when she wrote Harry Potter. She faced countless rejections but kept submitting her manuscript until one publisher said yes.

None of these women had everything figured out when they started. They took one step, learned, adapted, and kept going.

What’s the one small step you can take today toward what you really want?

3. Strengthen Your Mind & Body for Lasting Success

Taking bold action isn’t just about mindset and strategy—it’s also about energy, resilience, and clarity. The most successful women don’t just work harder; they prioritise their well-being so they can show up as their best selves.

• Mindfulness helps you stay present and focused, reducing the fear that comes with big career shifts.
• Healthy eating fuels your energy, keeping you sharp and making decisions with confidence.
• Daily movement—whether yoga, a walk, or strength training—keeps you grounded and resilient through change.

When you take care of your body and mind, you don’t just feel better—you make bolder, more confident decisions in your career and business.

4. Surround Yourself with Women Who Take Bold Action

Your environment is shaping your success, whether you realise it or not. If you’re surrounded by people who play small, hesitate, and stay stuck in the status quo, it’s easy to do the same.

But when you put yourself in rooms where women are:

• Taking risks and seeing real rewards
• Pivoting careers and launching businesses
• Asking for more and actually getting it

…everything changes. Because when you surround yourself with women who take bold action, you start to take it too.

5. Take the Leap Before You Feel Fully Ready

What if the only thing standing between you and your next big success is the decision to take the leap?

Many women hold back, believing they need another certification, another year of experience, or another sign from the universe before they can move forward. But the truth is, clarity comes from action, not waiting. The most powerful thing you can do for your future self is to make a move today.

- If you’ve been thinking about starting that business, take the first small step—secure your domain, outline your first offer, or announce your idea to your network.

- If you’ve been considering a career pivot, start researching, networking, and positioning yourself for opportunities that align with your vision.

- If you know you need to set boundaries and reclaim your energy, start today by identifying one thing you can say ‘no’ to.

The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see results.

Now, I Want to Hear From You

What’s the one thing you’ve been waiting to take action on? Drop a comment below, and let’s talk about it.