Success. It’s a word we hear everywhere, on podcasts, in classrooms, on social feeds. But if you’re a young changemaker still trying to figure it all out, it can feel like a distant planet. One that’s only reachable once you’ve “made it.” But here’s the truth: success isn’t a destination. It’s a process. A wild, messy, meaningful one.
So what does success actually mean?
For some, it looks like landing a dream role, launching a start-up, or growing a global platform. For others, it’s having the courage to speak up, to pivot, to keep showing up when the outcome is uncertain. Success doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all definition. It’s about alignment between who you are, what you value, and how you move through the world.
But what if you’re still searching for that alignment? What if you’re in that uncertain, in-between space?
You’re not behind. You’re just becoming.
Redefining the Pre-Success Journey
The Gift of Not Yet
It’s easy to get discouraged when you haven’t “arrived” yet. You might feel stuck in roles that don’t reflect your full potential, environments that don’t light you up, or stages that feel too small. But this pre-success phase holds something powerful: the freedom to explore without the pressure to perform.
Kosi Daniel, one of our brilliant Pirates and a speaker at our recent Bold Ideas: A Stage for Pirates event, said it best:
“When no one knows your name, you hold a rare gift, the freedom to fail spectacularly. In the in-between space, you are as free as you’ll ever be.”
Kosi is the voice behind the Afro-Resonance podcast and an aspiring educational consultant and policy analyst. In her talk, she invited us to redefine what the pre-success journey looks like. She reminded us that the in-between is not a holding cell, it’s a playground. A lab. A place where you get to experiment, question, and stretch the limits of your own imagination.
Watch Kosi’s Bold Idea talk here 👇🏼
You don’t have to get it right the first time.
Failure as Fuel
Failure isn’t the opposite of success – it’s part of the journey. It’s a compass pointing you toward your next bold move.
Walt Disney was once told he “lacked imagination.” Oprah was fired from her first TV job. Steve Jobs was kicked out of the company he started. Each of these changemakers turned failure into fuel. They didn’t shrink their dreams to fit other people’s comfort zones. They let failure teach, shape and grow them.
You can do the same.
So test the edges of your own capacity. Be bold enough to try something different. Take the risk, even if you’re scared. Because right now, before the awards and recognition, you are free. And in that freedom lives potential.
Finding Your Passion Starts With Curiosity
You don’t find your passion by waiting for a lightning bolt of inspiration. You build it. By showing up, trying things, asking questions, listening deeply. Start small.
- Volunteer for a cause that moves you.
- Intern somewhere unexpected.
- Launch a side project.
- Talk to people doing things you admire.
- Create content, write, speak, reflect.
Each action adds a piece to your puzzle.
Kosi’s journey didn’t start with a polished plan. It started with curiosity. With the decision to speak out, to create space for stories, and to use her voice, even before it was widely heard. That’s what being a Pirate is about. Not waiting for permission. It’s about daring to move, even when you don’t have all the answers.
Embrace the In-Between
Your success story isn’t waiting for you at the finish line. YOU’RE LIVING IT NOW. In the conversations you start. The failures you learn from. If you want to overcome your fear of failure, check out our other blog article here. The courage you show when things feel uncertain. My advice: Fail loud. Learn fast. Dream bigger. And write the kind of story that only you can tell.
