In this motivational Monday monologue, the speaker shares a key insight from Abby Wambach’s commencement address: when you sit at a table as a representative of an under‑represented group, it is your responsibility to speak up and make that voice heard; conversely, if you occupy a position of privilege—often as a member of the dominant group—you should learn to stay silent to give space to those whose perspectives have been historically marginalized. The speaker extends this principle to introvert/extrovert dynamics in corporate settings, urging introverts to find the courage to voice their ideas and extroverts (including himself) to recognize when their contributions may not add value and to step back. He invites listeners to reflect on personal areas where they need to be more vocal for underserved causes and where they should relinquish the floor, framing the practice as an act of courage that can shape a more equitable environment. The talk concludes with an upbeat call to action for a productive week.
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Good morning, everyone. Here is your moment of yes for Monday, May 16th. Thank you to my brother Tiger, also on the Patreon here, who sent me the video, the commencement address given by Abby Wambach. If you guys don't know Abby, she's one of the greatest female soccer players of all time from the United States, and she's an activist and a really, really awesome, awesome person. She gave a commencement address recently And so much of her address is noteworthy. And I'm sure she might, maybe one of her other ideas will pop up this week. But one idea that she shared, I thought was really, really powerful. I've shared it kind of similarly, how I've shared it, I'll let you know. But the way that she talked about it was powerful. Just this idea of if you are sitting at the table and you represent basically a group of people who's been underrepresented, It's your job to speak up, right? You're there, so you need to speak up and represent, have that voice and those causes be heard. If you are sort of in a position of power where you've been fully represented, like, I don't know, maybe like a white man, kind of like myself, you find your position in yourself a position of influence and things like that, and you're at a table with other people who have maybe been underrepresented over the years, decades, centuries, whatever you want to call it, you need to learn to shut up, right? And let other people be heard, right? Speak up, shut up. I love that idea. When I share that idea in my sort of group settings or corporate settings, I talk about the need for introverts need to have the courage to speak up because their voices need to be heard, because their ideas are powerful. Extroverts, often myself included, need to have the courage to shut up because you are comfortable speaking, but not all your ideas are always valuable. So have the courage to shut up so other people can have the floor. Obviously, Abby takes it a step further because what she's really talking about is, is that idea of When we represent a cause or a group or something that really we're there as that representation, we need to have that courage to speak up, even if it's going to be uncomfortable in the surrounding. And the flip side of that is when we find ourselves in those comfortable settings where we represent the status quo, right? Being able to have that self-awareness to shut up so that other people can be represented and have the playing field. So, I just really love that. And it just got me thinking about Which is always healthy for me is where are areas where maybe I need to shut up more and where are areas where maybe I represent something that's underrepresented that I need to speak up more? And that's where courage comes from. So, just a good way to start your Monday as we roll into the week. What does that bring up for you? Where are some areas where you're like, maybe I need to be more vocal and represent this underserved cause. And where are some areas that, you know what, maybe I actually need to take a step back and let other people have the floor? So there you go. That's your moment of yes for today, everybody. It's Monday. Let's rock it. Let's have an awesome week.
