When I was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, I was the first African American to ever represent District 79.
I thought the hard part was over.
I had the seat. I had the credentials. I had the will.
But I quickly learned the most important rooms in politics weren’t about where you sat.
They were about how you showed up when you got there.
I watched leaders who barely did the work—but everyone knew their name.
And I saw others, like me, who overperformed but remained under-positioned.
That’s not just a personal issue—it’s a power issue.
And if you’re a high-performing leader right now who feels invisible at times… you’re not crazy. You’re carrying the load but not being seen for the lift.
The truth is:
- Influence is earned in rooms you don’t control.
- Positioning matters just as much as performance.
Leadership Challenge:
This quarter, identify one place where you’re present but not powerful.
- A room.
- A relationship.
- A recurring meeting.
And show up differently. With voice. With vision. With velocity.
If your mission matters, your presence matters.
Let’s make it undeniable.