The Quiet Test of Belonging

There’s something about live music that always gets me thinking beyond the moment.

This past weekend I headed up to Akron to see Hotel California, an Eagles tribute band that completely exceeded expectations. If you’re a fan of the Eagles, they are absolutely worth seeing.

But what stuck with me wasn’t just the music... It was the drummer.

Twenty-six years old. Noticeably younger than the rest of the band. And yet completely locked in. Confident. Precise. Holding his own like he had been doing it for decades.

And I couldn’t help but wonder what people assumed about him before he even hit the stage.

• Does he even know this music?

• Can he keep up?

• Has he earned the right to be here?

Because if we’re being honest, those questions don’t just live in music venues. They show up in conference rooms. In leadership meetings. In the subtle pause before someone decides if your idea is worth listening to.

Especially when you don’t fit what people expect a leader to look like.

Here’s the reality: According to McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org, women make up about 48 percent of entry-level roles, but only around 28 percent of senior leadership. The higher you go, the fewer women you see, especially younger women.

So when you do show up in those rooms, there is often an unspoken question hanging in the air.

• Are you experienced enough?

• Are you seasoned enough?

• Do you belong here?

Sometimes that doubt is not loud. It is subtle. Almost polite.

But it is there.

What that drummer reminded me of is this... You do not earn your place by matching someone else’s timeline. You earn it by showing up prepared, delivering consistently, and being undeniable in what you do.

Age does not determine capability.

Years do not automatically equal impact.

And titles do not always reflect talent.

If you can do the job, truly do it, you deserve the seat. No qualifiers. No waiting your turn because someone else thinks you should.

At the end of the day, whether it is on a stage or in a boardroom, the people who succeed are not the ones who look the part.

They are the ones who show up and prove, without question, that they belong.

Know your value. Take your seat.

-CC