In Due Time...

 

This week’s Leadership Jukebox is a little different. 

I had a moment that humbled me, and I want to talk about it honestly.

I was scrolling through LinkedIn and felt something I was not prepared for. I was seeing people I once led absolutely thriving. New promotions. New books. New stages. New platforms. And I was genuinely proud of them. My heart was full watching them step into rooms they once only dreamed of.

But right underneath that pride was something else. A little whisper I did not want to admit. Jealousy. Not the hateful kind. Not the “why them” kind. It was the quiet ache of “why not me.” It caught me off guard. It made me question my pace. It made me wonder if somehow I had fallen behind without noticing.

That feeling surprised me. I am someone who teaches reflection and intentional growth. I coach leaders on trusting their timing. I know better. But even coaches have moments when the math is not mathing and the emotions come out sideways.

I turn to music whenever I need to think. 

There are certain songs that sound like they know your business. Outkast’s “In Due Time” featuring Cee-Lo is one of them. In this moment of self-doubt, it tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Sis, we need to talk.”

Immediately came the line I needed to hear.

“Just keep your faith in me. Don’t act impatiently. You’ll get where you need to be in due time.”

I needed to hear that. It reminded me that impatience can make you forget how far you have already come. It reminded me that comparison can trick you into believing your growth is invisible. It reminded me that my timeline is not supposed to look like anyone else’s. 

Sometimes the only thing blocking clarity is how tightly you are gripping your own expectations.

Right then, I took a breath. I reminded myself that becoming is not a race. Growth is not a competition. Leadership is not a timeline to stack up against anyone else’s. It is your story, shaped by your experiences, unfolding in its own rhythm.

But the song wasn’t done with me yet. This next line….

“Struggle is just a part of my day. Many obstacles have been placed in my way.”

I felt that line in my spirit. My road has had real obstacles. Real struggle. Losing Malachi is the kind of heartbreak that rearranges your identity. It shifted how I walk through the world. It taught me to measure progress differently. So when I catch myself comparing my journey to someone else’s progress, I have to remember that my pace is shaped by pain, healing and a purpose that was reborn in the middle of grief.

My story takes time because my rebuilding took time.

But this final line…

“You have got to realize that the world is a test. You can only do your best and let Him do the rest. You’ve got your life and got your health so quit procrastinating and push it yourself.”

Tell me why that felt like someone slid a note across the table with my name on it. It was the reminder that gratitude and responsibility can live in the same breath. I was so busy looking at what I did not have that I forgot what I still have. Breath in my lungs. Purpose in my bones. A calling that refuses to quiet down. If I want the next chapter, I have to participate in it.

So here is my reminder to you if you are feeling the same way.

Your path is not late.
Your purpose is not lost.
Your progress is not invisible.
You are not stuck.

You are being strengthened.

Keep building.
Keep believing.
Keep becoming.

In due time, you will look back and understand why the wait was necessary.

And if you have a moment today, listen to the song here

Even if hip hop is not your thing, the message is undeniable. And it is already in the Leadership Jukebox playlist on Spotify. 

Sometimes the right song shows up exactly when you need it.

Mic Drop Moment:
When you stop comparing your timeline to someone else's journey, you make room for your own breakthrough to arrive right on time.

TLDR:
Leadership will always have seasons where everyone else looks ahead of you. Trust that you are still on schedule. Stay patient. Keep trying. Stay aligned. Everything you are working toward will meet you when it is supposed to. In due time.