Title: You are right on time

In Nervous Conditions, Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga offers a line that startles and awakens:

“I was not sorry when my brother died.”

Tambu isn’t heartless—she’s finally free of the comparison, of the hierarchy, of the roles assigned to her gender. That moment captures something many women feel but rarely say out loud: how exhausting it is to live under the weight of roles we never chose. The “dutiful daughter,” the “obedient wife,” the “respectable woman”—these are not always identities we inhabit freely. Sometimes, it takes loss, disruption, or conscious rebellion to finally say: This isn’t me. And I’m allowed to want something different. This is where our timelines begin to heal.

Because the truth is, transformation doesn’t happen on society’s schedule. It happens when we’re ready. When we wake up. When we’re brave enough to choose ourselves.

Take Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma—a medical doctor turned politician who quietly built her influence over decades in male-dominated spaces, becoming the first woman to lead the African Union Commission. Or Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who became Director-General of the World Trade Organization in her 60s, after years of steady service and global economic impact.

What do these women have in common? They didn’t rush to “arrive.” They didn’t measure themselves against a societal stopwatch. They did the work. Grew. Evolved. And when the door opened, they were ready.

That’s the beauty of building your life on your own timing: the results last longer, feel truer, and serve more people—because they come from alignment, not anxiety. So if you’re still becoming, still healing, still figuring it out, don’t worry. You’re not behind. You’re not late.

You are becoming—and you are right on time.

The Cost of Delayed Self-Discovery

Many women feel like they’re constantly doing—but not becoming. They’ve achieved much, but still don’t feel fulfilled. Why? Because when we live by society’s rules, we rarely have time to ask: Who am I, really?

Here are practical mindset shifts to support you on your journey:

1. Question the inherited script Ask yourself: Who told me success has to look this way? If the answer isn’t rooted in joy, it might be time to rewrite it.

2. Protect your energy Guard your peace like it’s your most precious resource—because it is.

3. Define success on your terms Write a personal mission statement. Not for LinkedIn. For your heart. Let it reflect your values—not borrowed ones.

4. Celebrate your nonlinear path Life rarely follows a straight line. And that’s okay.

5. Choose progress over perfection Don’t wait to be "ready"—start from where you are. Each small act of authenticity builds a foundation of freedom.

Rewrite the Narrative

There is no “Book of Me” available for pre-order. No universal map. Your life is not a checklist to tick off—it is a living, evolving manuscript. That’s why I started the Mindset Elevator Programme—because true change begins inside. Not with metrics or milestones, but with mindset. The fear of being “too late” is just that: fear. And fear cannot build freedom, peace, or legacy. But alignment can. And it begins the moment you choose to trust your own timing.

Have you felt pressure to be somewhere by now? How are you embracing your own timing?