A Truth About Recognition I’m No Longer Interested in Downplaying
Here’s something I’m no longer interested in downplaying:
I like being recognized, and I’m no longer pretending I don’t.
Leaderboards.
Award nominations.
Testimonials that reflect the impact of my work.
And yes, the standing ovation. The byline. The moment when something I’ve said lands in a way that’s visible and undeniable.
For a long time, I wondered if this was something I should soften or minimize.
It isn’t.
But it has required perspective.
Because for me, recognition is not about applause.
It’s about evidence of impact.
And perhaps even more than that, it’s about reputation.
Having navigated cancer twice and come out on the other side, I don’t take time for granted.
I find myself asking a very real question:
What would people say about me if I weren’t here tomorrow?
Not in a dramatic way.
In a clarifying way.
Because I’m no longer interested in building a legacy someday.
I want my legacy to be alive right now in how I show up, in how I serve, and in what people experience because I was in the room.
So yes, I allow myself to enjoy recognition when it comes.
I let the testimonial land.
I let the acknowledgment register.
I let the moment matter.
Not because I need it to define me.
But because I’ve earned the right to receive it without apology.
Here’s the distinction that matters:
Recognition is a beautiful byproduct.
It is not my direction.
It doesn’t decide where I go next.
It doesn’t determine what I say yes to.
And it certainly doesn’t replace the deeper work of showing up with integrity, clarity, and care.
I welcome recognition as confirmation, not as direction.
Because the goal was never to be seen everywhere.
It was to be seen accurately for work that matters with people who value it.
And to be able to enjoy that while I’m still here to live it.
That’s the standard I’m holding now.
Nancy Juetten is a messaging strategist, regret prevention advocate, and founder/leader of the Ruby Slipper Collective. This is an intimate mastermind through which accomplished women entrepreneurs design their next magnificent chapters in life and work and bring their new dreams to life together.
