The Woman in the Arena: what it means to step up and lead

There is a passage that continues to stir my soul. It serves as a guiding light in moments of doubt, frustration, and exhaustion. It reminds me why I do what I do and calls me to step forward when I feel stuck. 

It is The Man in the Arena, a powerful excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 speech Citizenship in a Republic. 

It always makes me smile that the words I draw so much strength from come from a speech with such a blatantly male-centric title. So, I took the liberty of tweaking it slightly. The printout that sits above my desk reads The Woman in the Arena. 

And maybe, this version will resonate more with you too. 

The Woman in the Arena 

It is not the critic who counts. Not the woman who points out how the strong woman stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.

The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena. The one whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. The one who strives valiantly. Who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error or shortcoming.

But she knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions. She spends herself in a worthy cause. At best, she knows the triumph of high achievement.

At worst, if she fails, at least she fails while daring greatly, so that her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. 

What this poem means to me 

At its core, this passage is a rallying cry to live by values-driven action. To act with purpose. To stay true to what matters most rather than chase external markers of success. 

Through my research, my lived experience, and my work coaching high performing women, I have found a clear truth. Those who anchor themselves in their values, rather than just chasing outcomes, create meaningful and sustainable success. 

Here is what The Woman in the Arena reminds me. 

The credit belongs to those doing the work 

This reminds me to put aside the good opinions of others and trust myself. The loudest voices are often those watching from the sidelines, critiquing without ever stepping into the arena themselves. But real progress is made by those who do rather than those who only judge. 

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Strive to do deeds 

It is not about having the perfect plan. It is about taking action. Trying. Failing. Trying again. It is easy to dream about the life we want. But the only way to build it is by showing up and doing the work, even when it is messy. 

Spend yourself in a worthy cause 

This is a nod to work that aligns with purpose. Real fulfilment comes from contributing your unique gifts to something greater than yourself. Meaning is not found in ticking boxes. It is found in serving a need in the world that only you can meet. 

Dare greatly 

We get one shot at this life. Playing it safe will not protect us from regret. I want to look back and know that I had the courage to show up fully, take risks, and chase what matters most, even when it was scary.  Because that is what it means to truly live. 

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