Half-Term Musings: It’s Time for Your Secret Sauce

A happy memory from 2013

There’s a rather lovely, almost bittersweet feeling about half-term when you’ve reached a certain age. Back when the children were little, these weeks were all about them - activities, outings, snacks at every turn, the wonderful chaos of being needed. Now? They’re still in term time, but they don’t need me quite as much, and I find myself feeling something I didn’t quite expect: a strange kind of sadness, yes, but more than that—excitement. Possibility. A sense that this is my time.

It feels like a mid-life moment, and I’m here for it!

This half-term, I’ve been lost in two books that have genuinely shifted something in me. I started with Rachel Rodgers’ We Should All Be Millionaires, which led me to Gay Hendricks’ The Big Leap. Between them, they’ve sparked a lot of reflection about where I’m really operating from - and where I could be. One of the biggest ideas I’ve been sitting with is the distinction between your zone of excellence and your zone of genius - what I’m calling your secret sauce. Your zone of excellence is where you’re competent, reliable, often praised. It’s also where so many of us stay stuck, because it feels safe and, it is safe but it’s not where your unique gifts live. Your secret sauce is the thing that only you can do in the way that only you can do it. It’s the particular flavour you bring to everything - your perspective, your approach, your way of seeing the world, and stepping into it fully requires something that doesn’t always come easily; permission - your own permission.

On Secret Sauce — and What It Means for Me

As a Black woman, I’ve always felt the pressure to hide parts of myself. I wonder what’s ‘too much’ or what needs to be toned down to fit in. My ‘secret sauce’ can feel risky in places that weren’t made for me and people like me. But here’s what I’ve decided, just like success, I get to decide what my secret sauce looks like, not by what society says, not by what others think I should be. It’s about what feels true, right and mine.

I see my gifts as gifts from God. And I truly believe we’re all here for a reason, no matter what’s happening in the world or what season we’re in. In the Bible, Esther didn’t set out to save her people, she simply showed up, fully, when she was called. I’m not saying I’m here to save a nation - but who knows! What I do believe is that this time is meant to be. There’s a reason I’m here, at this point, with these gifts, in this time.

How I’m Navigating This Season

I’m at a crossroads in so many ways right now. And these are the things that are helping me get through it with grace, I hope they’re helpful for you too, wherever you are on your journey.

Taking time to reflect, meditate and journal. It sounds like a cliché, but as I write in my book, these practices have helped me through the toughest times of my life and are still the foundation for everything else. Stillness isn’t wasted time; it’s the work.

Trusting what this season is asking me to do. Aligning with God’s plan for this chapter takes patience and trust, but right now, it also needs something else - courage and boldness. It’s not about waiting for someone to ask it's stepping forward.

Taking care of my body is important. When I’m strong physically, I feel stronger mentally and emotionally, and, I just enjoy looking good! Looking after my body helps me feel confident and authentically myself, and I make no apology for that.

Reframing old narratives. I'm just being myself, and that's enough. Some people will like me, and some won't — and that's fine. If you try to please everyone, you risk being nothing to those who truly matter. I'd rather connect deeply with the right people than be broadly liked by everyone.

Seeing the world with the wonder of a child. It’s easy to lose your sense of wonder. Cynicism can creep in without us even noticing. So, every day, I try to remind myself that there’s always something new to discover, and even the things we know can be seen in a fresh light. Curiosity is a real gift.

Here’s What I Want to Leave You With

Reflecting on half-term, I’m thinking about how time flies. It might sound a bit sad, but it’s actually a really energising thought because it means there’s so much more to come.

You’re here for a reason. Your unique qualities aren’t just by chance. The moment you’re in - even if it’s tough or unclear - is not random.

So, what would it be like to share a little more of your special qualities with the world this week? Not perfectly, not with everything figured out. Just one brave, present step.

I'd love to know what resonated — drop it in the comments or get in touch. And if you're ready to do this work with proper support behind you, I'd love to explore what that could look like together. Find out more about working with me [here].