Stop hoping for a promotion that's not coming. Instead, start a

Host: The room is quiet, the soft glow of evening light casting long shadows across the walls. Outside, the world continues its rhythm, but inside, the atmosphere feels almost like a moment of pause, as though the conversation that’s about to unfold is something meaningful. Jeeny sits at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup, her expression thoughtful. Jack stands near the window, arms crossed, looking out at the street below.

Jeeny: (her voice gentle, but filled with curiosity) “You ever think about how we wait for opportunities to come to us, like promotions or recognition, instead of creating those opportunities ourselves?”

Jack: (glancing over at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “Waiting for promotions? Yeah, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if you just work hard enough, the right opportunities will come. But sometimes, it feels like those promotions never materialize. What’s got you thinking about this?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, a small smile forming as she shares her thought) “I was thinking about something Sallie Krawcheck said: ‘Stop hoping for a promotion that’s not coming. Instead, start a business at which you want to work.’ It made me realize how much energy we can waste hoping for something that might never happen, instead of channeling that energy into creating something we’re passionate about ourselves.”

Jack: (pauses, considering her words) “So, she’s saying that instead of waiting for the company to recognize our worth or give us that promotion, we should take matters into our own hands? Build something ourselves, something that aligns with what we truly want?”

Jeeny: (smiling more deeply now, her eyes steady as she explains further) “Exactly. Krawcheck’s point is that when you feel stuck or overlooked, the best thing you can do is stop waiting and start creating. You don’t need to wait for someone else to give you permission to do what you love. If the promotion or opportunity isn’t coming, create your own path. Start something that aligns with your vision, and that allows you to work in a way that excites you.”

Host: Jeeny’s words seem to hang in the room, a subtle challenge to the traditional path of waiting for recognition. Jack stands still, his expression softening as he reflects on the deeper message—that creating something of your own is a way to reclaim control and pursue what you truly desire. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, the conversation feels rooted in a new kind of empowerment.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, almost reflective) “I see what she means. We get so caught up in waiting for the right opportunity, but maybe the key to fulfillment is in creating it ourselves. Instead of hoping for a promotion, we can create a business or a project that excites us, that reflects what we really want from work.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice calm, but filled with quiet strength) “Exactly. There’s so much power in taking control of your own career, your own future. You don’t need to wait for someone else to recognize your worth or give you permission to do what you’re passionate about. If the traditional path isn’t working, create your own path.”

Jack: (pauses, a small smile forming on his face as the idea settles in) “It’s empowering, isn’t it? The idea that we can build something ourselves, rather than waiting for the corporate ladder to change. We can create the opportunities we’ve been waiting for all along.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice gentle, but filled with conviction) “Exactly. And that’s the power of entrepreneurship and ownership. When we stop waiting for permission and take control of our own path, we can create the work and the life we truly want.”

Host: The room feels lighter now, as though the conversation has shifted into something more empowering, something aligned with taking action. Jack turns from the window, his posture more relaxed, his thoughts clearly reflecting on the idea that success doesn’t come from waiting—it comes from creating. Jeeny watches him, content in the realization that sometimes, the best path forward is the one you create yourself. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, there’s a shared understanding that we don’t need to wait for opportunities—we can build them ourselves.