The Power of Being “The Only”

You’re not an anomaly. You’re the assignment.

I know what it feels like to not “fit in.”

It’s not a passing phase or a momentary insecurity—it’s embedded in how I move through the world. As a black woman, I’ve often found myself in spaces where I was the only one who looked like me, thought like me, or moved like me.

And for a long time, I thought that was a challenge.

And it is, but a good one.

What if being “the only” in the room isn’t a flaw, but a feature?

Right now, I’m wrapping up a grueling Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training—intense coursework, high-level problem-solving, and a room full of engineers from major corporations.

Let me paint the picture: Sixteen professionals, most of whom speak process improvement like a second language. They eat, breathe, and dream in data sets. Meanwhile, I’m sitting there, clinical background and all, wondering, “What am I doing here?”

The instructor starts lighting up while discussing process mapping. I watch the others nod along effortlessly, and for a moment, imposter syndrome tries to emerge and take the mic.

But then I remember: I’m not here by accident.

I’m here because my lens is different. Because I see systems and people. Because I can sit at the intersection of clinical insight and operational efficiency. Because while others optimize the process, I ask, “Who’s being left behind by it?”

That question shifts everything.

Being the “only” in the room is not a deficit—it’s a declaration. You’re not an outsider. You’re what’s missing. You’re what’s needed.

You bring texture to the conversation. You disrupt groupthink. You name the unspoken. You see what’s invisible to the room because you’ve lived what they haven’t.

And that is value.

So the next time you walk into a room and feel the weight of being the “only,” I want you to remember this: You don’t have to fit in when you’re meant to stand out. You don’t have to prove your worth—you are the worth. The brilliance. The edge. The insight they didn’t even know they were missing.

You’re not just in the room. You’re adding value wherever you land.

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CTA:

If this resonated, share it with another powerhouse who might need the reminder. And if you're a leader trying to create rooms where “onlys” feel seen, heard, and valued—let’s talk. I coach organizations and individuals on building cultures where everyone can thrive.