🎶 Dream Big and Show Up
- Denise Ang
- Jul 6
- 5 min read
Why You Don’t Need To Be Ready To Take The Stage
It Started With Carpool Karaoke
My 11-year-old daughter, Aubrey, has been singing non-stop in the car since she was a preschooler.
At first, I thought this was just what kids do. Then came her school’s 5th-grade musical showcase, The Wizard of Oz. Without hesitation, Aubrey submitted her name to audition for the lead role of Dorothy. Her teacher told her she had a beautiful voice and she was selected. Aubrey dressed up as Dorothy and performed her first solo “Over The Rainbow” in front of 100 students and parents.
A few months later, Aubrey told me she had submitted her name to represent 6th grade to sing in front of her entire school of about 600 middle & high school students. She was selected.
When I asked her what prompted her to do it, she said: "I just thought it would be fun." But then reality set in. When she realized the sheer number of people she'd be performing for, fear hit her. "I’m afraid," she admitted. "I’m not ready to sing."
Yet, she knew she couldn't back out. So, she showed up. She faced her fear, walked onto the stage, and sang through her stage fright. She sang "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane and delivered a performance that resonated with her audience.
Seeing her joy, I signed her up for auditions with a few children’s choirs in the area. To our surprise, she passed all of them. One choir conductor, after her audition, even asked us, "Do you know she has perfect pitch and a three-octave range?" My husband and I, neither of us musically trained, were astonished. We had no idea. Soon after, Aubrey joined the GRAMMY Award-winning National Children's Chorus of the USA.
Stepping onto Bigger Stages, Ready or Not
Two months ago, Aubrey was invited to perform a solo at the Dragon Boat Festival in the Bay Area, a public event with an unfamiliar crowd. She had only two weeks to prepare Speechless from the Aladdin soundtrack. It’s a tough song even for adult vocalists, but she decided to go for it. When she began, people were already walking away as she was the fifth performer. But when she started singing, the entire crowd stopped to listen, captivated by her voice.
Recently, Aubrey had the incredible honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in New York as part of the National Children’s Chorus of the USA. It’s one of the finest and most prestigious concert halls in the country, a stage where some of the world’s most accomplished artists have performed. To see her stand on that legendary stage and sing with grace and strength was something we’ll never forget.
The Sydney Opera House and Beyond
Next week, we’ll be bringing Aubrey to Australia, where she’ll sing with the National Children’s Chorus at the world-renowned Sydney Opera House, one of the most iconic stages in the world. She will be performing for the Australian International Music Festival and will also take the stage in Melbourne and Cairns.
From singing in the car to the school stage, to public festivals, to the national stage, and now, to the global stage. How did that happen?
Aubrey dreamed big. She showed up, again and again, before she felt ready. Each "showing up" built her readiness, leading her to the next bigger stage.
The Power of Showing Up Before You’re Ready
As I watched Aubrey’s journey unfold, I couldn't help but see the parallels to our own professional lives, especially as Asian women in corporate America. Culturally, many of us were conditioned to be humble, not to stand out, to wait until someone invites us to speak or gives us permission to lead. How many times have we held ourselves back, waiting until we feel 100% prepared, perfectly qualified, or absolutely confident?
We might hesitate to apply for a position, fearing we lack a specific skill. We might refrain from speaking up in a meeting, worried our idea isn't fully fleshed out. We might decline a project opportunity, convinced we need more experience.
Here's the truth: if we wait until we are 100% ready, we will miss 100% of the opportunities.
Aubrey's approach is refreshingly different. She doesn't wait for permission or perfect preparation. She sees an opportunity that interests her and goes for it. Yes, she feels the fear and the stage fright, but she doesn't let it stop her from showing up.
Readiness is built through action, not before it. Each time we dream big and show up, even when we feel fear or doubt, we build our readiness. We gather new experiences, learn from our challenges, and become more confident. We earn our way onto bigger and bigger stages each time.
What "Showing Up" Looks Like at Work
Here are a few ways to practice showing up at work before you feel ready:
Speak in the next team meeting, even if your voice shakes a little
Volunteer for a high-visibility project, even if you’re not sure you have all the answers
Apply for the role or promotion, even if you’re not 100 percent qualified
Pitch your idea, even if it’s not perfect
Each time we show up before we feel ready, we build our capacity to handle bigger challenges and bigger opportunities.
Don't Go Speechless
One of the songs Aubrey sang, Speechless from Aladdin, has lyrics that hit me deeply:
Try to shut me and cut me down
I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
As Asian women in corporate America, we sometimes feel the pressure to stay quiet, to not rock the boat, to wait our turn. But our voices are incredibly valuable. Our perspectives, our insights, and our contributions are essential for innovation and progress in any organization. It's time to find your voice and use it.
Don't let the pursuit of readiness hold you back.
Don't let fear silence you.
Don’t go speechless.
Your Stage Is Waiting
Let’s learn to embrace the uncomfortable space between dreaming big and being ready.
Let’s throw our names in the hat because it seems interesting, challenging, or fun.
You don’t need to be perfect to show up.
You don’t need to be fearless to take action.
You don’t need to wait for permission to dream big.
You are ready right now to take the next step.
Your stage is waiting. Dream big and show up now.
P.S.: This article was first published at deniseang.substack.com/p/showup. Subscribe at deniseang.substack.com for free to receive new posts and support my work.
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