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Lets stop apologizing

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As women we are programmed to be apologetic.

“Sorry i’m late.”

“Sorry this seat is taken.”

“Sorry to bother you.”

“Sorry to interrupt.”

Can we just knock it off already? Manners are one thing, but apologizing for no reason can actually hurt you. What kind of message are you sending? It sure as hell isn’t confidence.

There is a great article by Fast Company that talks about the right times to apologize and spoiler….it doesn’t include any of the below:

  1. Sharing your point of view. If you are in a meeting and speak up, don’t apologize for it! Say what you have to say, illustrate how damn smart you are and then sit down. Do you think Bob is going to apologize for interrupting you to show how smart he is? No.
  2. When you are short on time or long on time. If you have a presentation and it is going long, inform the group that you will wrap up in 2 minutes or however long. Also don’t be that person that drones on and on and on. I’m also going to assume your PowerPoint slides are engaging and not 15 bullet points each.
  3. Delivering bad news. Sometimes you have to sit down with an employee, colleague or client and share or discuss a difficult issue. Apologizing will only undermine what you are about to say. Have the tough conversation and move on. Starting out with “sorry” only makes you look unsure.

There are situations that will warrant an apology, like running over your neighbors cat. However when it is work-related, think twice before offering up an apology.

What do you think?

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It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows you.

When I talk Big Deal Energy™️, I remind people about the power of their network and the investment it requires to actually reap the benefits. You gotta give to get.

I shared some thoughts with @fastcompany on the ROI of conference sponsorships, which only makes sense if you build connections and are visible.

“The benefit and ROI need to outweigh the cost. ROI should be defined in multiple ways: brand awareness, visibility with a core customer base, or being able to share knowledge, which positions you as a thought leader. Note: Invest in personal branding workshops or education so your people know how to connect, make an impression, follow up, and nurture a lead.”

If you don’t know how to work a room, give more than you get, then for the love of all that is holy, register for the Big Deal Energy™ Workshop on June 23.
The moment you step into your Big Deal Energy™️, people will find a reason to hate you. They’ll disagree with you. They’ll leave shitty comments. They’ll try to make you feel small.

Let them.

Their mediocre is not yours to carry, their discomfort with your confidence is a them problem. You aren’t showing up to make everyone comfortable, you’re doing it because being authentically you means something. 

And when the haters roll in? Smile; they just proved your point. See you on the 21st.
Small Business Survival Skills: Critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, professionalism…when employees are missing these, it costs us a whole bunch of money. 

We have a choice, and I say this with all the love my feral little Gen X heart can muster: we can spend our energy wishing things were different, or we can adapt and teach them.

Companies investing in integrated learning models see 24% higher profit margins and save roughly $18K per new hire in productivity ramp up.

It’s survival. @8thirtyfour Skills Survival School, June 25 - https://8thirtyfour.com/skills/
I started @8thirtyfour #19 years ago because I didn’t see many women in leadership positions; those I saw weren’t real keen to lend a helping hand. If you want something, make it happen; no one is going to hand you your dream.

#smallbusiness #bigdealenergy #womenfounders #womensupportingwomen kimbode
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