People expect courage to be rewarded immediately.

It isn’t.

When you go first
When you challenge norms
When you step outside consensus

You don’t get applause.

You get resistance.

Pressure from your team.
Confusion from your family.
Silence from people you hoped would understand.

Applause comes later.
Usually after it’s proven.
After it’s safe.
After you don’t need it anymore.

The encouragement you needed in the darkness almost never shows up on time.

That’s the price of leadership.

Questions to reflect on:

Where are you waiting for permission you’re never going to get?

What would you do if no one clapped?

Are you willing to be misunderstood for a season?

Going first is lonely.
But it creates paths others eventually walk.

And whether they thank you or not you’ll know you didn’t abandon yourself to stay comfortable.