“Be aggressive” isn’t just a sideline cheer. It’s a reminder for life.

Milena soccer 2019-2025. Photo credit: SCH-OSS

This weekend, my middle daughter, now 12, won a soccer tournament with her team. And I remembered the first time she played a game here (shortly after we moved to the United States). She was six years old and thrilled to be part of her new club. And I was thrilled too, ready to cheer her on, take pictures, and enjoy the moment.

But something happened that really stayed with me — because honestly, it shocked me.

The coach of the opposing team was yelling loudly to the girls: “Be aggressive!”

And me, being a Latina —a Peruvian mom— immediately thought:

“What’s wrong with this guy? How can he yell that at little girls?!”

To me, it sounded harsh, even violent. That word didn’t have a positive meaning in my world. In my cultural context, being “aggressive” is not something we celebrate. I associated it with fighting, pushing through people, being rude or forceful. Definitely not something I wanted for my daughter.

I was honestly a bit shaken by the coach’s attitude, so at the end of the game I mentioned it to my daughter afterward. And she looked at me and said,

“Mom, I don’t think you get it.”

So I asked her, “Then what does it mean when the coach says ‘be aggressive’?”

And she calmly replied:

“When the coach says ‘be aggressive,’ it means don’t just stand there waiting. Go after the ball. Work hard. Defend it. Make a play.”

And bam —my brain lit up. Like, of course. That’s what it means.

🥇“Be aggressive” doesn’t mean being violent. It means taking action. Being awake.

That shout from the sidelines that initially felt out of place to me ended up teaching me something powerful.

Because in American sports culture —at least as I’ve come to understand it— “be aggressive” doesn’t mean to hurt someone. It means don’t hold back. Take initiative. Don’t wait for the game to come to you.

And when we translate that to everyday life… It makes so much sense.

⌛Where in your life are you waiting too long?

• Maybe you want to change jobs.

• Maybe you’ve been thinking about starting your own business for months.

• Maybe you know there’s something important you need to say… but you keep holding it in.

And so you wait. You overthink. You hope for that “perfect moment” — the day when everything makes sense, when the fear disappears and the conditions are ideal.

But guess what? That moment rarely comes on its own. Sometimes, you have to go out and make it happen.

Just like on the field: if you don’t go for the ball, it won’t land at your feet.

We have to get in the game. Even when we’re not 100% ready. Even when we don’t have all the answers.

Sometimes, being “aggressive” simply means:

• Sending that email you’ve been rewriting in your head for weeks.

• Asking for the meeting you keep postponing.

• Making a decision. Closing a chapter. Speaking up.

It’s about standing your ground and saying: “I’m here. I want this. And I’m going for it.”

💡Imperfect action takes you further than perfect waiting.

As a coach, I see this all the time. Incredibly capable, brilliant people — full of ideas — completely stuck, paralyzed by the fear of messing up.

And yes, I get it. I’ve felt that fear too. But I’ve also learned that you don’t need to feel 100% confident to move forward. You just need to trust yourself enough to take that first step.

❤️“Be aggressive” is also an act of self-love.

It’s about caring enough about yourself to stop putting off the things that really matter. It’s about telling yourself: “I’m not hiding anymore.”

You don't need to change who you are. You just need to let your true self emerge, boldly, move!

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign… here it is.

From a mom, a coach, a woman who once needed this push too, I’ll tell you — not shouting :), but from my heart:

Be aggressive!

Because you’re ready. And because life doesn’t wait.

Where in your life could you use a little more healthy aggression?

As a life and career coach, I empower and support my clients to stop waiting and start moving with intention.

If this message resonated with you, send me a DM! ✎