Stop Waiting, Start Creating with Carly Ann Filbin

Sip of the Week: In this week's conversation with Carly, we dive into what it truly means to create your own stage instead of waiting for permission or validation from others. With her background in comedy and storytelling, Carly shares how she transitioned from seeking external opportunities to building her own platform on her terms. Her powerful insight? Put what you want to create at the top of your priority list—even above how you're perceived or concerns about "making it."

When you care more about your creative project than external validation, you free yourself from the paralysis of comparison, perfectionism, and impostor syndrome. As Carly puts it, sometimes there isn't even time to question your confidence when you've set deadlines, charged people money, and committed to delivering. The choice becomes clear: either create the stage yourself or stop altogether. Listen now!

Let it Brew: True leading lady energy isn't about waiting in the wings for someone to discover you—it's about building your own platform when existing structures don't serve your vision. As writer and performer Carly shared in our conversation, after years of pursuing traditional paths to success in comedy and seeing peers rocket past her, she made a pivotal realization: what she wanted wasn't fame itself, but creative control over her work. This shift in priority—putting the creative vision above external validation—is transformative. When you care more about the thing you're creating than how you're perceived, comparison, perfectionism, and impostor syndrome lose their power. The most liberating truth? Every "failure" becomes a lesson that informs your next creation. As Carly puts it, "I wouldn't have what I have now if I didn't quote-unquote fail." Her storytelling business emerged directly from these learning experiences, transforming obstacles into expertise she could share with others. Perhaps most powerfully, Carly reminds us that in the grand scheme—we will all die someday—so treating life like the game it is frees us to play boldly rather than cautiously. Her current mantra of "So what?" when facing obstacles represents the ultimate creative liberation, allowing her to conserve energy for what truly matters: the work itself.

Post-Tea Pursuits: CREATE YOUR OWN VALIDATION BANK this week.

Inspired by Carly's "validation spank bank," take 15 minutes to create your own collection of past wins and positive feedback:

• Text or email friends asking them what they appreciate about your work or talents
• Screenshot and save any compliments or positive feedback you've received
• Write down 3-5 times you succeeded at something challenging

Commit to one action this week that puts YOU in control of your creative journey rather than waiting for permission. Maybe it's setting up that website, scheduling your first workshop, or simply declaring your intentions publicly. Remember: exposing yourself to both success AND failure is the only way to grow. WRITE DOWN how it feels to take ownership rather than waiting for someone else to give you the stage!