In a World of Red Delicious, Be a Cosmic Crisp

One of my earliest memories: I’m five years old, at an apple orchard. The day is hazy, but what’s vivid is that one remarkable bite.

Not just the taste, but the shock of it, my little girl mind exploding with astonishment at the unexpected flavor.

I’ve been chasing that apple for forty years. To this day, that memory ignites wonder that the world holds the capacity for such potential.

It makes me think: if that stand-out apple managed to shape how I experience the world, imagine the power each one of holds to leave a meaningful impression.

Playing the “Perfect” Part

Red Delicious: the quintessential apple.

It’s shiny. Predictable. “Perfect.”

But have you ever bitten into a Red Delicious that blew your mind? Doubt it. 

The ubiquitous Red Delicious may look the part, but fails to deliver the experience we crave.

And yet, as women leaders, how often do we do the same? Pour energy into checking all the boxes, so careful to be competent, polished, and play the predictable part of being a leader, instead of stepping fully into the distinctively, deliciously unique variety of leader we have the potential to be?

The Fear of Being a Bad Apple

We know the unspoken rules for women in leadership:

✔ Be excellent.
✔ Be decisive, but not too decisive.
✔ Be confident, but not too confident.
✔ Be authoritative, but make sure you’re still likable.

Because you can do everything right—but if you’re perceived as unlikable, you’re a Bad Apple.

I’ve been there. Second-guessing every decision, every interaction, worrying whether I was maintaining just the right balance of strength and warmth.

The pressure is real. Women leaders who assert an unpopular opinion, hold their ground, or make tough calls often face backlash that threatens their credibility.

So we play it safe. We soften our edges. Keep a shiny, flawless outside. Make ourselves palatable.

We become a Red Delicious.

A New Variety

But here’s the thing: for decades, Red Delicious dominated the apple market. But not anymore.

Sales of Red Delicious are down. Consumers have spoken, and they want more variety in their varieties—flavor, crunch, depth, surprise.

So why are we still clinging to leadership sameness?

The world is hungry for leaders with passion, courage, and guts to stand out on the shelf.

Forget the Red Delicious. Be a Cosmic Crisp

• Unexpected: Both crisp and sweet.
• Complex: Rich, refreshing, and bold.
• Versatile: Thriving in different spaces and roles.

A one-of-a-kind variety. Just like you.

Dare to stand apart. Step into your authenticity. Leave an imprint on your team, your organization, and the world that only you can make.

Be Embodied

Authenticity isn’t about being bold for the sake of it.

It’s not about choosing loud over soft or brash over thoughtful.

True authenticity is about owning your full spectrum of experiences, values, and qualities, and leading from the whole of who you are.

Start Here:

Prioritize self-care. You can’t show up for others if you’re running on empty. Sustainable leadership requires strength—mind and body. (That’s why Boss Moves Co. is built on core strength—literally and figuratively.)

Express all your dynamic dimensions. What lights you up? What brings you joy? Build a foundation that’s bigger than your career, so that even if the rug gets pulled out from under you, you’re still standing.

Understand what truly drives you. Two leaders on the same path might be motivated by completely different forces. What’s yours? (If you don’t know, let’s uncover it by obtaining your Motivation Map and get clear on what moves you.)

Lean on support – You were put here to make an impact—but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Who’s supporting you? If you’re overstretched, let’s talk about options for 1:1 and team coaching.

Dare to Be a Cosmic Crisp

Showing up as an embodied leader isn’t just about you—it changes the way others experience your leadership, your organization, and its potential.

So in a world full of Red Delicious, I dare you to be something different.

Be bold. Be complex. Be fully you.

And trust—you’re the best bite of the apple.