In a powerful and resonant address that captivated the audience, Nigerian business leader Bella Disu took the stage at TEDx Ikoyi, delivering a compelling talk that challenged a fundamental belief holding many people and organizations back.
A Standing Ovation for a Simple Yet Profound Message
The event, held on 22 November 2025, witnessed Disu receiving a standing ovation following her presentation titled "Say Yes Now: Why Readiness is a Myth." Her core argument was both simple and arresting: we do not become ready before we begin a new venture; we become ready by actually doing it.
Disu explored the common hesitation that grips individuals and corporations at critical junctures requiring bold action. She argued that waiting for the perfect moment of readiness is often the very obstacle that prevents transformative progress.
Learning from Corporate Giants: Kodak, Blockbuster, and Apple
To solidify her point, the business leader drew from well-known case studies in the corporate world. She explained how industry giants like Kodak stalled and how Blockbuster dismissed innovation, ultimately leading to their decline. In stark contrast, she highlighted how Apple accelerated to the top.
Disu emphasized that Apple's success was not because it was the largest company at the time, but because it acted with clarity and conviction, even when the path was not fully clear.
A Personal Journey to Finding Her "Whole Self"
Beyond the business lessons, Disu shared a deeply personal reflection. She revealed that she met her "whole self" at the age of 38—the creative, the changemaker, the lifelong learner. This discovery did not happen in a moment of perfect preparation or readiness.
Instead, it emerged from a quiet but firm decision to stop walking within familiar walls and to embrace the uncertainty of something new.
"Readiness is not a destination," Disu stated. "It is a posture. Every meaningful shift begins with a single yes — sometimes inconvenient, often uncomfortable, always transformative."
This message of embracing action over perfection is already resonating widely across leadership and personal development circles. It echoes a universal truth: that courage is contagious, and when one person has the bravery to move, it gives others the permission they need to begin their own journeys.
