The part of success no one talks about | Julie Navickas | TEDxNormal

Most people think success is measured by applause—the packed rooms, recognition, and visible proof that something is working. But what happens when the excitement fades and the room gets quiet? In this talk, Julie Navickas explores the difficult space between starting and succeeding, where effort outpaces feedback and silence begins to feel personal. Through the story of an almost-empty book launch that nearly convinced her to quit writing altogether, she reveals how easy it is to mistake lack of response for lack of progress. This talk reframes silence not as failure, but as the season where resilience is built. It challenges audiences to keep going when no one is clapping—and to recognize that growth often happens long before anyone else can see it. Julie is a communications professional and multi-award-winning romance author who thrives at the intersection of storytelling and strategy. By day, she works in corporate communications at COUNTRY Financial, blending creativity with clarity to craft messages that engage and inspire. She is also an award-winning instructor at Illinois State University’s School of Communication, helping students master audience-driven communication. By night, Julie explores human connection as a romance author represented by Chip Rice at WordLink, Inc. Known for heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories filled with humility and humor, her Trading Heartbeats trilogy has earned numerous honors, including a Literary Global Book Award, BookFest first-place wins, and a Clarion Award. Julie holds master’s degrees in organizational communication and English studies. Across every role, her mission remains the same: using words to move people—emotionally, intellectually, and meaningfully. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx