I’ve followed a pretty traditional path, up until today that is.

 

Growing up, I had good grades, went to college, got a good job… you know the story.  And this has served me well, no doubt about it.  But I’ve also realized lately that it makes me a bit afraid to act on something if I don’t have it planned out.  Of course, by a “bit afraid”, I mean completely anxious and unable to act.

 

I wouldn’t do it, whatever “it” was that was, off the standard, beaten path of life. I would cruise right on past it while eyeing it enviously. “Gotta have a plan,” I said, “otherwise how will you know what you’re doing? It’d be ridiculous not to.”  Right? You get this too, I’m sure I’m not the only one.

 

I didn’t even realize that this was causing me to not live the life I wanted, because my life was just fine by normal standards.  However, I had this nagging voice in my head constantly telling me to do something… what that something was, I couldn’t quite figure it out. But that voice wouldn’t shut up.

 

All of this changed a few months ago when I was called out. Big time.  I was put on the spot and asked why I wouldn’t commit to anything, to any idea or whim, I had about the future.  “I don’t know what I actually want, and I definitely don’t know how I’d do any of these ideas.” I responded.  

 

 

Boom, talk about a game changer.  It was so true that I really resisted the idea at first.  “What? No, no. It’s not that I’m afraid of failing, I just don’t what I want.”  That was laughably false.  I have so many ideas on what I want! I saw myself coaching full time, I saw myself being successful by my own standards, I just didn’t want to say I was going to do this because I didn’t want to tell people and royally screw it up. I also didn’t have a plan or any idea of how to make it happen. So hell no, I was not going to tell anyone I wanted to start my own business being a professional coach.

 

I thought about that conversation over and over for the rest of the day, weekend, and into the next week. I thought about my reaction to it.  I thought about what it would look like if I actually dared to dream.  And then I thought, “Why not?”

 

The next day, I jumped.  Leapt blindly over the edge of a cliff, you might say. 

 

I committed to an idea about my future that could be real.  I acted without a plan. I put in my notice to my employer, I told my friends and family that this is what I was doing.  When they asked for details about how, I shook my head and smiled.  “I’m working on that”, was the best reply I had.

 

It was terrifying.  And super awesome. Plus that voice in my head changed it’s tune and was saying, “Finally! YES! Go Karla!”

 

So here we are, on the day that I’m officially kicking off my coaching business. Thanks for being along for the ride.