62 Starting something new – feeling like a fool
So here I am sticking my neck out. Publicly. I am in business officially two years and my first business plan didn’t work. I made very little money and had to borrow to keep going and try the next plan.
I have invested over 200k in education and sacrificed earnings in the past 10 years at a rough guess. I’ve invested many thousands of hours in my learning, development and my work. I’m earning now but it’s not quite sustainable yet. I could run out of money. This kind of financial uncertainty unnerves me in a fairly significant way. That’s the facts.
So, am I completely mad?
Some people say I’m really brave. They say I’m really good at what I do and what I’m doing works for people, people really want it and need it. They say I should keep going, I’m doing all the right things and that I will earn a living.
Some people say I’m really ‘brave’ (but their faces say ‘stupid’ or ‘mad’!) That even though I am really good at what I do and people probably want/need it, that maybe there isn’t a way to make it work. Maybe I don’t understand business, I am not doing the right things, I don’t know the right people. Maybe I should just admit it’s not going to work and just go get a job (as if that were easy!).
Maybe. Maybe I am mad. Maybe I am brave.
I have never felt more exposed in my life. I have never done anything that means as much to me. There has never been as much at stake for me.
I have also never been happier. I have never felt that I have used my time so well, so purposefully. I have never enjoyed working so much and never worked so hard. I have never felt so privileged. I work at something I love. I get to walk with people on a small part of their life journey and witness them blossom, achieve things they never thoughts possible and grow in confidence.
Here’s what I’ve learned: The choice to set out in pursuit of your dreams/your vision is the single wisest choice you can make for yourself in your life. It really doesn’t matter how it all works out, it’s the journey, your day to day life that matters. You have to earn a living and take care of the basics but the direction you set off in and how you make it happen is your experience of life. As Jim Carey so wisely says in this video ‘You can fail at what you don’t like so you might as well do what you love.’ In the past two years I have connected with the most amazing people, had a lot of fun, learned so much; I have experienced joy, craziness, falling apart, starting over, laughter, worry, gratitude … and no regrets. Not one.
Forgot to attach the video before this blog out, oooopss!! Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajMpfPYlHi4
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