More Afraid of Ignoring It Than of the Leap

What are you willing to risk? So much. 

When I started my business I took a big ass leap of faith in myself. For years, something was gnawing at me and I tried a lot of things to satisfy it – moving companies, cities, countries, and careers. I started to notice my body deteriorating – my hands were cramping up, I was getting sick a lot. I was finally to a point where I couldn’t afford to ignore these signs, I was more afraid of the consequences of ignoring them than anything else. I was willing to risk a loss of income, status, my mind –for what? A life where I’m healthy!! That’s where it began and it continues to evolve throughout the years. 

As time goes on, what I’m willing to risk is motivated beyond myself – it now includes the well-being of my husband and our family, our environment, and community. I now have the capacity to think and act beyond myself. And that capacity will (and has!!!) wavered, but I’m willing to risk a lot to be in a place where my career allows for my capacity to grow, shrink, and do all kinds of weird stuff. Currently all a work in progress. 

When I have the conversation with clients about what they and their teams are willing to risk, it stops people in their tracks – for reasons that are all so specific to each and every one of their experiences and their future hopes and dreams.

As an entrepreneur, are you willing to risk control for the growth of your team? As an aspiring leader, are you willing to risk the comfort of being a builder to become an inspiring leader? As a person, going through the motions of life, are you willing to risk the habits and behaviors that are weighing you down for an uncertain future that may hold  the dreams you desire?

What motivates you — beyond the projects and milestones — is the question underneath the risk?

What's at the heart of you, what gets you up, what keeps you going when the going gets stupidly tough?