I once asked my teenaged daughter (now a beautiful young lady) if she would listen to me practice a speech. I needed a second opinion to calm my jitters for an upcoming engagement. Sprawled across the living room sofa, she listened patiently as I launched into my carefully prepared program and closed with a powerful finale.
“Well, what did you think?”
“Mom, you sound like Agent Scully on the X-Files giving an autopsy report.”
I raised a brutally honest child!
Fast forward two and a half decades. A lot has changed during that time: careers, homes, hobbies, etc. I’m reading more now than I ever have before. Trying to smell the roses more often.
You can do it too. There may be something you’d like to pursue — something you know you’d be good at, whether it be a new career, a hobby, or an adventure. You may have been pondering it for years. Give yourself permission to go for it. Playing it safe (or small) won’t help you achieve that dream.
How the Bold Get What They Want
Bold people aren’t afraid of trying new things. They are good at moving forward once a decision is made. They also:
…surround themselves with people who have already taken the plunge. There’s nothing like watching someone similar to yourself make a shift to a new occupation or lifestyle.
…course-correct, multiple times if necessary. There’s nothing wrong with adjusting your direction. And you don’t need to please those who heard you commit to the first goal you made public (this isn’t a diet after all). You could experience a start-stop-start, trial and error approach that leads you to a whole different adventure. Be on the lookout for unexpected discoveries.
…explore different streams. Chart all the related subsets of your main objective. There’s more than one way to get where you’re going.
…ignore critics. People who criticize are usually stuck in unrewarding positions. They might say you’re on a foolhardy path, but that’s because they don’t have the motivation to make a change happen for themselves. They underestimate their ability to achieve success. They may be underestimating you too! Prove them wrong.
…respectfully decline requests to do a curtain call. Make room for the right things to come into your life by eliminating distractions. Yes, it’s easy to fall back into what’s most comfortable, but it may keep you stuck with an identity you’ve outgrown. Once you start up a new path, it takes more energy to criss-cross your way to the goal. If you stay on track you’ll build momentum.
…experiment. Take taking small risks each day. Make that phone call you’ve been dreading. Invite an expert to lunch. Consider getting the book, Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You by Robie Rogge and Dian G. Smith.
…aren’t afraid to name it. Part of pursuing a new identity is to finally reach a point where you can hold your head up high and say without hesitation, “I WILL (fill in the blank).” Some hesitate to go all in, worried they might close a door through which they’d retreat if their adventure didn’t pan out. Our biggest obstacle is often our lack of self-confidence.
One thing I’ve learned is that our years of experience are never wasted. In the process, we gain transferable skills that may streamline the leap to new vistas. It’s exciting to transition to a new phase in life. Should you choose to make a change, I wish you the best of luck!