I made the decision to become a life coach long before I started telling anyone about it. I had good reasons for keeping it to myself. I hadn't even begun my training. I needed to craft a business plan and hone in on how I could best be of service to my clients. I needed to know my plan was viable before announcing a big, and seemingly unexpected, career shift to the world. When the time finally came to share my vision with family and friends, I was braced for some interesting responses. And oh, they did not disappoint! It took a month for me to share the news with my 'inner circle' about starting a life coaching business. I am proud to have an eclectic group of friends and family and knew well that their reactions would be varied. True to form, the responses ranged from "That's SO perfectly you!" to a neutral "OK," to "Huh? Never heard of it," to "You're becoming a snake-oil salesman, I see." None of it really surprised me, but I admit, I was deeply grateful for the couple of dear friends who immediately wanted to sign up as my first clients. The fact that I wasn't the least bit bothered by the less than positive responses, however, was an affirmation that I was on the right path. Fear of judgment wasn't holding me back. Fear of failing wasn't holding me back. Fear of change wasn't holding me back. I was nervous, but I was also ready and excited to take the plunge! Readiness is a big life question for most of us at one time or another. Am I ready to get married? Am I ready to leave this job? Am I ready to be a parent? When we talk about being ready, often what we are really looking for is the reassurance that we will be OK, no matter what happens. So we prepare. We educate ourselves. We make contingency plans. But the fact of the matter always remains – we can never know the future with any certainty. Therefore, with any major life step we take, risk is involved. What, then, does it really mean to be ready for something? The answer to that question, of course, is different for everyone. There are some universal clues worth noting, however, in case they happen to pop up on your personal radar screen. The following list outlines five of those important signs. Feel free to share other signs of readiness in the comments section below!
As I wrap up this post, I invite you to take a moment to ask yourself an important question: If we can never be truly certain of the future, if we must rely only upon our best instincts and a little bit of faith, why do we continue to leap into the unknown? For my part, I think the answer is simple. We are gloriously curious creatures. We are also extremely resourceful, resilient, enterprising, hopeful, and optimistic. We are creative, innovative explorers! The traits that push us forward into the unknown are traits we have celebrated throughout all of human history. We are a race that comes equipped to face challenge. Indeed, many of our greatest achievements have come into being despite daunting odds.
The next time you find yourself waiting to feel completely ready for whatever might be on the horizon, remember this: If you wait long enough to feel 100% ready for anything, you've waited far too long. Your human nature thrives on forward momentum. Be smart. Think carefully, plan ahead, gather your resources, and then make the leap saying to yourself, "Ready or not, here I come!"
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Hi! I'm Jennifer
I’m a professional life coach and business owner in the Washington, DC area living my dream of helping purpose-driven people experience deeper fulfillment and personal transformation. I'm also an active professional violinist who thrives on connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds through the power and beauty of music. Archives
March 2017
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