It’s a week of anniversaries for us here at The F Word.
7 years ago I took the leap to leave the company I’d founded 12 years earlier. I’d been unhappy for a couple of years and knew I’d taken it as far as I wanted to, having grown it from just me to a team of 12.
I was stuck. I was bored. I didn’t want to sign off 40 balance sheets every month. I didn’t want to manage a team of people.
I wanted to be free to learn and try new stuff. To find bigger ways to help my clients and spend more time with them. And to find out what I was capable of achieving (I knew it was SO much more than I was doing) and to be honest I had outgrown my own company!
I was pretty terrified. I knew what I didn’t want to do (be an accountant any more) and I had a vague idea about coaching and speaking but no idea how I was going to turn that into a business and a decent income. In my last business we had rock solid long term recurring revenues and financial certainty, so this was a huge risk.
But sometimes you just know. And you have to let go of what’s not working to let something new in – I knew I’d never find the growth and adventures I wanted by staying in the same place, doing the same things. For-Ev-Er.
And 7 years in, I barely recognise myself. I’ve completely changed the work I do; having had the freedom to invest in a substantial amount of training over the last few years and create a path I absolutely love. It makes my blood run cold at the thought I could have stayed stuck there out of fear, and never know the growth and meaningful work I’ve found over here on the other side.
As business owners we’ve all taken the leap from employment or uni, and I think we have to keep taking those leaps of faith in our journey running a business. Taking a risk on a new project, changing the business model or direction, and sometimes starting again.
Just don’t let fear be the reason you don’t take that leap. It’s not a good enough reason!
And 1 year on…
A year ago this week we took the huge decision to let go of Sean’s IT company that he’d been running for 18 years, to go full time as a commercial helicopter pilot and flight instructor. He’d been juggling part-time piloting for many years with running the IT company, and his role in The F Word.
We had no idea if there would be enough work or if we could make it pay, but we knew we’d never find out what could be if we kept clinging to his safety blanket of the IT work.
And the funny thing is, within a couple of months several new opportunities came Sean’s way and he’s been flat out ever since. The challenge these days is getting to spend any time with him!
And for my next leap….
As you read this I’ll have just arrived in Mallorca for the week long intensive workshop; my next level of NLP and neuroscience development. Helping my clients with their financial strategy is only part of the picture – I want to be able to help more with what stops people from getting their dream, what stops them taking action, helping them overcome their fears and limiting beliefs, so that I can help more of my clients build a financial future to be excited about.