Women Entrepreneurs, Are You Ready to Leap?

Before we explore your readiness to leap I want to ensure you understand what I mean by the words ‘step’ and ‘leap’.

The difference between a step and a leap.

A step is a small change where you’re fairly certain of the outcome, and as a consequence it holds little risk. It’s a decision that comes from your head.

A leap on the other hand is a large shift with more risk because the outcome’s unknown or at least not guaranteed. Deciding to leap comes from deep inside you – from your heart and soul – your true and highest self.

How they each make you feel.

A step generally feels safe and comfortable because it’s familiar - you don’t need to alter your thinking, behaviour, or actions very much, if at all.

However a leap feels uncomfortable, daunting or scary (even if it also feels exciting) because it demands more of you.

When I examine my life and my business I recognise times when I’ve leapt, and many more times when I’ve taken steps forward. There have also been times when I’ve felt like I’ve been stepping or taking action but not actually moving forward. I’m sure you’ve also felt like this!

And when I consider my leaps they’ve all been leaps of faith. Leaps such as agreeing to get married, buying our first house together, having children, leaving employment with no idea of what to do next, starting my own business, working with a new mentor, taking time out to get clear on my new business direction, or writing my book. And I can honestly say they’ve all worked out beautifully.

Which is amazing when you consider that a leap is only really a leap when you cannot guarantee the outcome. When you must decide based on some unknowns. For example, will I be able to do this? Will I be able to cope with this? Will I enjoy this? Will it take me where I want? Each of these you’ll notice is a decision based on faith because it’s beyond your current knowledge and possibly beyond what you currently believe is even possible for you.

And the paradox here is that’s the only way it can work, because if you allow your current reality, your current thinking, beliefs, and expectations to influence your decision to leap then you probably won’t take the leap!

So let’s explore this a little...

• What leaps have you made in your business and your life?
• Are you pleased with the results?
• If not, do you accept that this was the best thing for you to do at that time?
• How did you feel about your leap at the time?

I’d like to bet you were in a state of fear, as well as excitement. And if you’d allowed the fear to engulf you you’d have talked yourself out of your leap! With the benefit of hindsight it’s usually easy to see that the leap was worthwhile. That even if it didn’t take you where you imagined, it did propel you forward quickly; it gave you a different perspective, a new awareness; and it presented you with different and unexpected opportunities.

How many steps might it have taken to get you to the same place?

Could the steps even have got you to the same place?

And if they could, how much time, effort, and money are you likely to have spent in the process?

I often deal with women entrepreneurs who explain why they can’t spend lots of money on themselves or their business, then spend months or even years of their time and £100s or £1000s of their money not progressing. When the truth for most of you is if you take that leap then you’ll quickly reap the rewards, because your perspective, your beliefs, and your reality change as a result of your new experiences.

So, if the thought of leaping fills you with fear or dread, then next time we’ll explore this further by identifying how you can get yourself ready to leap.