Bruce Kasanoff* says if people think their next career move looks as formidable as the summit of a towering mountain they should remember that mountains are there to be climbed.
My ghost-writing practice serves many leading entrepreneurs, and I’ve noticed that some hesitate to tackle a big, hairy goal.
Then they dive in and eventually achieve it, and only then realise that the goal wasn’t as hard as it once seemed.
To put it another way, when you look up at a mountain, it can look intimidating.
However, once you get to the summit, you realise you were more than capable of that challenge — and you start looking for a new one.
Earlier this year, as the pandemic locked down the country, one of my clients was worried his company wouldn’t be able to avoid layoffs.
In fact, his revenues went up, not down.
Years ago, I worked with a team of successful speakers, who agonised over the prospect of raising their rates for fear of losing clients.
Eventually, they gathered their courage and doubled their fees.
The result? They easily doubled their revenues, with virtually no loss of clients.
Ten years ago, when I considered switching my career to become a ghost-writer, I hesitated for an entire year.
After that point, it was clear sailing. My only regret was waiting a year.
If you’re asking yourself: “Do I have the talent/courage/grit/skills/judgment to tackle my next big goal,” don’t just lean towards the safe side.
Recognise that fear and apprehension may be making your goal seem more formidable than it actually is.
The best way to test reality is to, well, run a test.
If you’re thinking of quitting your job and becoming a consultant, try to pick up a few consulting clients before you quit.
If you want to write a book, write a proposal and a sample chapter.
Take whatever challenge you are considering and chunk it down into pieces, then try to tackle the first few pieces.
Along the way, you’ll gain both experience and confidence.
Don’t just sit there, intimidated by a goal that you are most likely capable of more than just reaching.
*Bruce Kasanoff is an executive coach and social media ghost-writer for entrepreneurs. He can be contacted at kasanoff.com.
This article first appeared at kasanoff.com.
