What’s Next for Me
If you follow me on social media, you’ve likely seen that I’m launching a brand new project, “100 Days of Designing My Life: The Reflection Journal” – coming this spring!
I’m bowled over by everyone’s loving encouragement and support – seriously!
But actually that’s not what I want to share with you today.
Today I want to take you behind the scenes and tell you the story of how I came to take this next step.
Because if you peek behind the curtain, what you’ll see is actually a series of brave, creative moves I’ve been making for the past four years.
And I think it’s time we talk about them! Not just because I want to share my process with you.
Because I believe we need to demystify the experience of making meaningful changes in our work and life.
In 2020 I started my ‘100 Day Project’ and set a goal to create 100 one-of-a-kind watercolors in 100 days. In the end, it took me two YEARS to finish all hundred images 😅
Then it was another year before I started to talk about ‘my project’ as something I created (instead of dismissing it – and me – as anything more than just a pandemic hobby).
Then it was another year before I dared to share with a select group of confidantes that I was hoping and dreaming to take these watercolors and turn them into something.
Lesson 1: Change requires time.
This is a cliché we all know well, but when I look back on how long it’s taken me to get to this point, I am struck by how much more time my brain and body needed in order to integrate this new way of thinking and seeing myself.
It’s not just that it took a long time to reach this point. It’s that I needed the time to prepare myself for taking action.
Now, it’s one thing to know we want to take action – it’s another to identify the “right” action. I see this quandary all the time with the coaching clients I support, but I’ll admit, I was still pretty baffled when this happened to me!
The problem wasn’t that I had too few ideas. It was that I had too many!
Is it a card deck? A calendar? A notebook? A planner? Something else?
Where do we start when we have so many possibilities to sort through?
Lesson 2: There is no “right” choice
In total, I spent about six months considering my options. Like picking up a seashell and inspecting it from all angles, I stayed with this question of ‘What next?’ for a very long time. And it wasn’t easy!
I wrestled with my plans and doubts. I got angry when things stayed murky. I would make a decision, but then hesitate – somehow knowing I was rushing it.
And that’s just it: I knew I wasn’t ready to make the decision. Until I was.
I knew I didn’t have the answer. Until I did.
Two weeks ago my mind and heart came together and decided that I am creating a reflection journal.
It took me 15 minutes to map out how my marketing, sales and communication strategy would come together.
Last week, I spent a couple hours building the website.
And two days ago, I announced it to my community and network.
Lesson 3: Slow is Smooth, and Smooth is Fast
In the end, how long did it take me to announce the journal to the world? Depends on when you start the clock.
Was it last week when I made the sign up page?
Two weeks ago when I finalized my plan to make the journal?
Last year when I told people I wanted to “do something” with my art?
Two years ago when I started to take my art seriously?
Four years ago when I picked up my watercolors?
Six years ago when I signed up for an evening art class?
Eight years ago when I trained to become a coach?
Before then?
One of my constant anxieties is that I’m behind. That I’ve somehow missed my opportunity. And there have been many times where I’ve thought that exact thing about my watercolors.
But stepping back and reviewing what I’ve just written here, I can see that actually, I am right on time.
And so are you.
Whatever change you’re working towards in your career or your life, and whatever stage you’re in – it’s not too late.
The opportunity to do something meaningful is – always – available to you.
Your people will support you.
Your answers will come to you.
The risk is worth it. I promise.
And now, my homework is to get Volume One of the journal ready for pre-sale!
If you’d like to stay in the loop and get early access to buy your own copy when it launches in May, be sure to sign up here.
And if my story resonates with you, please forward this email with a friend.
As always, thank you for being here with me on this journey!
Onward,
PS: Are you ready for support as you go through the messiness of meaningful change? Let’s talk about coaching! Fill out your interest form and get on the waitlist for spots when they open in May.