In the world of entrepreneurship, readiness often takes a back seat to ambition. As a fractional COO and Operations Consultant running an Operations Management Firm for online coaches and service providers, I’ve learned that sometimes, taking the leap before you feel “ready” is the key to achieving your goals. In this blog post, I’m going to share four pivotal steps I took on my entrepreneurial journey, even when I wasn’t entirely prepared.
1. STARTED: The Leap of Faith
In December 2020, I made a daring decision. I left my job with no substantial savings or qualifications, armed with nothing but an idea, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the motivating voice of Steven Bartlett echoing in my ear. At that point, my business was still in its infancy, and I hadn’t set up everything I needed. I had a crucial conversation with my partner, and we agreed that he would cover our living expenses for two months. If, by then, I couldn’t generate enough income to support myself, I’d consider getting another job. It was far from a “ready” situation, but from that moment forward, I was all in.
2. SHOWED UP: The Intensive Two Months
During those two months, I poured my heart and soul into the business. I worked tirelessly to establish the foundation, conducting market research, designing offers, creating funnels, developing content, setting up systems, automations, and fine-tuning onboarding and off-boarding processes. When the two months were up, my perfectionist tendencies still whispered that I wasn’t “ready,” but I pushed through and advertised my services for the first time.
3. INVESTED: Risking It All
Between January and April 2021, I made a bold move by investing £10,000 – everything I had earned, plus a few hundred pounds from my final paycheck – back into the business. I didn’t stop there; I invested £7,678 in a one-day experience and later, another £7,500 into another single-day support experience, despite making an average of just £7,725 a month at the time. This year, I even committed to a 50K coaching package, when my highest monthly income had barely crossed half that amount. It was undeniably scary, but I did it anyway.
4. HIRED: Building a Team for the Future
Even before signing any agency retainer clients, I took the leap of faith and hired an account manager for our agency. Most of our profits were being reinvested into the business because I understood that what I was building transcended my individual efforts. To turn my vision into reality, a dedicated team was necessary. I also recognized that to remain the CEO and provide the level of care and attention my future agency retainer clients deserved, my team needed strong support beyond just me.
“I will never stop doing things that I’m not ‘ready’ to do.” This philosophy has been the driving force behind my career, my relationships, my friendships, and my personal growth. The instances where I took chances and tackled the unknown head-on have consistently propelled me forward.
Think about your own journey. What are you hesitating to do because you don’t feel “ready”?
- Hosting that retreat you’ve been dreaming of 🎙
- Trying a new hobby 🧘♀️
- Taking your programs evergreen 🌱
- Hiring the contractor you’ve been stalking 💁♀️
- Upping your prices 💸
Now, envision what could await you on the other side of fear:
- Stronger client relationships 🥰
- Increased income in your hands and those of other women (including you) 💸
- The ability to develop your business while enjoying a life outside of it 🤩
- A business that grows beyond you, transforming you into a true CEO 😮💨
Taking chances is intimidating, but what’s even more frightening is missing out on something extraordinary because you allowed fear to hold you back. Embrace the uncertainty, and you might just find yourself on the path to remarkable success. After all, the best opportunities often lie on the other side of readiness.
