“You have the key.” She said
“To open the door. You took them with you when you left.”
I look back perplexed as I couldn’t quite make out what she said, so I just kept tapping on the door for someone to let me in. My hairdresser opened the door and I was finally able to hear her client say that the keys I used to open the bathroom a minute ago had the keys to open the shop door. Yet here I was waiting for someone to help me in, when I already had what was needed. It was as if this moment was a parable of my current situation. Suddenly, I had an “Aha” moment and things became very clear to me. It was time for me take a leap of faith and to stop looking for the next thing that was supposed to be the magic bullet to move my business to the next level.
As an entrepreneur, or as an adult in general, sometimes there is this nagging feeling of not being good enough, or just missing out on an opportunity by a minute if only you had been there at this time or talked to that person. Couple that with the daily influx of advertisements telling us how close we are to our break through, if we just buy this “one last thing,” we’ll see immediately see success. You know exactly what I’m talking about. If I’m honest with myself, sometimes it was easier to throw money at a problem and it felt good to own something else to add to my repertoire.
However, it was at this very moment with the keys in my hand at this salon that I realized how destructive this was to myself and my business. This continually turning outward for help was really just creative procrastination and my fear manifesting itself, masked as needing to be “prepared.” This entire time I had been trying to figure out who to work with and what additional skill I needed and I hadn’t turned inward to really work with myself. I wasn’t optimizing the gifts I already had. The skills I already developed specifically for this reason. I was in a constant state of research and development. Does that sound familiar?
If we take an honest look at ourselves, perform an inventory of the skills and resources needed to tackle the task at hand, chances are we have at least 50%. The real question is are we giving it our all? Are we really allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, take chances, make mistakes and learn along the way? Or are we looking for perfection?
I’m not advocating that we should do things without preparing. I’m advocating that we move from preparation to action and not get stuck in a place of learning and development. Sometimes you have to just do it. There will never be a perfect time and you’ll never be prepared enough. You just have to take a leap of faith and figure it out as it comes along. And that is best part of the journey.
We all have that feeling inside of us. That nagging feeling of needing to complete a project, open up that business, move to that country, teach that skill, etc. That feeling that won’t go away is part of our purpose and is confirmation that we already have the key to make it happen. It is our job to act.