Thursday, March 14, 2013
If you’re anything like me, I’m sure that when you are making a big decision (or maybe even a small one) about something in your life you occasionally wonder, “what will everyone think?” What will other people think of my decision and how I am living my life…? If you are not like that and these thoughts do not cross your mind, bravo!! I need to learn more from you! I remember when I was going through my most recent career reinvention and in the process of deciding to leave my corporate career to start my own business I was overwhelmed by these thoughts. The following is a short excerpt from my most recent book (official launch is next week!), Letting Go Of The Status Quo, where I share how being concerned with what other people think impacted me and how I overcame it.
As you read this, I encourage you to think about those times in your life where you are more concerned with what others think than with what’s best for you. Also, please note that the point here is not to discount what others think (often times, we must take into consideration how our decisions impact our loved ones), it is about keeping your fears about what others think in perspective and not allowing those fears to dictate your decision.
…After I made my final decision to leave my corporate job, it would be another 8 months before things all came together so I could actually leave and launch my company, C3 Coaching & Consulting. Despite the fact that I had no children and only myself and my animals to feed, it was not easy to forego the security of a regular paycheck. I didn’t have anyone to rely on but me, and although I was very confident in my abilities to succeed at anything I put my mind to, I had no idea how to run a business, and no one to fall back on if it didn’t work.
I pushed myself through the doubts and created my action plan for C3. This plan included what I needed financially and what needed to get done when. I did a lot of research and worked with a coach during my last six months in corporate. I put my business plan together and took all the necessary steps to make sure that I was ready to hit the ground running when I left my job.
One of my biggest obstacles was getting past the chatter in my head that said, “What will everyone think?” I had to resolve that before I could even contemplate sharing my decision with anyone other than my very trusted inner circle. I knew I was doing the right thing, but worried that what other people might say would make me second-guess my decision.
Most people would think I was crazy to give up all I had: I was on a fast-moving career path climbing the ladder in a large, stable, well-run and well-known company. I had a pension, great benefits and tons of potential. So I had to remind myself what my coach said: “What others think about me is none of my business.”
I have no idea what people truly thought when I shared my news with them. I consciously decided that it was my decision and mine alone. Nothing was going to change my mind, even the naysayers and all the crazy news about the recession…
Andria’s book is now available for purchase on amazon! Get your copy here:
