It’s been a year of firsts

My first year in business on my own without the back-up plan of recruitment.

Delivered my first group LinkedIn training in person.

Created my first group coaching programme for job seekers, and filled it.

I took my first coaching qualification (passed, thanks for asking!).

All of those were firsts, and it’s been quite stressful. I say yes to commitments like these before I’m ready. Because the alternative is waiting for perfection – which never comes.

This is a pattern I can trace back to my first job…

I started a job in PR without knowing what PR was.
I took a job in recruitment, not knowing how to do it.
I started a blog, having never read blogs myself.
I created a podcast, with no help, and no clue!
I decided to become a coach with no understanding of what it involved.
I launched a business with no pipeline and no support.

I wanted to create a group coaching programme, and within minutes I had convinced myself it was too hard. I didn’t know how and I wasn’t smart enough to figure it out.

Then I got a sense check from some wonderful coaches who have created their own courses. And guess what, they weren’t born with the knowledge either. They figured it out.

We all start from conscious incompetence. We all start not knowing. Every new idea comes with fear of the unknown.

It turns out I could figure it out too. I needed to take the first step. And then another. I had to let go of worrying about it not being perfect, and take imperfect action.

You can do something imperfect, or you can stay where you are. In my opinion, progress is better than perfection.

You choose.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.