If You're Not Ready - Don't Start
There are times when we feel we should take action, but feel
stuck or unsure. Action does assist with moving forward, but the
first question to ask is "Am I ready?". We might be willing and
able, but if we are not ready we will have a false start. We
will sabotage ourselves. Being ready is about commitment. Being
ready is also a mindset. At times we have to be pretty fed up
before we are really ready to make a change. A friend recently
quit her job after months of being miserable. She was willing
and able, but for some reason she could not let go of what she
called "the job from hell." The last straw for her was being
demoted and having her salary cut. This action by the company
moved her to being ready. As humans we can put up with a whole
lot. We tolerate and tolerate until finally we are pushed to the
point of being ready. It does seem pretty common that becoming
ready often happens after we are totally fed up. There is a way
to become ready without being pushed over the edge. One question
I like to ask myself is "What is the worst thing that can
happen?". Once I have the answer, the next question is "And can
I live with that?". If the answer is yes, then chances are you
are ready to make your move. If you are still not sure - begin
seeking other options. Keep working on those two questions until
you come up with a solution that you can live with. Being ready
is a state of mind. You have to be ready right down to the
fibers of your bones or it won't work. When you are ready, your
commitment level will be 100%. If you are not ready, your
commitment level will be much less, and whatever actions you
take will not be sufficient to create what you want. Give
yourself a break. If you are not ready, don't beat yourself up
over it. Take a few steps back and ask yourself, "What am I
ready to do?". Taking small steps can often help us get up the
courage to take the big leap. There are times when any action is
better than none at all. Start from where you are and keep
focused and moving forward. Getting ready is a process; so don't
rush it. There are occasions when it takes time to work up to
the point where you can take the leap. Coach Rachelle
Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is a Certified Master Coach specializing in
working with business owners and professionals in being more
profitable and productive while staying sane and balanced.