Just Say Yes
This time last year I decided to leave my corporate job. The decision was clear to make - but that didn’t make it easy, or altogether happy, or mean that I just waltzed into the wilderness with no worries no cares. The emotional roller coaster of relief, gratitude, pride, confidence, anger, sadness, grief was all too real.
I didn’t know what was going to be next. For the first time in my career, let alone most of my life - the next step was unknown. I had some ideas, not all of them good. A friend and I discussed whether we could turn our puzzle-assembling hobby into a business, possibly involving vending machines. It didn’t take off. I had a sense of possibility too - but also a lot of fear and reluctance to take an unfamiliar leap.
What I did start doing was saying yes. In part because I had the freedom and time and mental capacity to believe that I could, which is no small thing. Something was telling me that I needed to branch outside the box I had been living in for so long - saying yes became part of my plan to do that.
Here are some of the things I said yes to and what I learned:
Exploring owning & opening a franchise business - interesting and tempting, but not for me
Attending a webinar that said over and over how very-not-an-MLM they were (but also, was pretty much an MLM) - hard pass, and learning on what to listen for
Talking to people who had left my company already - every single one had a piece of wisdom on mindset, learnings, ideas, and what helped them move on
A complete stranger who was challenging herself to 100 cups of coffee with a stranger - we had a lot in common!
A cold call with a coach who wasn’t a fit for me, but helped me see what could be possible
An in person networking event in my community where I met up with an old colleague, made great new connections, and felt faith in humanity restored
Talking to business owners on the solopreneur path - learning what they wish they had known when they were starting out
I’m here to tell you - I learned something from every experience I said yes to, and the people I asked for time with said yes too. Almost without exception, asking for connection, time, wisdom, friendship was met with YES PLEASE - despite how much I believed otherwise.
My promise to you - I’ll say yes. To time, to connection, to exploration. No strings attached, but genuine connection guaranteed.
Dose of real talk - whether you say yes to connecting, stretching beyond comfort, or even just to doing a small thing for yourself, it is well worth it. Just start.
