The only constant in life is change. Whether we make it happen, or it looks like it’s happening “to” us (remember, we make ALL of it happen, one way or another!) – change is inevitable. I personally embrace change. In fact, it’s become kind of a joke that when my friends call me and ask “What’s new?” they need to be prepared for a long answer. There’s always something new!
I divide change into two categories: transitions and leaps (of faith, usually … because they feel like we’re jumping off a cliff, hoping the net will appear). I think most of us are fairly comfortable with transitions. Transitions allow us to edge forward carefully, taking baby steps into the unknown. Unfortunately, leaps are eventually required if we want to create truly new and different circumstances for ourselves.
In fact, I’ve talked to quite a few clients lately who are stuck in transition. They know the end of a relationship is coming, but haven’t moved out yet. They have a part-time business going on the side, but haven’t quit their full-time job yet. They are flirting with a new career direction or business expansion, but haven’t signed up for that class or coaching program yet. They are in transition, but aren’t willing to take that big leap into change.
Having said that, I think that transitions are necessary before we take a leap. I’m not a big fan of the budding entrepreneur who quits his day job with three months of savings in the bank and THEN starts a business. I’m an advocate of building a side business, getting into revenue, and THEN quitting the day job.
Here’s why transitions are necessary.
They allow us the opportunity to make course corrections when the stakes aren’t so high. We can take a baby step forward, have a look at where we land, and then take the next step into a slightly different direction, if necessary. When we go into transition, we don’t have to have all the answers. We can experiment a bit and nestle our way into what works for us.
Transitions also allow us to gather “proof” that we’re headed in the right direction. Leaps of faith are scary – we can’t KNOW the outcome of what we’ve never done before. But transitions allow us to test the waters, to witness evidence that we’re headed in the right direction. If we’re working on a side business, for example, those first few clients let us know that the world perceives value in what we’re offering.
But eventually, the leap is required. Transitions can give us the illusion that we’re moving forward, when all we’re doing is avoiding the big change, the full commitment to new circumstances. If we stay in transition too long, we might even lose track of where we were going in the first place.
Before every transition, we need to be clear on what leap may eventually be required to truly create what we want. Even better, it’s a great idea to put a limit on the amount of “proof” we need in order to make the big shift. In other words, we need to create an end point to our transition. Whether that’s a certain amount of income, number of clients, or other versions of success … we’re never going to get that big, shiny guarantee from the Universe that IF we take a leap of faith, we’ll be fine. We need to find our guarantee in the little outcomes from our time of transition, and be satisfied with that.
Are you in a transition? How far away are you from a leap? And what would be required for you to take that dive off the cliff into change?
Blessings,
Andrea
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I enjoyed this post. I also do not recommend leaps of blind faith taken in ignorance. It is irresponsible to advice others to fire their bosses rightaway, a suggestion that is so prevalent on the web.
Transitions are small steps to help us test waters. We can more easily reverse or take course corrections if we have made some error in judgment along the way.
Having said that, I took a leap of faith when I resigned my job years ago. However, I believe that my position was different and cannot be used as a reference for everyone.
I think the process of taking that step to pursue one’s dream/goal is hugely personal and representative of the person’s personality as well. For someone like me, I don’t ‘transit’ very well. For example, if I were to freelance on the side while working as a full-time designer, I don’t think I would ever gain enough traction or results to take that leap.
In fact, I think I would be discouraged because I would probably make very slow progress while freelancing on the side, or rather, I would have been increasingly unhappy in my day job and that would seep into other areas of my life.
I took leaps of faith, but not without being prepared to bear the worst consequences that can happen. Perhaps for people like me, having no sense of security serves as a great motivation.
I think the trick is not to provide ‘advice’, but rather serve as an example, as well as provide other possible solutions, and leave the individual to decide what works best for themselves. We all have to be responsible for the choices we make for ourselves.
This was a good read for me. As you know I coach folks on how to make the successful leap and landing to self-employment. Even though I describe it as a leap (because as you’ve correctly pointed out one must always leap at some point) the work I do is very transitional because the client gradually build self-confidence and determination while working on the business foundation.
I can see Winnie’s take on this as well. Some folks require a very detailed plan and experience in transition where others just need to walk away, make a clean break and boldly leap, so personality is a factor.
Your point about proof is excellent. Proof can be created and when we determine exactly what it will take in financial reserve and other key factors to make our leap – then we must make it without delay.
What a great topic! I’m in a big state of transitioning my life from the negative to the positive so this was a great post for me to read.
More good stuff, coach. I guess I’m in a unique situation where my Higher Self booted me off the cliff but left the bungie cord of free will attached.
. Now it’s just a matter of seeing if I have the guts to find out exactly how long the bungie is… 
Thanks for this post Andrea. One thing I’d add is that I discovered, after taking what turned out to be a slightly premature leap of faith by leaving my law firm, that I hadn’t destroyed my ability to take a day job as I started my business. I think many of us are conditioned to believe that we become “damaged goods” or “flakes” who can never get a part-time job again if we leave an employer, but in fact you can always correct your course if it turns out that you made a hasty leap of faith.