My daughter graduated from high school this past week and will be going to college in a few months
. It's going to be a huge transition for her. It's going to be a pretty big transition for me too.
Sammi did very well in high school. She learned. She matured. She made mistakes, hopefully learned from them. She met people and learned how to interact with peers, teachers and leaders. She learned to be a part of and how to lead teams. She learned a lot about responsibilities. It was a good place for her to be.
So why not stay put?
Nobody ever considers staying in high school beyond graduation because once you've graduated you've learned what you needed to learn there. How many times can you take the same science or math class? How many times can you write the same essay in English? High school was a vital stepping stone but it was just that...a stepping stone on a journey to another place. Sure moving on can be scary and there may be a few tears but unless you move on and take the next step you stagnate and won't continue to learn and grow.
What does this have to do with you?
In addition to celebrating Sammi's graduation I spent time coaching two of my private clients this past week. One is transitioning from a full time job to a business she is creating; the other is transitioning from a business that she has run successfully for several years to a new business in which she has no foundation, reputation or experience running.
For each of these women their current position has served them well. It's literally paying their bills. For the most part they like what they are doing and are really good at it BUT (and yes, it's a big but)...these positions no longer serve who they are. It's scary but it's time for them to graduate and move on. Kudos to them for stepping out of their comfort zones and for not only seeking help but for accepting it.
So what about your business? What about your life? Are there things that it may be time to move on from?
I'd like to challenge you to take a few moments to look around at what you're doing and ask yourself THREE questions so that you can honestly assess what is going on.
1. What opportunities do I have in front of me? Are they new opportunities for learning, excitement and growth? Or are they situations I've seen or been in before that hold little excitement, interest or room for growth and learning?
2. What would my business and life look like if I magically graduated to the next level?
3. If there is one thing holding me back from moving forward what is it? What is one step I can take to break free?
In some situations, like high school graduation, you have to move on...you don't have a choice; your spot no longer exists. But in other situations you do have a choice. It's up to you to decide whether or not to allow yourself to continue repeating classes and doing the same things again and again or not. It's up to you to decide you've graduated and to take those steps forward.