Now What?® Coaching
from Laura Berman Fortgang
When changing directions, often all that’s needed is to find the entry point of your new path vs. having to map out the entire route. What happens after you take that leap of faith and you’re a few steps down the new path? In today’s article, we learn the answer from three clients who recently shared their thoughts on this question: How do you listen to your life? full article here
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C. S. Lewis
by Now What?® Coaching Founder, Laura Berman Fortgang
In working with a recent client, I was once again reminded of how easily we can get stopped by the ‘how’ of making our deepest 
desires a reality. It makes sense. How can we proceed if we don’t know how to do so? However, over the years, I have come to see how people take what can be a legitimate concern and turn it into a reason to procrastinate.
“I’ll need more training”
“I should probably research this more.”
“I need more information to get started.”
Yes, we need to be educated and prepared when it comes to starting a new business or setting out on an adventure, but there comes a time where the preparation becomes counterproductive and begins to stall progress altogether.
How do you know when you’re spinning your wheels or when you are really in need of knowledge to proceed?
If you are up to any of the above, you are in the “knowledge-collection-as-procrastination” zone.
Comfort should never be part of the equation. If you’re comfortable, you’re hiding, you’re not growing and making progress. If you’re obsessing about a future that is not even here yet, you are living in tomorrow and not taking care of today which implies getting started. If you’re not out talking to people (prospects, mentors, vendors, providers), you are not letting nature takes its course.
What we see with Now What?® clients is that an acceleration of progress toward the desired outcome, only starts to occur when you are out talking to people and actively shaking hands, talking and asking for help. The result is often resources pointed to, other people introduced to you, solutions appearing and growth occurring. Starting a venture cannot happen alone in a vacuum.
The HOW is revealed piece by piece and often, can only become clear by taking the parking brake off and letting the car roll down the hill. That is what I asked my client to do. I asked her to get out there and just start. It doesn’t have to be with a business plan in place, yet. I asked her to get out there and collect “templates, contacts and strategies”. THAT will begin the linear HOW’s she was looking for.
What if you really do need more knowledge like a degree program or a training of some kind? You’ll know it because the obvious pre-requisites will make themselves known. You can’t set up a therapy practice without a license, you won’t be flying a plane anytime soon without a pilot’s training and license and you won’t be selling financial products or real estate without passing the exams. However, most of the time, the obstacles are self-imposed and born out of your own fears.
If you are committed to be the best at this next, new thing, you’ll do what it takes. You won’t let a few extra requirements stop you. But that does not mean wait until it’s all done. It means get out there and start the car rolling down the hill. You can always put the brakes on, but soon you’ll be on an exciting ride and wondering why you waited so long to get moving.
“Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings.” C.D. Jackson
In 2005, two Louisiana friends put their heads together to brainstorm possible business ventures that would help their community regain its spirit. Their level of success took them by surprise. Here are some things they’ve learned and why they believe that you can start a business later in life.
“Establishing goals is all right if you don’t let them deprive you of interesting detours.” Doug Larson