Will 2020 be your Year?

Is 2020 your year?

Is this going to be the year that you make a move?

Are you going to leave the corporate world behind and find the flexibility you need for your life?

If you're like me, you've been thinking about this for a while. You've wanted to make a move, but something has stopped you. Maybe you're afraid of giving up your income. Perhaps you're scared of failing. Maybe you're not sure what's got you scared, but something sure does.

Do you know that you're not alone? Pretty much everyone is scared of something when it comes to starting a business. It's one of the scariest exciting things you'll ever do. Remember how scary exciting it was when you had your first baby? How you got home from the hospital and wondered why they let you leave with a baby, and there was no instruction guide? Just me? I remember feeling completely overwhelmed, in love, and scared to death my first day home alone with my son. I'd always considered myself good with kids. I babysat for years, but it was different. He was mine, and he was utterly dependent upon me for everything. That scared excited slowly changed to a new normal for us. We found our groove and rhythm. I'd be lying if I said that I ate a hot meal before I returned to work (man, hot, uninterrupted lunch on my first day back was exciting :) ), but we figured it out.

That's the thing with making a significant life change like this. You figure it out as you go. You don't have to have all of the answers today. Heck, you don't even have to know what type of business you'd want to start. All you need to know right now is that yes, you want this. You want to stop dreaming about being your boss, and you want to start making it happen. Maybe you'll build something as a side business and exit the corporate world when you have a steady income every month (that was my super type-A personality plan that didn't happen). Maybe you'll end up jumping feet first into the deep end and walking away from corporate to chase your dream.

I was laid off. That's how my transition began. I'd always wanted to start my own business. I'd talked about it for more than ten years, but I'd been afraid. I didn't think I was ready. I was scared I didn't have enough experience. Ever feel that way? I sure did, and I let that fear stop me. Three years ago, I quietly admitted that I didn't want to go back to the corporate world. I was looking for a job, but the truth is, I didn't want to find one. I wanted to build this company. It took a lot to build up the courage to admit it out loud and go after the dream.

 I was worried I wouldn't replace my corporate income right away (spoiler alert, I didn't, but I've made a good, steady income since I started the business, and it's more than I earned at many points during my career). I was worried I'd fail (spoiler alert, I didn't, in fact, quite the opposite I've earned well over six figures, I have clients that l love working with, and students I love teaching).

I was afraid for many reasons, but the truth is, I didn't have a reason to be so scared, and neither do you. If you want to make a move, you can, and there's no better time to start than now. It's the dawn of a new year and a new decade. Where did the last decade take you? Where will the 2020s bring you? I can't wait to find out. The 2010s were terrific for me. I met my husband, got married, had my son, started a business, moved to a new city all over ten years.

If you're thinking about starting a business and wondering if the time is right, it is. It's always going to feel scary. You're never going to feel ready. It's like parenthood. Think back to how you felt when you first held your newborn baby. It's kind of similar. And just you figured out that and earned your best mom (or dad) ever t-shirt, you'll earn your best boss ever coffee mug (because when you're your boss, you are the best boss ever).