My favorite scene in the third installment of the Indiana Jones movies, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, is when Indiana must complete three tasks to reach the Holy Grail. One of the tests requires him to "leap" over a large abyss to the opening of a cave across from him. After contemplating the impossibility of the task, Indiana realizes that he must step into the abyss, trusting that he won't fall. He looks below, hesitates, puts his hand to his heart, closes his eyes, and takes the step. To his great relief (and surprise), he discovers that there's an invisible bridge that connects the two caves. He crosses this bridge and makes it safely across. (To check out the scene, click here).
Traveling the road between employment and entrepreneurship (and beyond) at many times feels like the scene I've just described. There's where you are. There's where you want to be. And the space between these two points feels like a cavernous abyss. Getting to where you want to be requires a step of faith. It can be scary. It can test every cell in your body that wants to turn back and return to comfort and safety. And yet, in taking that step forward, you close the distance between you and your wildest dream.
So how do you muster up the courage to take that step?
By intensely focusing on what you want
To move forward, you should understand why you're on this daring adventure in the first place. What is it that you're seeking? In Indiana's case, he was in search of the Grail with healing powers that could save his father's life.
What are you pursuing? Is it the ability to follow your passion? More time to spend with your family? Creating your own business empire?
Calling forth your reasons for embarking upon your employment to entrepreneurship quest can help you draw enough faith to take that first step into the unknown.
By tapping into your inner wisdom
Peering into the abyss of the unknown can cause you to seriously question yourself.
Do I know enough?
Am I strong enough?
Is there anything else I need to learn before starting my journey?
Yes. Yes. And no.
You have an internal compass in the form of intuition that can help you as you take your steps. It might feel fuzzy and weak, but you strengthen it in the doing, not the 'let me think about this some more'.
Leonardo da Vinci once said:
"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do."
Your intuition is there, waiting to be accessed. Taking that step of faith is how you turn it on and nourish it.
Furthermore, there are a number of resources and guides that can help you along your way. Social media, for example, is full of inspirational quotes and stories to inspire you. But they're just words until you put these lessons into action. These lessons were made for the moments when you're peering into the unknown and needing support as you push onward.
By understanding that courage comes in taking the step, not before it
So many times we witness individuals doing courageous things and we are in awe of their fearlessness. In other words, we believe they have no fear.
But many times these individuals are filled with fear. They have no clue what's going to happen next, and they take the step anyway. That's what courage is all about.
The same is true for you. You can be repelled by your fear and retreat to safety. Or you can use the fear as an opportunity to activate your courage. You do this by taking a step forward. There's no other way.
Traveling the road from employment to entrepreneurship is a thrilling adventure. A strange new world will open up before you as you venture onto an unfamiliar path. There will be unexpected obstacles, surprising treasures, and you'll access parts of yourself that you didn't know were there - savviness, brilliance, patience, resolve . . .
All of this is waiting for you in the journey between employment and entrepreneurship.
All you have to do is take that first step.