by Tommy Baker
But they’re lacking the courage to make a bold decision to step into their greatness.
The Excitement Test
“Well, I’m going to wait until things settle down, and then I’ll get started.”
I’m sitting in my office in downtown Phoenix talking to my client about launching his platform, and I can’t believe the words I’m hearing. He has already declared what he wants to do, and yet he’s still waiting.
We’ve all been there. Knowing something must change and yet we put it off in hopes for some distance future. Not anymore. With my clients, we use a simple test I call the excitement test to figure this out. It comes in the form of a simple question:
Do you wake up excited for your work, or do you wake up with dread? In other words, if I were able to record your inner monologue during your entire morning before you start what you do, what would I learn? For many, it reads like the latest Hollywood horror script.
That’s all you need to know. There’s no need to explain it. You don’t need to rationalize it. The excitement test is my preferred question, because it’s simple. You can’t fake your way out of it. Honor your answer, because too often, people will talk themselves into believing now is not the right time.
However, with great freedom options come great responsibility. In a world with unlimited ways to monetize and make a living, which do you choose? You’ve already done the hard work during Chapters 5, 6, and 7, which has provided you precious insight to know what you really want.
If you want to be able to live your fullest life, value freedom, and want to tap dance to work, you must figure out what you can’t not do, and take what most consider an unconventional path.
The (Not So) Safe Path
Robert Kurson was nearly the writer that never was. Being accepted into Harvard Law School is an exceptional feat, and one most would be thrilled to experience. It is the pinnacle of success. And yet, something was missing. This was the safe path, carved out with a near assurance to experience a version of accomplishment everyone would be impressed by: full bank accounts, a fancy title, and access to be in the 1%.
Except for one thing. Kurson loathed law school and knew it was the incorrect path, yet he persisted. He talked himself into staying, thinking practicing law would be much more fulfilling than studying it. It wasn’t, and to his surprise it was worse. Every Sunday, the theme song for the famous CBS show 60 Minutes would come on. This became his queue; another week is coming. The show became a constant reminder that, come Monday morning, he’d be back at his desk doing work he despised.
Already making six figures, Kurson was destined for the corner office, a partner position, and potentially making millions. But he didn’t care, and he needed a way out.
Fast.
He started with a simple process: writing stories in the evenings when he’d come home from a long day. With no direction, he’d write about memories of happier times when he had hope and looked at his future with enthusiasm. He realized even though he had no formal training as a writer, he lost track of time while he was doing it and was halfway decent.
And then he quit.
No plan, no blueprint, and—oh yeah—zero experience being a writer at all.He expands:
After I decided to make this Kierkegaardian leap of faith, I had a realization: I had no idea how to become a writer. But I was certain about one thing: I was willing to starve in order to leave a career I hated in order to break into one I might love.
Trading a six-figure salary and a path etched in gold, he eventually found a job at the Chicago Sun Times doing data entry for $23,000. Although it was a fraction of his original salary, he was having the time of his life. He’d taken his leap.
Today, Robert Kurson is an accomplished, two-time New York Times bestselling author, who has written for Rolling Stone, Esquire, New York Times Magazine, and many more. He loves what he does and is living his purpose of telling riveting stories through the written word. He traded someone else’s path for his, and never looked back. He’s not only successful in his craft and career, he’s inspired by his work as are the millions of readers he’s garnered.
Either Create Courage, or Let It Be Created for You
Kurson manufactured his leap by having the courage to listen to his inner voice. Despite the pressure of staying on a safe path, he leaned into what he knew to be true in his heart; this wasn’t his path. I encourage you, too, to listen to the voice inside that knows without a shadow of a doubt if you’re on the right path in your career. You must be willing to listen to it regardless of the external forces at play. But we’re not always this bold.
Sometimes, you won’t have the courage to take the leap on your own terms. In March of 2011, I found myself in that place working at one of the largest sports and entertainment companies in the country.
Like Kurson, I hated it too, until one Friday afternoon when a phone call came in.
I glance down—the caller ID shows two letters: HR.
Human Resources never called me and especially not at 4 P.M. on a Friday right before the weekend.
Shit, I think. And that’s when I knew: I was a goner. A sinking feeling starts at the bottom of my stomach and all the way up my spine. Stress starts to overcome me. Then I remember—this is what I want. For the past six months, I’d been tirelessly working behind the scenes formulating the plan to launch my own fitness-training business, which was my passion at the time.
Walking down the stairs, I sense relief. I approach the dark conference room and there she sits—my boss’s boss, a person I’ve never met. Before she spoke, I already knew what was coming.
I want the corporate drivel to be over. As she finishes the long- winded, politically correct routine she’s practiced hundreds of times, I smile. In the moment, I want to high-five her, but choose to do so virtually inside my mind instead.
That was it. I was free, released to the wild. No longer bound by the shackles of the corporate experience. That afternoon, I rushed to Barnes & Noble, plopped open the laptop, and began the process of launching my fitness business.
I’d taken the leap—kind of. The truth is that I didn’t have the courage to take the leap back then. I’d forced myself to get fired, so I’d be able to rationalize everything with my parents and those around me. Either way, it worked.
Would I rather have made the bold decision in a blaze of glory? Sure, but at the time, I needed a way to give myself permission. We all want to experience the courage of taking our leap, but sometimes we’re going to have our backs up against the wall with no other choice. How you get there matters less than getting there.
#NotesFromTheLeap
Brandon Stephens
Founder, Digital Relevancy
What’s the boldest leap you’ve ever taken and why was this important to you?
A couple years ago, I was still doing home improvement for a local business. I’d been fighting with my demons on quitting and pursuing my own venture or keeping the luxury of all that I had achieved. With no cashflow, no paycheck, two car payments, rent, and bills, I decided I was going to figure out how to make my own money. The backlash from quitting blew me away, including my family and girlfriend. Everyone thought I was crazy for it, and that month became the most stressful month of my life. There were points that got so dark, I was unsure of life. I even called both finance companies and sold my prized cars. It was excruciating.
What did you feel as you made this leap, and what happened after?
Terrified, then anxiety. But the truth is that it helped me through all of it. I created a completely digital business helping visionary entrepreneurs take marketing back into their own hands. I have autonomy and complete freedom doing what I love.
Looking back, what would you tell someone else in a similar circumstance knowing what you now know?
Just do it. Don’t think. Jump.
Types of Business Leaps
What kind of business leap will you take? They come in all different forms, but with similar result
s: a radical shift in the way you experience work and share your value with the world including the following:
Business Leap 1: The Career Shift
You’ve been in the same spot for years, and nothing is changing. You’ve heard big promises, yet there’s not much to show for them. You’re in a career that is no longer serving you or you’re in the wrong industry. The career leap is exactly as it sounds, making a radical shift and finding more alignment and connection with your work.
Often, people become encumbered as time passes by and the enthusiasm of a new position starts to stale. They witness others receiving the opportunities they were promised, and it’s time for a shift. The changing of an environment is always powerful, and tends to increase our energy, vitality, and enthusiasm for what we’re doing. In the career shift leap, it’s a matter of stepping closer and closer toward aligning with something you truly love.
Business Leap 2: Zero to Launch
You’ve had a brimming purpose and passion yet you’ve been waiting for the right time, when it made sense. You’ve been waiting for someone outside of you to give you permission, which will never come. But then you realize it may be too late. You’re launching your business and going all in on you. You’re ready to put your skills to the test and have a dream worth pursuing.
This is the zero-to-launch leap where you’re able to experience the autonomy of running your own show. Often, we’ve known what we’d like to do, yet didn’t believe we could go out there and not only replace our current income but also achieve a level of financial prosperity we’ve only dreamed of. Zero to launch is exactly as it sounds and is a leap full opportunity and an abundance of energy and inspiration—although they must be used wisely. We’ll explore how to maximize this leap for your success.
Business Leap 3: The Pivot
You’re already in the game as an entrepreneur, but you’ve simply outgrown what you thought was your purpose. As we mentioned in Chapter 7, purpose is an evolution, and the vehicle of delivery we use to get there can change. Scratch that, it will change.
When our purpose no longer fits, it’s time for a pivot. Pivots are as big a leap as anything else. They’re designed to re-align you with who you are today, and they can create a tremendous amount of creative energy. They’re designed to serve the audience you feel called to serve. Often, people wait to follow through on their pivot until their backs are up against the wall.
What Would I Do and Love Every Day If I Were Failing?
Tom Bilyeu had been grinding. Along with his two closest friends, he’d started what was a successful technology company. On paper, everything seemed to be working out. Except it wasn’t.
After eight years of pushing the pedal to the metal, he’d had enough. He was exhausted from creating something only for the purpose of getting rich. And that’s when he told his partners: “I’m completely miserable. I quit.”
He exhaled, not knowing what was going to happen next. To his surprise, they felt miserable, too. What followed came to life by asking a simple question: “What would I do and love every day, even if I were failing?”4 and that led to starting a protein-bar company. The problem, however, was this market was incredibly saturated and owned by big players in the game.
And again, they had zero experience.
It didn’t matter. Bilyeu’s purpose this time around was personal; he’d seen his mother and sister deal with obesity his entire life. He knew there had to be a way to help people eat healthier, with foods that still tasted great.
The rest is history, and Quest Nutrition grew 57,000% during its first three years, created a new niche of bars, and came to be valued at over $1 billion. These days, it’s impossible to meet anyone who hasn’t had, or at least heard of a Quest bar.
And therein lies the magic of the pivot: knowing full well the expiration date on your career is past due and having the courage to step into something new. Bilyeu’s question, much like Kurson’s statement, reveals the power of doing something you have chosen for yourself. This self-reliance and freedom allow you to detach from the external result, and yet, paradoxically, create a container for that result to come to life.
It’s a beautiful thread across all leaps where success comes from the inside out.
Business Leap 4: The Exponential Shift
You’ve been in the game as an entrepreneur or feel deeply fulfilled and connected to your work and career. Sometimes, a leap is required to create an exponential shift. After years of incremental growth, you no longer feel challenged, which is key for finding meaning in our work and personal growth. Your leap may be this type of shift—a move that re-invigorates your work life.
The exponential shift may look like adding a new product or service, making the key hire you’ve been putting off, or simply a catalyst to re-invigorate you to create the palpable energy you once had for your business.
Mostly, the exponential shift is exactly as it sounds; you’ve felt stuck personally and professionally and are ready to move up a level. To my surprise, one of the great challenges that comes with successful entrepreneurs is boredom, although they wouldn’t trade their success for the world, they do miss the early days of having their back up against the wall and overcoming what seemed like daily challenges.
The key, here, is to get back to a powerful place of inspiration with a bold move to become the catalyst for exponential growth.
They’re Waiting for You
They’re waiting for you, but they won’t wait forever. The people who are waiting to be served by you, however that may be packaged, are ready. But as time passes and you ignore the leap you know you must take, someone else will step up to the plate and serve your tribe.
Right now, there are enough people out there who have a demand for what you’re offering that could make you the revenue required to take your leap. The median household income in the United States is (a paltry) $51,939. A study published in the Nature Human Behavior surveyed 1.7 million people and discovered fulfillment in life happened at the $95,000 a year mark.
I share these numbers with you for one reason: you’re much closer than you think. Now, I’m sure you have bold aspirations and those numbers don’t do much for you. I get it. I want you to be able to create a level of financial prosperity you’ve only dreamed of. But I also want you to know your leap is attainable, and there is no reason that you can’t feel fulfilled, inspired, and excited about bringing your work to the marketplace while getting (handsomely) paid for it.
But remember: they’re still waiting. Not taking your business leap is selfish. Yeah, I said it: you’re only thinking about yourself. You’re focused on your shortcomings and your insecurities at the expense of the impact people are waiting for. Next time you think about making an excuse, imagine them out there. Pick one person and the pain they’re going to continue to be in without your product, service, or offering. If that doesn’t create desire to get rid of your excuses, I’m not sure what will.
I find so many wrestling with all the emotions associated with not taking the leap. Yet, once they do take it, they recognize the truth: the worst-case-imagined scenario never happened. They’re in a place they could have never imagined, and now there are people who are standing up in support of their message. These people are willingly placing their hard-earned attention, time, and money in your hands.
Eradicate Your Excuses … Start Now
Without meaningful work, we perish. Without a core essence of a purpose, we lose our spark. Without stepping into a place where we add value to the world on our terms, we can’t serve at our highest capacity. Without taking bold, decisive action, we begin to resent ourselves and stay stuck in a never-ending loop of stagnation.
Taking the leap of your life with your business will change everything about who you are. But remember, it won’t happen while you’re watching Netflix and fantasizing on the couch. It won’t happen daydreaming about what could happen. You’ve got to get in the game, and we’ve detailed the path to get you there.
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nbsp; Often, I’ll witness people who have the spark. They have a moment of clarity about their business leap and about why the time is now.Their energy of possibility is palpable. They’re on fire. And then, a few months later when asked about it, they say, “Oh yeah, that thing. I’m working on it, but it’s on pause.”
You and I know how this plays out: it never happens. I’m committed to making sure this doesn’t happen to you. Deep down, I know you are too, or else you wouldn’t be here. Let’s examine some of the most common narratives and excuses you’ll use to not take your business leap and instead stay in the same exact place.
Waiting Around for the (Right) Time
You’re going to start … once. Once life slows down a little, you’ll start. Once life becomes less busy, you’ll get going. Once the kids grow up a little, then you’ll be all in. Once you get that next promotion or big client, then you’ll step into it. Once you make an extra $10,000, then you’ll take your leap. Waiting for the right time is the most lethal of all excuses. Why? Well, it’s a convincing argument and easy to buy into.
Instead, Make a Bold Decision
Make a bold decision. You know the truth: it won’t get easier, life won’t get less busy, and you won’t be experiencing less stress. The right time is created the moment you make a bold decision. This is when the world conspires to help you and starts to create the conditions to ensure it’s the right time. Because it’s the only time you and I have: right here, right now, the six-inches in front of our faces to choose something new.
