Are You Ready?

Are you ever really “ready?”

I had an interesting experience this past weekend. I was talking to someone very close to me and sharing one of my goals to have a show that features people living their best life. Obviously, it’s a stretch goal but so what. The person close to me says, “it’s too big of a jump and you’re not ready yet.” I was sort of shocked and disregarded the feedback.

The comment made me consider the times I stepped outside my comfort zone and if I was actually ready. While I was never ready, I was mentally prepared. So let me share a few steps I’ve taken when I wasn’t ready:

* I played on the pro tennis tour (is one ever ready for this challenge)
* I quit my finance job and started a new career (is one ready for the unknown)
* I moved from NYC to LA (is one ready to build a new community)
* I wrote a book (was definitely not ready since I had never done it)
* I was interviewed by Mike Milken at the Milken Institute (can you ever be ready to be interviewed by a mega finance guru)

The list goes on for all of us, but here’s the bottom line: when I look back at the times I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone, I often was not 100% “ready” for the jump that was about to happen.

The real take-away: It’s about being “ready” to step into the unknown and preparing yourself mentally to face the challenge. That’s what I’m ready for and you can be too!

So the next time someone doubts you, remember you’ve got to put yourself out there to get ready. Think bigger instead and figure out HOW you are going to make your dream come true. Turning your ideas into action will separate you from just being a dreamer.

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it is done.”

Go for it and believe in yourself!

ps- the person who said I wasn’t ready has since apologized!

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About Alissa

Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in YOUR Top 1%. She works with managers, C-suite executives and teams to leverage strengths, shift beliefs and achieve meaningful goals. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked with Ross Stores, Petco, BNP Paribas, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Brookfield Property Partners, Neutrogena, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dress for Success. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and follow her on Facebook