Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ~Steve Jobs
Wow. If that doesn’t inspire you, you must be sound asleep! As I have stepped out to develop my coaching business, I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to be a courageous entrepreneur. It takes courage to challenge the status quo and stand in the face of relentless judgment because you dared to believe you could create positive change in the world. It takes courage to step up and be vulnerable. It takes courage to listen to that small voice inside that calls us to play big, show up, look ridiculous, experience failure, and keep believing that by doing so, we learn to fly.
I’m dedicating this blog post to every one who has exercised courage and stood in the face of vulnerability because they dared to believe in themselves and their dreams. It is my honor to coach men and women everyday who play at this level. They keep me on my toes because I can’t coach them to play big if I’m hiding out playing small. Together, we keep going… with entrepreneurial courage.
We face well-meaning friends and family who remind us that we are ‘crazy’ for thinking we can do it on our own. They don’t understand our entrepreneurial spirit! “Get a real job,” they say! It takes courage when cash flow is weak and we’re drowning in our doubt and fear because our businesses are struck and we can’t see a way to take it to the next level. But still, we forge on, using the tools we’ve been given and an unstoppable entrepreneurial spirit.
Courageous leadership. Entrepreneurial Courage. Bold Courage. These are all words I use to describe the people that I coach and how they face each challenge. Courage lies underneath everything they say and do. Courage lies underneath their persistence when they are mocked, rejected, and ridiculed. They show up, day after day, ready to play big and make a difference with something they passionately believe in. It takes guts to step out of the norm and into something of your own. It takes courage to speak and live your truth! It takes courage to stand up for what you believe in, when others are knocking you down. How do you gather up that much courage?
When you choose to step into your own brilliance, you are then ready to look at your own blind spots. You have to if you want to grow! You know and appreciate that behind those blind spots, there are gifts and purpose. How do you discover those blind spots? You discover them when you put yourself in an environment that pulls you forward. Surround yourself with people and situations that call you to be more. Often, that means getting comfortable being uncomfortable. My clients, and other courageous entrepreneurs, make vision boards, read books, set goals, write affirmations, and work with a coach! They show up for their coaching calls ready to dig deep and learn. They have made a commitment to create a business they love, using their gifts and their talents, and they work with others who appreciate and nurture their gifts so they can courageously put themselves out into the world, wholeheartedly.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~Steve Jobs
I love working with courageous entrepreneurs. I love coaching and learning alongside my clients! They make me want to be a more effective coach, a courageous entrepreneur, and a better human being. To all who are courageous entrepreneurs… I thank you!
