Burn the Boats

After 17 years of working at the best community college in the country, I did a scary thing; I left to start my own consulting business. I’ve thwarted the ever-present entrepreneurial tug for years. Many colleagues wondered why I hadn’t started my own business years ago, and my excuses were always the same:

“The timing isn’t right.”
”I can’t afford to just up and quit my job…my family depends on me.”
”I don’t have enough money saved up to carry me through the slow period.”
”I have to stay to get my retirement; I can’t just leave money on the table.”
”I need to pay off this one [insert debt] before I start.”

Now, let me tell you the REAL reasons I didn’t do it:

”I’m scared to death to be an entrepreneur!”
”What if I fail?”
”What if I succeed and can’t handle it?”
”What if I disappoint my clients?”
”What if I need help?”

Making the decision to toss out any type of contingency plan and get started has been, uh, well, extremely emotional and physically exhausting. However, making the decision to just do it…to say goodbye to the safety net of routine and reliability, I felt a something electric ignite in the pit of my stomach. Not fear. Excitement. An energy. A power I forgot I possessed. Deep down, I know I can do this.

Matt Higgins in his book, “Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential” writes,

By learning how to confidently burn the boats and set a match to whatever corrosive Plan B you’re cradling, you will collapse the time delay between insight and action, and you will reap exponential returns.

I’m grateful to all who believe in me. You know who you are. I’m grateful for those of you who will be putting your trust in me to assist your business. Together, we will accomplish greatness. Here’s to bittersweet endings and exciting beginnings!