When Are We Ever Really Ready…

Suzanne is sitting completing an application form, she knows she can do the job, however one of workmates is going for the same role. He’s been there longer, he has more experience in some of what’s required, but not all of it.

She’s been sat for hours, the more time goes on, the chitterchatter in her head gets worse ‘why am I bothering?’ She fears looking stupid, even though she has years of experience: in a different field but the skills and knowledge can be transferred to this role, easily.

She’s ready, but hiding.

Richard is a small business owner offering IT services to other local business owners, he knows his customer service is better than his larger local competitors: he does a better job, he understands the needs of the solo business owner better than anyone, he talks language they understand.

He’s been asked so many times by a friend to attend a local networking event. He won’t go, because he fears speaking in public, and doesn’t feel that he belongs there yet, he thinks: he’s new and needs to prove himself first.

He’s hiding.

When are we really ready to take strides forward in our careers, life or business? 

Is it when we have enough information?

Or is when we have minimised all the risks?

Perhaps it’s when we feel safe that the stride we are taking isn’t going to hurt that much if the leaping doesn’t go to plan.

Maybe we have no other options, we have to move because of external circumstances.

As a child do you remember playing Hide and Seek?

Squeezing your eyes tight, your palm covering your face, facing the brick wall, at a spot your friends put you at so you had no chance of seeing the direction they ran?

“1……..2…….3…4…56789…10!  Ready or not here I come!”

Ready or not? Here I come.

Are you ready?

Or are you?

1. Still Seeking.
2. Not ready and hiding.
3. Ready but hiding.
4. Ready?

Look, sometimes we aren’t ready. We don’t have all the information, we haven’t got all the resources and done our homework. Nothing wrong with that, being a seeker is fine.

But to be ready and hide?

Oh dear.

Usually it’s fear, you’re scared. You can remember the feeling before you were ‘caught’ playing hide and seek, right?

Stomach churning, ‘butterflies’, holding your breath, and if you never played it, I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Going for it is generally less painful, than knowing you’re ready and hiding.

Count to 10 then…

Complete the following statement:

I know I’m ready to____________, I’ve been hiding because____________.  Today, ready or not, here I come.