The day I walked away from work that was working
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Reader, A few years ago, I made a decision that scared me a little. I was doing a lot of work helping people get onto the TEDx stage. I loved parts of it, like helping someone find their big idea and the words to articulate clearly for the first time. I loved helping them shape it into something that could actually land well in a room full of people. All of that work lit me up... and it still does. But the application process is a tedious black box, and every time a client got a rejection, it felt like a failure, even though there are a hundred reasons someone might not get accepted that have nothing to do with the quality of their idea or the depth of their conviction. It was draining me in ways that didn't show up on my bank statements. The revenue from this work was awesome, but my joy was slowly leaving my body. So, after a lot of agonizing and dwelling and spiraling and waffling, I made a conscious choice to walk away from that as the centerpiece of my work. If you've been with me since then, you know it's not because the ideas weren't worth fighting for. They absolutely are, but I realized I had built a container around my work that was too small for what I actually believed. The big idea and conviction driven work I do is the foundation of everything. TEDx, other stages, platforms of all kinds, those can absolutely be part of that, but they shouldn't be the ceiling. That change to my business and offer structure came with real financial cost... and it gave me back my energy, my joy, and the ability to serve clients in a much deeper, better way. I share this because I know I'm not the only one who has stayed in work that was technically working long past the point where it's actually working for you. Maybe you're there right now. Maybe the revenue is great but it's costing you a lot to keep doing it. Maybe you've been telling yourself you'll figure out the next version of your business or that you'll do what you really want to do when things slow down, or when you have more clarity... or when it feels less risky to make a move. I've been doing this work with female entrepreneurs and founders for over two decades, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the breaking point rarely comes at a good time. The longer you wait to make aligned choices for yourself and your business, the wider the gap gets between where you are and where you actually want to be. If any part of what I've shared today is landing somewhere for you, I'd love to talk. Discovery calls are complimentary, and together, we'll where we figure out what you're actually navigating and whether I'm the right person to help you move through it. xo, Jess xo, |