Are you ready?
I am continually asked this question, because at some point in the next six weeks I will be entering into the greatest challenge of my life...
Yes, my wife is now 36 weeks pregnant, and very soon I will be a father for the first time.
So people have to ask, “Are you ready?”
This is my answer: No I’m not, but yes I’m ready to get started.
Ready is an interesting word when it comes to entering into something new. I think the only way to learn is to experience and since I’ve never experienced being a father, I can’t say that I’m fully ready for the job.
I have this feeling that pretty early in the process I’m going to have this confused look on my face and wondering, “What have I gotten myself into?”
But this is true about anything we try for the first time. This is something entrepreneurs know very well.
We have ideas about new things - a change in the business model, a new marketing campaign, investing in a new website… All of these things hold possibilities, but the result is unknown.
And when you launch, you enter into uncharted territory and have to learn along the way.
The problem for many of us is the unknown waiting on the other side is a fearful thing. It’s more comfortable to stay where we know everything – where the results are controlled. It may not be exciting, but it’s manageable.
But what if the question, “Are you ready” wasn’t so much about your knowledge of the situation, but about your passion for what you’re doing?
Am I ready to be a dad? Heck yes! Because I can’t wait to meet our daughter and get busy learning what I need to know.
I’m willing to mess stuff up, not sleep at night, get stressed out, freaked out and burnt out from all of the unknowns and newness, because it’s worth it.
I know I want a family. I want to be a father, so I’m ready for what I’m not ready for.
I don’t have a choice in this matter. The baby is coming so I have to be ready no matter what.
Bring it.
But what other things am I putting off because I think I’m not ready?
When we stop because we fear the unknown, we have no idea what we are missing. Think about your life.
Anything significant you’ve done has probably involved stepping out into something new, then learning along the way.
You can’t figure it all out first, then jump. If that were the case it would be easy, and probably not worth pursuing.
Here’s the bad news for whatever dream you are thinking of pursuing: You are not ready.
But here’s the good news: You as ready as you’ll ever be!
Have an awesome day!
P.S. Leave me a comment with these two things:
- One time you’ve stepped into the unknown and it’s been great
- If you’re a parent, give me one good tip :)
P.P.S. When you're stepping into something new, you don't have to be completely clueless. Next week I'll write the top ways I'm preparing myself for this new challenge, and how it applies to all challenges we step into.
