Taking a leap of faith…such a scary thought right? Taking a step from a place of comfort and safety into the unknown. The place where we don’t know what is coming, or the challenges we will face.
I recently left my position as Site Manager at a company I have been working at for the last six and a half years. I started at the company not knowing which was my left from my right in the world of valuations and I am leaving as a fully Certified Practising Valuer.
If I am totally and completely honest, it took me two years to build up the courage to take the leap and accept a job at a different firm. I’m leaving a place which undoubtedly feels like home – the place where I have learnt to be a Valuer, the place where I fell head over heels in love with Valuations.
But you know what? What would happen if I stayed? What if I hadn’t built up the courage to take that step? I would have stayed in a company that I felt comfortable in, a place where I was considered to be a respected and senior member of the team. But I had to ask myself, would I learn if I stayed here? Would I progress at the same rate? Would I be able to hone my skills as a Valuer?
One guess at what my answer was? No, no I wouldn’t.
Because when we get comfortable, we get complacent. We don’t learn at the same pace. We know what is expected of us and we deliver. But personally, I think there is something to be said for jumping into the deep end. When we take off that warm safety blanket and step out into the unknown we either have to sink or swim. And swimming teaches us a lot!
I was recently reminded by my team that the actions we take influence others – that what we do is seen by the people we lead. The fact that I took a leap of faith shows others that we can take control of our careers and that we are in control. We can choose the path our career will take.
All we have to do is… take that leap of faith.
So to all of you who are anxious, uncertain or unsure (trust me I have felt all of these things), take this as a sign – take a leap with me. Because I know what we will learn and who we grow into, will be immeasurable.
Career Queens 