Falling Up...

For years, I have ravenously devoured knowledge and ceaselessly practised to get better at my craft from every conceivable angle.  I can honestly describe myself as one of the finest professionals in my industry; consistently creating inspired excellence when I'm holding the camera.

I am a professional.

But I remember what it felt like a bunch of years ago - before I really was a professional at what I do.  It was lots of 'fake it to make it'... going out into the world and telling people who I am and what I do until I actually believed it because my results could back it up.

But I've recently discovered something quite shocking.   Something that I don't identify with considering how far I have come and what I've been able to achieve in so many ways.

I've been 'safely' sticking to what I know...  I'm in the Comfort Zone!  

To anyone who knows me well the 'comfort zone' has been - ironically - not really a place I've felt comfortable.  But I've been hiding.

Only in the last few months has this realisation been dragged out into the stark contrast of brightest midday sun...  What I've been hiding from is being a professional business owner - and all the skills and challenges that make one a true professional.

Mainly, it has come from an epic journey through an amazing program called Key Person of Influence... and the people with whom I have surrounded myself throughout these 40 weeks.  And more specifically through a gruelling two day session with outstanding business coach, David Dugan.  

I've always jumped into everything with both feet.  Blind faith and an inconceivable certainty that I will prevail has taken me far.  The ultimate quote that informs most of my choices is a simple one.

“Leap and the net will appear”

I don't have to try to believe it.  It's just a fundamental truth beyond question.  But lately, as I've learned a myriad new skills I have pushed myself well beyond the invisible confines of my 'zone of comfort'... Into a terrifyingly foreign realm of organising & planning and measuring & counting.

I have certainly leapt.  But the net hasn't come up to meet me.  I feel like I've been falling.  ...waiting for the net.  And getting nervous that I've been mistaken.  Or maybe somehow this time I got it wrong.

But today it all became so clear.  I am falling.  But I'm falling up.  It's strange to be out in unfamiliar space for so long.  But I have mistaken this sensation of falling from a gravity-restricted reality.

Sometimes it's hard to see when you're so close to the situation... It's hard to get perspective.  But I've seen such profound changes and growth in my business over the past few months I'm not worried anymore that the net will appear.  It always does.  But now that I know I'm falling up it seems to me that the farther I go... well, the farther I go.

And that's pretty awesome.