Every woman entrepreneur must move outside her comfort zone if she wants to build a successful business.
Women have come a long way in 2011 from the days of being told their options were nurse, teacher or secretary. However, one doesn't have to look far, whether on tv, in the movies, in newspapers or online, to see that American women are still viewed for how they look on the outside more than what talents are hidden on the inside.
When launching a business, women must believe that anything and everything is possible. Women entrepreneurs must view themselves as superwomen capable of leaping small buildings in a single bound and ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange at the start of trading. Women have been told that they have boundaries. That there are places, positions, and dreams that are beyond the scope of what women can attain. These are the inner tapes that hold women back from reaching their true potential.
So how do women entrepreneurs move out of their comfort zone?
On my 45th birthday I decided to parachute out of a plane. I had thought about doing this for years, but knew that I didn't need to do it to prove anything to myself or anyone else. Or did I? I don't enjoy flying and certainly jumping out of a plane is as close to flying as a human being can get. Without telling anyone -- my husband, my son, friends or business associates -- I took the day off from work and drove to Lincoln, R.I. I walked in to the parachuting school and signed up to take the one hour lesson that gave me the opportunity to make a jump with an instructor. Once inside I never looked back. I visualized the experience and realized that the worst case scenario was I would hit the ground without my parachute open -- no worries that would end the life of the instructor also -- he was young and looked like he wanted to live. Second worst case scenario -- I could break an ankle when landing and then I wouldn 't be able to run for many months -- running is a basic need for me like food and water are for most humans. Once again I knew the instructor would also be injured -- not going to happen. Finally, my third worst case scenario, I would be petrified falling to earth watching the ground get closer and closer, I wouldn't be able to breath and I might scream like a fool embarassing myself. Umm, embarass myself, is that the worst thing that could happen to me if I decided to conquer this fear? No big deal. I didn't even know these people and I'm sure they had better things to talk about than the 45 year old lady from Hingham who jumped out of a plane and screamed like a fool.
I jumped. No, I rolled out of that plane - really flying for the first time in my life watching the panoramic view of the beautiful foliage below. After a minute or two, the instructor tapped my shoulder and said pull the latch to open the chute---latch pulled and up we went like a rocket before the parachute helped us float gently to earth. What a glorious site that multi-colored chute was to behold. Another tap, "prepare to land feet first, bend your knees slightly" - land we did on our feet. I did it!!!!
Fear is paralyzing and if it is holding you back from success you need to conquer it. You don't need to jump out of a plane, but you do need to prove to yourself that you are capable of doing anything. When you identify your comfort zone and then take action to move out of it you'll achieve success beyond your wildest dreams.
