Answering The Door To Opportunity
I'm definitely going out of order on the way I planned these posts to go. But we went rock climbing again today, which turned into dinner out, and we didn't get home until 9:30. That is past my bedtime, to begin with, and I have so much to do tomorrow to get ready for the Passover Seder that we are hosting with some friends. So, I want to skip ahead to my post about betting on yourself.
Here's the thing: we are the only ones who can bet on ourselves. We are the only ones who can truly step out on faith and trust ourselves not to fall. There's a new opportunity at my job, and I've been milling around with the idea of doing it for a few weeks now. It's a huge step up for me, and it would require more investment of time, energy, and money than I am used to. I am going to be pretty vague about what this opportunity is because I signed an NDA, but hopefully, you'll get the gist without knowing specifics.
I only started back in insurance two months ago. There is undoubtedly a sense that I came back at the time I did for this very opportunity. I love helping people plan for and protect their legacies. That's my whole thing with dream chasing. This opportunity would allow me to do that on a more considerable level in the insurance world.
At dinner after the conference, my dad talked to my sister (a hotshot with the company), me, and a few other agents about this opportunity. He told my sister to go all in because she doesn't have anything to lose. She's not married. She's living in a rented space. And in the absolute worst-case scenario, she can file bankruptcy and start over with a clean slate while leaning on my parents until she can get back up. Obviously, the goal is for the worst-case scenario to never even come close to happening, but if it does, she has a safety net.
I, on the other hand, have something to lose. I cannot put my family in a worse financial position. And, not so fun fact, filing bankruptcy can actually be grounds for being discharged from the military. Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice states bankruptcy is a "dishonorable failure to pay just debts." With my husband in a downsizing career that is looking for ways to kick people out, this is not an option. I will not sacrifice my husband's dream on the altar of mine. Again, to be very clear, bankruptcy will not happen with this, but it does mean that I have to hedge my bets more than I might have if I was getting started with this seven years ago.
We're talking much bigger numbers than I am used to with this investment. And that's scary because if I spend the money, I have to do whatever it takes to make it work out. That means hours of studying, learning, and sharpening my skills. All this opportunity does is buy me an advantage. It will never buy me out of the work.
I went to my conference last weekend, wondering if this opportunity was right for me. And when I heard other people's stories about it, I knew I had to do it. It's not that these people were sharing how easy it would be. There was very clearly a knowledge gap that I would need to close. It is not a guaranteed success. But I heard loud and clear: It is too good not to try. I've been looking for more opportunities to sharpen my skills. I've wanted more chances to bet on myself and follow through. So, I can't run away when that opportunity presents itself. It's time to go all in. The answer is knocking on my door, so I need to open up and let it in.
It would be easier never to try than to face the potential failure. But I also see the writing on the walls of what turning this shot down would look like for me. I know that I would look back with regret and that just a little bit of success could be life-changing. I'm not cocky enough to think I'll be the best, but I do firmly believe that I can be a little bit successful. And that's really all I need to commit.
So, I started touring offices today. Part of this opportunity requires me to have a brick-and-mortar place to work out of rather than traveling to see people like I usually do. I toured three offices, and two have great potential. That potential comes with a monthly rent and leasing agreement. I'm putting skin in the game on both the time and money side.
It may seem like a big deal because it's happening on a bigger scale, but my husband and I did this just a few months ago when we hired a nanny. Our nanny watches our son, so I have time to focus on my work. It was getting too hard to accomplish what I wanted while chasing a toddler around, and it meant that I wasn't fully present with him or my work. But hiring a nanny costs money, and we would be paying someone to do a job that I am fully capable of doing. So we made the bet, and I'm following through by putting in way more hours of work than I've done in the past. We may not see the dividends yet, but I know they are coming.
We should be making bets, both big and small, in our lives. We should start making small bets so we get used to the idea of trusting ourselves. Every win adds another notch in our track record of success. I'm not telling you to be reckless. Don't swing beyond your safety net unless you absolutely feel that it is the right thing to do. Remember that dream chasing is a team sport when it comes to family, and no one should be left in the dark about what the risks and rewards are. Go take that chance. You might be surprised by what you discover, and if you start asking for an opportunity, don't run away when it comes to knocking.