Stop thinking everyone else has it figured out...

"I need to join this one year certification program before I can be comfortable teaching others."

I said this to my husband a week after I spent 10 YEARS earning my doctoral degree.

At the time I had spent nearly 40 years in school - learning, reading, studying, practicing, and living day to day - the EXACT things I wanted another certification to teach me.

I'll never forget the way he looked at me with this mix of utter confusion, love, and bewilderment.

"Carolyn," he said, "you just spent a decade getting certified. You've been preparing for this your whole life. When is enough going to be enough?"

It stopped me in my tracks - and I realized:

I was hiding behind the need to learn more, get one more credential, find one more expert to follow.

I was resisting moving forward because putting myself out there felt TERRIFYING.

It was so much safer to keep learning than to take the big, scary leap.

BUT - that reluctant + scared + excited - leap into the unknown started me on a path of coaching, teaching, and creating content that reaches hundreds of thousands of people.

All because I stopped preparing, and finally started doing.

The gap between where you are and where you want to be isn't filled with more knowledge.

It's filled with action.

Here's how to create it in your own life too:

✨ I N S P I R E

"Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction." - Harry Truman

✨ T H R I V E

While others are perfecting their plan, you can be moving forward.

Here are the most common traps I see (I've definitely been in ALL of these...) + a quick simple action you can take to break free:

1) Perfectionist Trap

Spending weeks crafting the "perfect" pitch email

️⚡Send the good-enough version today. You can always send a follow-up.

2) Analysis Paralysis

Researching every possible angle before starting a project

️⚡Start with the information you have. You'll learn what you need as you go.

3) Waiting for Permission

Looking for someone to validate your idea first

️⚡Begin the work. Permission often comes after you've proven it's valuable.

4) Information Hoarding (My specialty 💃🏼)

Taking another course or reading another book first

️⚡Apply what you already know. Learning by doing is often far more valuable.

5) All-or-Nothing Thinking

Believing you need the complete plan mapped out

️⚡Take the next logical step. The path reveals itself as you walk it.

6) Comparison Trap

Studying what others are doing instead of doing your own work

⚡Focus on your next move, not their highlight reel.

7) Timing Excuse

"I'll start when I have more time/money/experience"

⚡Use the resources available right now. Constraints often breed creativity.

The biggest obstacle between you and your dreams isn't lack of skills or knowledge.

It's getting out of your own way.

You've got this friends🙌🏼

Which one of these hits home for you right now? Hit reply and let me know!

Carolyn

✨ F U R T H E R R E A D I N G

The Power of a Simple Small Change: How tiny actions create massive momentum over time

All Things Are Difficult Before They Are Easy: Why starting is always the hardest part 

This Is What's Really Holding You Back: The psychology behind procrastination and how to overcome it

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PS ~ Join an AMAZING crew getting daily tips like this to live a happy, healthy, intentional life

PPS ~ Know someone who could use this reminder to take action? Forward this to:

→ The friend who's been talking about starting that side project for months

→ That colleague who's always researching but never implementing

→ Anyone stuck in analysis paralysis on an important decision

→ The perfectionist in your life who needs permission to begin before they're ready

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