The Power of Starting Late
Hello, World!
In this episode we are exposing the power behind starting late!
YES there is power in starting after everyone else.
By the end of this episode you will feel inspired and confident about starting now even if you feel that it's too late or that you are too far behind!
Now you might feel confident enough to start but when you are met with resistance or an inkling of failure you pull back from giving it a full effort or you stop. How do I know this?
It's because I'm your life coach bestie, you know the one that gets you.
Over the years we have been conditioned to believe that our gut feelings tell us that Fun = Good and Fear = Bad This works in most fight or flight scenarios but not always in life.
When you consider doing something that you truly want or have invested in, you are going to feel a heightened fear because it involves you being vulnerable and the possibility of failure.
Bad and scary feelings are not always a sign that you can't or shouldn't move forward. They are also an indication that you are doing something frightening but worth it.
Listen to the episode for 3 ways to embrace starting late along with a personal story from me.
Complete transcription below!
Hey did you know that there is a 3 Day Goaltending challenge where you could win a Cheerfully Cheryl Care Package that has lots of goodies including a $50 amazon gift card?
The Challenge takes you through the 3 critical steps to achieve your biggest goals.
Get started right now at www.cheerfullycheryl.com/goaltending
It's FREE. Get started Now
Can't wait to see your wins!
TRANSCRIPTION
Welcome back!
In todays episode were exposing the power behind starting late! Did I just say that, the power behind starting after anyone else … yes i did! By the end of this episode you will feel inspired and confident about starting now even if you feel that it's too late or that you are too far behind!
Now, if you are listening to this podcast you are likely a high achiever, the one that has been strangely good at nearly everything they try. I know you because i'm that person too, but what happens when you consider trying something you're not that confident about?
If you are anything like me and my “high achieving clients” you likely put off starting or you don't start at all because of the feeling of possible failure stopping you.
Now you might feel confident enough to start but when you are met with resistance or an inkling of failure you pull back from giving it a full effort or you stop.
Why is that? Over the years we have been conditioned to believe that your gut feelings tell you what is fun is good and what is scary and bad. This works in most fight or flight scenarios but not always in life. When you consider doing something that you truly want or invested in, you are going to feel heightened fear mostly because it involves you being vulnerable and the possibility of failure. Bad and scary feelings should not always be a sign that you can't or shouldn't do this. They are also an indication that you are doing something frightening but worth it.
I'll give you you an example, I loved going to the theme parks , ya know back when outside was open, Universal Studios is one of my favs after Disney of course but I remember last Feb speed walking through the crowds to be the first our at least not at the end of the line for the newest attraction, a roller coaster, you know the ones that seem to go beyond the clouds and it's going so fast you cant even hear the screams from the coaster. I made the decision to get on but while in line you are anxious about what around that next corner then you turn to see there's about 50 more people in front of you and each turn you get closer to the coaster you feel even more uncomfortable and start questions the decision to get on, i'm getting closer now and i'm starting to hear the screams and they are loud. Is everyone else hearing this? Is no one concerned.
Now I'm finally there past all the cool props and turns but at the point just before you go to the mini line that is right in front of where you want to sit. I'm a reserved dare devil and I've just spent the better part of an hour with increasing levels of fear that this coaster is too much for me. Naturally I chose to sit in the row right behind the front row. After all ,I waited this long I might as well go big… but not too big because the front of the coaster will hit the ground first.. Probably? Okay, now I can see the other riders that have gone before me getting off, they looked shocked, dizzy , one person was coughing and there was someone in the front row that was passed out - hopefully pretending to be funny but in this moment I have a chance to abandon ship, walk starting though the car and out the exit with the other dazed riders. The fear is unbearable and i'm shaking and my friends are with me the thoughts about what they will think if I bail, the people behind me who are in my same shoes aghhh
That is what you feel when you are about to do something you know you love or you think you will love! All these feelings and thoughts come up to deter you but what if these deterrents are just proof of your interest and excitement in disguise? What if the people dazed in the car before me were just taking a breath to soak up the incredible ride that had happened before them? What if the shocked look on the riders before me was because the ride far outperformed what they thought it would. What if the person that was passed out was pretending just to freak out his friend in the row behind him? All the proof I had given myself that this was a terrible decision is now proof that it was an incredible decision…
Well I didn't have time to think that far, the ride attendant quickly blocked me out for the ride while patiently waiting for me to sit down so they could strap me in… and they did. The ride starts to move and I wait for those tiny coaster click click clicks that make you feel super secure as the coaster is going up while you count down to the big drop…. Except this is universal yall, they don't do no click click click its top class coaster over there. The car just shoots straight up and takes a little turn and a mini dip and for a moment I think “ ohhh this isnt that bad” until we plumnit from the clouds to the ground with so much speed that i literally cant open my mouth enough to scream! My heart is racing as we twist and turn I open my eyes to make sure were still on the track but who knows in the swirl of buildings and ground and sky after what feeling like an eternity we pull into the statration and I like the riders before me just sit for a second without the ability to move as i process the physical and psychological events that have just happened. The attendant comes by to help me out and I dizilly walk toward the exit with only thoughts of joy and excitement , satisfaction you know really being there in the moment and not in my head.
If I were only in the moment before rather than in my head and over analyzing the possibilities of failure I would have enough the entire process. I mean I also didn't get on the ride. It's the same in our lives especially around the big scary goals that we want to accomplish as part of it. If you are waiting to start something because you are nervous you won't succeed. Let me tell you, there will not be a time you're not nervous you won't succeed.
If you are multitasking, I want you to pay attention for a second.
If you feel indifferent about the goals you really want to work towards that means you don't actually want to do it. When you fear something , it's actually a sign of interest that you should get comfortable with exploring. ( I'm not saying walk into any ol dark alley or gracefully hop on the rickety looking rollercoaster that you can tell no one has inspected in years. What I'm Saying is this: Start before you are ready because you will never be ready, If you are waiting until you are ready… Then and only then is it too late. By the time you are ready your body , your soul and your wishes will be partially on the next big thing that is a little scary and a little exciting. More commonly known as Shiny Object Syndrome. A Good way to beat the SOS is to jump confidently into that which brings you a bit of fear and live in the moment once you get there.
This is what is said to be the secret source of those early achievers. You know the Mark Zuckerburgs and the Child Stars and the New college graduates that have somehow managed to make billions of dollars selling scrunchies and candles on Social media. It's insanae what they are able to accomplish and perfect in such a short amount of time. What they have adjusted to quickly is not the absence of fear but using that fear as positive energy to propel them forward on their goals. They recognize the power of starting now while analyzing the people, organizations and things that have come before them from a place of excitement instead of fear.
In my roller coaster example this would be analyzing the riders getting off the coaster. In real life terms this would be Mark Zuckerberg analyzing the social media platforms that came before him and bailing because it seemed too scary. He didn't bail! What he did was analyze what the platforms that came before him were doing and focused his effort on being different, better, more connected. While its is impressive what he and other early achievers have accomplished, it's important to Applaud them -- better yet cheer for them! I'm shaking my pom poms!
Cheer for them , just know that that path isn't for everyone and it might not be right for you! Rather than be discouraged by their success, let it inspire you because it's proof that you can do it too or use it as a piece of education or research to see what you could avoid or how you might want to be different.
Now if you're not inspired to start now, even though it's a bit late in the week, the month and the “new year” then I want to share with you the many people who are considered “late Bloomers”” that have been extremely successful in reaching thor goals and dreams who have made a significant impact on most of our lives.
Roy Kroc was 52 years old in 1954 when he started Mcdonalds. He was a milkshake machine salesman, and one day he happened upon a burger joint somewhere in california and instead of selling the Mc.Donald brothers his machine he bought the business. Now we see McDonalds as one of the greatest global franchises.
OR how about the beautiful JK Rowling had her lowest of lows, job less, divorced, penniless single mother she thought to herself “ I still have an old typewriter and a big idea” She went on to complete her manuscript for Harry Potter but was rejected by every major publisher and then picked up year later by a tiny publisher who only made 1000 copies 500 of which went to libraries…. Now we know her and Harry Potter as impacting billions of readers and moviegoers world wide.
There are so many of these wonderful examples of late bloomers
Walt Disney
Albert Einstein
Okay getting into more ppl you will actually enjoy reading up on is:
Kerry Washington
Vera Wang
Viola Davis
Anna Wintour - you know the one the Devil Wears Prada is loosely based on!
They all started late while also starting before they were ready, now i you see yourself having the success you desire, killing those goals and creating the life that truly brings you joy then you'll need to
Start before you are ready, because you will never truly feel ready to do something big and impactful
Cheer on those early achievers! One because it feels good and two because they are paving the way for, making your own path easier or at the very least providing you a case study to learn from or aspire to be.
Late Bloomers are a thing and it's more common than the early achievers. There is something special and unique that comes with the maturity of knowing exactly who you are and where you are and aren't willing to be flexible that truly aids in a stronger patch to success.
I want you to feel that and experience that for yourself and dont worry Im always cheering you on, so, if you are in a monet of fear and you know it's something that you think… no you know you want to do it. I want you to push beyond that and keep going. If you need to back up here for you I'm only a phone call away. You can send me a DM on Instagram which is my favorite place to hang and get to know you better or you can visit my website cheerfullycheryl.com.
Until next week my confident and courageous friends,
Have beautiful day
A wonderful week
Amd a cheerful life
Cheerfully,
Cheryl
