Facing the uncertainty of the future, shows a commitment to the journey.
As I was brainstorming for today’s blog I began to feel overwhelmed, scared and stuck. I asked my trusty assistant for help to break through the fog. He asked me this one question that started it all! He said, If you were having a conversation with a friend talking about the struggles of life, if you could tell her just one thing, right now, what would it be? It did not take long to answer this question….I would tell her that I know exactly how she feels. Standing on the cliff, the overwhelming feeling of being one step away from walking right off the edge!
To be more exact, I know how YOU feel. You’re scared, standing on the edge of everything you’ve dreamed of, and the only thing louder than your heartbeat is the voice in your head telling you that you’re not good enough, so you better back down.
I’ve been there, and to be honest (because that is the whole point), I am still there now! One moment, something good happens. The next, it’s another bad call, another bill, another gut punch to the budget. Then my brain chimes in like one of my kids yelling at me: “Oh yeah, remember that car insurance you switched to liability only so you could stay legal on the road? Surprise! It’s full coverage now. You gotta Pay up, NOW!”
That’s just the bottom of the mountain I feel too fat to climb. Here’s the thing though, every single time, I stop, I take a breath, and plant my feet. I am not going over the edge today. I turn around and walk a different path, a stronger path. Is it easy? That is a big fat NO! Nobody is holding my hand like my Dad did when I was little and we were walking the trails at the camp site. No one is in the background whispering, “come on sweetheart, back away from the edge”.
I am a grown WOMAN, I have the strength, determination and yes, balls, to make my own decision and to create my own path, even when it’s terrifying. When creating this new path, I also learned a very important lesson, it is OK to ask for help! Especially when you have the greatest mentor and team in your corner! (more details on this later because that mentor and team are here to help you too!)
Today’s blog is all about having the courage and Starting Before You’re Ready, being brave enough to say “I got this” and to just START!
So grab your coffee, wine or whiskey (definitely my choice!) and some snacks and settle in for a brutally honest, no sugarcoating blog of the day!
The Myth of “Ready”: It Doesn’t Exist
When I was stuck in brain fog, I kept repeating “Starting before you’re ready” over and over. Then I thought, wait….what does this even mean? Shouldn’t you be ready, prepared, before you start anything?
Fact: You will never, and I mean never, feel 100% ready! There will always be something that isn’t lined just right. No money, no time, no skills, no courage, no confidence. There is always going to be another excuse, one right after the other. Always another reason to wait just a little bit longer.
Kick all those excuses to the curb, literally, get them all out of your brain. That perfect time you are waiting for? IT DOESN’T EXIST!
So put your big girl pants on, tighten that belt and take the risk, Just Start!
Fear is Loud….But YOU are the Boss
Something I have learned as I am constantly on the edge of my own cliff…..fear is big, fear is loud and fear is a LIAR!!
Fear will have you believing that one wrong step is the end of the world, the end of your dream. It will convince you that risk equals disaster, that your dreams are too big, too expensive, that you are too old, or that no one wants to hear what you have to say. Take control of your fear! You do not have to silence it, just stop giving fear your platform. Take your platform back, and turn the fear into courage.
Fear will always be there screaming in your ear, look it straight in the eyes and take that step forward anyway. Your first step doesn’t have to be pretty. Somewhere along the way, we started believing that beginnings need to look picture perfect. Definitely NOT! Sometimes the beginnings, Starting Before You’re Ready, look like crying in your car in the Walmart parking lot (this has happened to me a lot!) or in the kitchen while cooking dinner. I definitely gave a whole new meaning to “make sure you add some salt”, yeah…..I did that alright, lots of salty tears!
The first step isn’t about perfection. It’s about momentum and using that momentum to climb over the obstacles in your way. I used to look at these obstacles and think, are you kidding me? I can’t climb that! What I have learned is this: I am the obstacle, and I have the strength, the grit and the climb, they’re already inside me, ready to plow right through….and they are in you too.
Walk With Me on a New Path
Starting Before You’re Ready isn’t some romance movie where the predictable guy falls in love with the predictable girl, get married and walk into the sunset together, living happily ever after. Starting Before You’re Ready is unpredictable. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. It’s LOUD and uncomfortable as hell.
It’s also POWERFUL! It shows us when we stay courageous and take that first nervous step, we prove to ourselves that fear doesn’t own us.
If you are like me, still standing on the edge today…..overwhelmed, exhausted, questioning everything….know this: You Are Not Alone! I’m standing right there with you. We’re building this new path together, one step at a time.
Starting before you’re ready, take that step with me love. Not because you’re ready…..because you’re done waiting!
SmartrWomen: Where Women Build, Rise, and Lead Together
This is exactly why SmartrWomen exists. It isn’t just a brand, it’s a movement built for women standing on the edge of their someday moment, staring down fear, self-doubt, and that HUGE stack of excuses.
We’re here to give you more than inspiration. We give you strategy, community, and tools that turn that nervous first step into a steady momentum.
Remember at the beginning of the blog I promised more details? Here it is, pay attention, this is good stuff!!
Workshops and Resources: we break down the overwhelm into doable action steps.
Community: real women walking the same path, sharing real stories, not filtered fairytales.
Mentorship and Support: strategic guidance to help you build your brand, scale your business, and create a legacy that’s yours.
If you’re ready to stop waiting for perfect timing, this is your space. We don’t just talk about Starting Before You’re Ready, we START, Together! Join the SmartrWomen Movement where fear meets fire and dreams turn into real, unshakable impact.
If you would like more information about SmartrWomen and how we can help you and your business, leave a comment below.
If you are enjoying these blogs and have a topic you would like to suggest, let me know by leaving a comment below.
Have a wonderful Wednesday and always remember:
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21
Christi Spruill is a growing force behind the SmartrWomen movement with an unapologetically honest and loud voice teaching women about business, professional development, and personal growth. A Mom, sister, and Gigi she writes like she lives, with faith, grit and a lot of sarcasm to keep it real. Christi reminds women that even in the chaos, purpose still calls. Her message is simple, stay real, stay rooted, and keep rising, because your story matters.
Raw. Rooted. Rising. = Unstoppable Legacy