60 days ago I had a job at a respectable ad agency, a two-bedroom apartment, and a semi-comfortable way of life. 60 days later I’ve gotten engaged, quit my job, packed my bags, and moved to Chicago without a plan. Talk about big changes. It’s funny how much you really MOVE when you start trying – how much you surprise yourself when you dare to be different.
Throughout this journey, a lot of you have stopped and asked me how it’s going, if I had any regrets, and if, looking back, I would have done anything differently. I’ve also learned that a lot of you are in the same boat I was – feeling trapped, wanting to take a leap of faith but being held back by your own fear and doubt. I wanted to take some time to give you a personal update on how things have gone for me over these past 60 days, the challenges I’ve had to overcome, and how empowered you feel when you stop trying and start doing.
Overcoming the “I can’t” dilemma
As my fiance can attest to, I was scared shitless to make this leap of faith. To quit my job with essentially no money, nothing else lined up, and no idea of what I would be doing once I got here. I spent many sleepless night battling my own fear – a fear that had dominated my decision-making time and time again in the past – that fear of failure whose grasp is all too powerful and all too familiar.
I took a step back and really looked at where my life was going if I remained on the same path – and all I could think of is ‘nowhere’. While preaching about the power of change and overcoming it’s inconvenience here, I found myself victim to the cautionary lifestyle I was inspiring all of you to break free from. Putting things into perspective, I realized that even if I tried and failed, I would, worst case scenario, be no worse off than my current state. As cliche’ as it may sound, I had an epiphany. When you realize that the only thing holding you back is yourself, that you have to do what’s best for you, regardless of what some people may think – you’re able to take ownership of your own life and can take that first step.
The no-money mindset
Realistically and financially speaking, this move made absolutely no sense. I’m 23 years old with one whole year of ‘real world’ experience under my belt and barely enough money to last me a couple months. From the outside looking in, I probably look absolutely bat-shit insane. But odds are, you’re probably in the same boat. Ask yourself this: When WILL be the right time to make the move? When WILL you have enough money? 6 months? A year? Several years? Will there ever be a right time? Maybe today is that day. With a little initiative and creativity you can find some work out there to sustain while you make the transition. Social media is a freelancer’s dream. Money may be a contributing factor to your obstacles, but should never be the only thing holding you back.
Finding a job in a recession
You don’t need me to tell you that these are extremely trying times in our nation’s economy. The bottom line? Jobs are at a premium. But with that being said, they ARE out there. No matter how bad the economy gets, there will always be someone out there who needs someone like you. Today it has become all the more important to showcase your outstanding qualities, define your personal brand, and tell people not only who you are, but more importantly what you can do for them.
We’ve all heard the concept of “It’s not what you do but who you know” – and in times like these, it is absolutely true. Network, network, network! Get on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn – start a blog if you haven’t already – reach out to people who can help you – learn from those who have come before you. The days of scouring job boards in hopes of finding your dream gig are long gone – that’s what everyone else is doing. You have to be different, you have to get creative in your approach. While everyone is storming the front door, focus on picking the lock and sneaking in the back. I’ve tried both approaches, and ultimately have had much more success when I had an “in” – the challenge is figuring out what exactly that is for you.
Overcoming failure and knowing disappointment is inevitable
When I made the decision to quit my job and move to Chicago – I knew there was going to be a difficult road ahead. Accepting that it wont be easy is half the battle. Leaving my Mom and Dad was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done – leaving 23 years of my life behind me in Nashville was tough, because it’s all I’ve ever known. In Nashville, I felt like I was somebody – here in Chicago, I’m a very small fish in a large pond.
I sent out a countless number of resumes without ever hearing anything back. I went through many interviews only to get the generic rejection email. I spent night after night lying in bed wondering if I had made a huge mistake. But now, I look back – and all of those failures – all of those disappointments – they all made me who I am right now: someone who has grown exponentially within the past year of his life. To think that I was just graduating college a little over a year ago boggles my mind.
I would love to be able to tell you that my confidence has been unwavering through all this – but I’m a terrible liar. I’ve doubted myself time and time again – but each time, I’ve persevered and have been able to restore and build that confidence within myself. Today, I understand that insanity and brilliance go hand in hand – and as crazy as all this might have been, I know I’m doing the right thing. To hell with what everyone else tells you not to do – you’re the one in the drivers seat.
Settling is for suckers
If you’ve gone through anything like I have, you can relate to that overwhelming feeling of desperation; “I have to take whatever job I can get”. Employers out there are throwing out low-ball offers to young twenty-somethings because they “can” – they think they have the leverage. If you won’t take the $25,000 salary – someone else out there in the overflowing talent pool who’s more desperate will.
But I see the tables turning – fewer Gen Y’ers are desperate nowadays. Why? Because we can make it on our own. Why do you think there are so may startup companies popping up everywhere? We’re tired of “Corporate America”, we’re tired of being treated like an employee and not as a human being. We’re less willing to settle for ANY job.
In my case, through freelance and contract work – I was able to sustain (and get some very valuable experience) until I found a great job – one that was worth holding out for. In my time of ‘desperation’ I actually turned down a few job offers. The moral? You don’t have to settle – and shouldn’t. Call it the over-entitled Gen Y mentality speaking, but you’re better than that.
To be continued
This is less about me and more about you. My story isn’t anything to write home about – and this is only the beginning of a long road ahead. But what I hope it shows is what can be done will be done. I try to keep from getting too personal here as I don’t want this to turn into a diary, but if you’re interested in witnessing the evolution of a man, stay tuned – it’s going to be an exciting ride.
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Reading this post was like looking in a mirror, as I am also 23, left a paying job 60 days ago to move across Canada, not for a fiancee, but for family and to start a new chapter of my life. Anyone reading this post should be inspired to say “why not?” more often; as frightening as unemployment or any other selfinflicted hardship is, you will never know what is possible or what you are capable of untill you try. Thank you for sharing your personal story, as it reminds me that I’ve made the right decision to fly by the seat of my pants and find out what I truly want to do while living in a place I truly want to be!
Thanks Kimberly (and welcome – first time here, eh?) Where I was and where I am today – they feel worlds apart. a few months ago I felt like I was getting too content with my discomfort – that I had sort of just ‘bought’ into the daily routine that wasn’t really getting me anywhere. I knew something had to change and sometimes it’s best to just rip it off like a band-aid. As I said above, even though it’s a personal journey I’m sharing, it’s less about me and more about you – if I can act as an example and help inspire a few people to say ‘why not’ and go for it – that’s all the fulfillment (and more) I could ever ask for.
Wow it’s amazing how this post is re-running in other people’s lives across the world, me also 23! have just closed a chapter on my student life and now exploring further avenues, wanting to change patterns, and find a path that will give me some meaning but I’m not exactly sure where that path is yet, and I don’t want to settle for a mediocre path. Sometimes we need to be reminded that the risks that we have made in life whether successful or not were more rewarding than staying in a place that we are use to. So I would like to thank you for this post, it will be something that I will help me in future decisions. I wish you all the best for your new move.
Joanie – thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts. Through my experiences – I’ve seen so many people who are in a similar situation as me – change is inconvenient, so much so that there was an entire month of posts dedicated to that exact topic back in May. Overcoming the fear of failure and self doubt is some of the hardest work we’ll ever have to do. But there is power in numbers, and much to be learned from one another as we embark on our individual journeys. Thank you very much for the kind words and well wishes – I wish you the best of luck as well. Cheers!
Get ready to me asking you a lot of questions next year man. I can already relate to all this, even before actually moving to Perth.
What can one say? These life decisions are not for everyone, fear rules most people’s minds.
Moving has to be one of the best ways to feel alive, the thrill, the rush, it’s just priceless, whatever the so-called “mistakes” are.
Keep your remarkable life going Matt, you’re a deeply supported.
The support from you, everyone else here, and many others has been overwhelming, to say the least. To have so many complete strangers rally behind me means two things. One: I must be doing something worth rallying behind and two: my story must be extremely relate-able for many of you out there. I know that these are struggles and obstacles all of us are striving to overcome. Instead of being controlled by my mistakes – I use them as motivation to do and be more. Thanks, as always, for your support, encouragement, and friendship Carlos. Much appreciated!
Chicago is an awesome place (and one I desperately want to get back to). I also threw caution to the wind and flew out there with a backpack and little else. Unfortunately, it ended up not working out. However, it taught me a lot about myself, and what I want in life.
I want to succeed. I don’t know what that looks like yet or how it will come about…but I know it will happen. I just need to take solace in the fact that the economy isn’t important. The only things that do matter? The opportunities that you seek out.
We’ll have to chat sometime Stuart – I didn’t know about your move out to Chicago. I think you are already on a great path to success Stuart – whatever that means to you specifically – but you are doing big things on the web as we speak. You’re mindset is spot on, you cant linger on the fact that the economy is in shambles – you have to maintain that there are opportunities out there, and while it may be much more difficult to find them – you WILL find them.
I can say, I too am in a somewhat similar position. 22, with 2 solid internships of experiance, and uncertainty rapidly approaching at the end of this summer when my current position is set to either continue, or not. But one thing is pretty certain: that I’m determained to make a move by fall. Decidedly a move in living location, but still not so clear as to whether it’s going to be into another position, exploring new oppertunities, or starting something up on my own. It’s not an entirely inconvenient change because it’s welcomed and exciting, but that’s not to say it’s going to be ANY kind of easy.
Networking fellow Gen-Yers and reading posts like this (and posts from the commenter above me) about people my age and in similar situations really gives me some reassurance that my sense of urgency and wanting to move forward (sometimes with no-so-solid footing) is not something I’m alone on. And that these kinds of risks are sometimes worth taking.
Yes, even the changes we are willing to make are usually not any easier. You are not alone – and there will be a lot of people around you doing the same thing. That’s one thing that eased my stress – looking at the others who took the leap before me and learning from their successes and failures. It’s an ongoing evolution and I am by no means at the end of the road – but taking the first step, getting myself here, finding a job – those were my top priorities. I’ve done that now, my feet are somewhat firm, and I’m ready to take the next step forward.
I can’t wait to hear more of the journey. You are right to point out that our generation in particular, has this power to step out alone and MAKE IT HAPPEN. That’s pretty exciting stuff.
I feel your pain and understand that confidence is compromised. Fear was just a part of my everyday life, but I began to trust, work hard and believe in myself. Then I realized fear kept me going. Fear drove me to network and interview more and probably led me to my job. If we can turn around fear, make it a catalyst, turn it into adrenaline and power…then you can find success. Congratulations, Matt! Can’t wait to hear more
Grace – when I spoke above about following in others footsteps – you were one of the people I was talking about. You took a huge cross-country leap of faith, and look at where you are today. It’s a testament to what taking a risk can lead to. When you trust and believe in yourself, your potential is limitless. We (you and I) have used that fear as motivation to persevere and push onward – it’s a pretty powerful thing, when fear is staring you in the face and you’re able to overcome and make things happen. Good for you, good for me, we’re making fear our bitch – I feel like this reply deserves a high-five moment to cap it off. Virtual high five to you Grace!
Very moving post. I like the sentiment that there’s never going to be the right time to do anything.. so you might as well do it now.
Exactly Valerie – sometimes there never is a ‘right time’. You have to tell yourself that now is just as good a time as any. It might be easier said then done, but we are the masters of our own destiny, and sometimes have to be reminded of that.
I think we could survive life on Yoda quotes. I feel ya Matt, honestly. We tie our own ropes with self-doubt and fearful second guessing. You know I’m writing a blog of my own, as well as recording music and teaching karate. I feel confident in some areas more than others, even though my ability in each is worthy of AT LEAST my own confidence. I should feel that way. And we all should feel that way about our potential, otherwise, we live in a mental world of fails consoled by thoughts of “at least I tried”, even though we never had a backbone strong enough for success in the first place.
Ability is charged by confidence, which turns our potential energy into the kinetic, change-inducing kind. if it doesn’t feel like what you’ve got is worth a damn, then maybe an identity re-evaluation is in order (and I’m so talking to the mirror right now). Settling really IS for suckers. You have what you need. Do it. After all, the only way to live is to live, moment by moment, day by day, and know that our actions AND thoughts are fully conscious choices made by US, with our knowledge of the past and hopes for the future. We have complete capability to direct life where we’d like to be living-geographically, emotionally/mentally, situationally. There truly is no “try” in existence. We either do it, or we don’t. If we fail at something, it’s not because we tried and failed, it’s because we chose a thought or action that inhibited our endeavor. And that’s ok, because it’s apart of the experience, and we learn an important lesson from those off-choices: what not to do.
And through it all, we’re creating our life, engaging in what we appreciate, changing what we don’t. Living.
Your thoughts and words continue to inspire me Chelsie. And you’re right – we either do it, or we don’t – We write our own story – and in the end, everything comes down to choice. Will you choose to grab the reigns and run your own life or will you fall victim to ‘reality’? I’ve experience what the latter feels like and will choose the former every step of the way moving forward.
That is exciting man! I’m glad you went out there and took some chances. I’m one year away from graduation and different thoughts of what I’m going to do after graduation linger in my mind everyday. I have options and I know I just need to choose a path and run with it. Looking forward on hearing how your journey unfolds.
Whatever the path is – make sure you’re choosing the one FOR YOU – not one that others are pushing you to walk down. Even if it means disappointing some people – do a lot of thinking over the next year and figure out what you want to do – or what path you should go down to best achieve personal success. The offer is on the table – if you ever need a hand through your journey, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
I think this is awesome. The older I get the more I realize that it’s actually security that is so dangerous. Same job, same activities, same routine… it’s too risky for someone with an adventurous mind.
And you’re not alone. I think a lot of us Gen-Y-ers are fed up with the conformist lifestyles we’ve been prescribed, and I see a lot more people doing what you’re doing. I’m in the same boat. I ditched my job and booked a flight to New Zealand for this fall. I have a few months’ worth of money and no prospects at this point. Feels great.
Good for you, I bet this turns out to be the best decision you ever made.
Thanks David – I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Security is something we all strive for, but it’s also an incredibly terrifying state of mind to be in. I’ve spoke to the point of being TOO content with where you are – I strive to do more, be more, achieve new things, and challenge myself in new ways. Life is about moving, not standing still – I believe and live within that mantra every day of my life.
I just realized something screwy happened with my comment above! Let me repost:
It’s funny. I ask myself those questions all the time, except instead of being about money and financial security, they’re about having a baby: When WILL be the right time to (have a baby)? When WILL you have enough money (to have a baby)? ? 6 months? A year? Several years? Will there ever be a right time (to have a baby)? Maybe today is that day. (DEAR GOD, I HOPE NOT.)
The point is, it’s the same set of questions that can really be applied to anything in your life that you’re kind of/sort of afraid of doing/getting on with. Good luck with everything!
Great point Kerri – you’ve illustrated that these questions apply to whatever might be going on in our life. When is the right time to have a baby, when is the right time to quit my job, move to another city, buy a new pair of socks. Whatever it is, it’s not all about cause and effect, it’s about choices (Full disclosure: I was going to quote The Matrix here but I’ll keep my nerdiness at bay, for now). Thanks for adding to the discussion, I hope you’ll continue to contribute to the community here over time. Cheers!
I agree especially about the not settling. I had two job offers thrown at me but turned down both. Yeah, I have no job now and that means no money but I refuse to settle. I know what I’m worth and I think that makes a huge difference.
It does make a huge difference Jamie – and I think that companies are starting to get that. They’re realizing that we aren’t willing to take ANYTHING that comes our way – knowing you’re worth and believing in it may mean turning down some opportunities even in times of desperation, but at the end of the day, you’ll know that you haven’t settled – and ultimately – you’ll end up where you want to be.
Matt – you are amazing. I think I had inklings that you had recently made major changes in your life, but didn’t realize how many all at once. Isn’t it crazy how when we get the guts to do something big, it gives us courage and crazy momentum in all these other areas too? I was grinning from ear-to-ear when I read this post – I am so happy for you, and it is awesome to see you taking such a big leap without having all of the answers in front of you. As my friend once told me, “Destiny rolls out the red carpet – you just have to take the first step.” Major kudos, and even though you don’t want this blog to turn into a journal, do keep us posted on everything. It’s inspiring!
Jenny – what can I say? Thanks so much for the kind words – I will definitely continue to share my story as it pans out, but not because my life is so interesting – rather because there are SO MANY other people our age going through the exact same things. It helps to be able to relate to someone else who’s ‘been there’. It’s crazy, scary, and totally awesome all at the same time – there are highs and lows, but I couldn’t be happier about where I am and where I’m heading.
I can relate to this post very much. During my college years I broke free from the norm and traveled as much as I could. It was an exciting time in my life filled with change and learning around every corner. I too took financial leaps of faith and broke free from the boundaries of my self-made bubble.
What I’d really like to point out is the effect this has had later in my life. An accident eight years ago when I was 22 resulted in my quadriplegia. Admittedly, like you, there were times of weakness but the experiences I had during my college years prepared me for such a drastic change. Instead of focusing on the past I looked to the future and saw change and learning around every corner. This was fun once before, what makes this time around any different.
Mark – your story is extremely inspiring – life has thrown a lot your way yet you haven’t stopped moving, stopped learning, or stopped growing, it’s a testament to your personal drive and perseverance. Traveling is something I wish I would have done more during college – and it’s something I still wish I could do today – hopefully in the not too distant future I can make that a reality and take yet another leap of faith in that direction. As you said, these life experiences are supposed to be fun – a repetitive never-ending kind of fun, no matter how hard it may seem. A positive and optimistic outlook can go a long, long way.
Matt thank you so much for sharing this! I know we were discussing this a little bit ago and haven’t had the chance to elaborate much, but I had a feeling we were on the same page. Sometimes fear and the unknown NEEDS to be the driving force in our life to find out what we’re made of.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about your story
Thanks Maggie – I’ll be sure to keep you and everyone else in the loop as the story unfolds. The unknown that lies ahead is one of the most terrifying obstacles we ever have to overcome, but the greater the obstacle, the more rewarding it is to overcome. Everything up until now is only the beginning – even though I look back and feel a little old, I’m constantly reminded about how much I have in front of me – I can’t wait!
Well, first, congratulations.
It sounds like you’ve had a whirlwind couple months and have found more than a job and a new home — seems like you’ve found a little bit more of yourself!
I think leaps of faith are incredibly bold and, while I can’t see myself taking one as big as yours any time soon, I have a huge amount of respect for people who do. The risks we take offer moments that define us and teach us new things about ourselves. Thank you for practicing what you preach and being a great role model for all recent grads looking to make a big move…and, really, for anyone at any age looking to make great changes in their life.
Good luck (and have fun!) digging into this next phase of your life!
Thanks for the well wishes Teresa – I have found out a LOT about myself in the past few months. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year that this is where I would be standing in August, I would have thought you were crazy. It’s amazing how fast things start moving when you gain a little momentum.
Am I a role model? I’m not so sure – but I will continue to lead by example, when I succeed and even when I stumble and fall – the best way to learn is to learn from one another.
Hey – I am 45 and going through the same thing! Creative people are going to always be looking for challenge and blank canvas to express their skills. Go for it and wish me luck on my changes as well.
Awesome blog post. Thanks for being so honest in sharing the psychological evolution that you went through to make your decisions. And congrats on listening to your inner-signals and going with what you felt was right. We often don’t do that enough. Life is all about experiences and often time people prevent themselves from experiencing all life has to offer because of fear. But the content of those experiences make up the quality of your life so why not just go for it and take the risk? You gotta take that risk…=)
It’s true – we often are afraid to follow what our heart tells us is best – but nine times out of 10, following your gut is the best thing to do. Fear is self-created, it’s there to hold us back, to lower our self esteem, to challenge our confidence and ability – those who are able to not ignore it, but use it as motivational fuel (tackling fuel for you Waterboy fans) will be most successful.
very insightful and thought provoking post. thank you. i applied this to my life and it gave me the nice little ‘hoorah!’ shove in the right direction as i prepare to take a leap of faith of my own.
I wish you luck as you look to take your own leap – I’m glad this post could give you a push in the right direction. Cheers!
I really love that you posted this, mostly because it’s always nice to know there are others out there who share the same views, experiences and philosophies in life. When I was 23, i too left a new career after one year with a corporate company where i spent day after day in a cubical. I left my small town, my world, the mental security of everyday being surrounded by all things familair. For me, I knew I had to test myself if i really wanted to face my fears and anexities and truly become the person I am meant to become. Leading up to the decision to move over 900 miles from the comfort of home, there were a lot of changes that took place in my family life and caused me to realize the impermanence of all things, change is inevitable and that life doesn’t really follow any plan blah blah, but I knew that if I wanted to venture out and change my environment I basically just had to do it. I realized there never is a right time, however, there can be a “too late”. I decided I had to put myself out there in every way emotionally, professionally, financially and just do it. I’ve had this motto since then, a quote i saw somewhere, “Jump … and develop your wings on the way down.” So I did and still am.
It will be 2 full years in November since i moved from a small town in MD to Tampa, FL. Everyday is a challenge, I question the decision at least once a week, the economy has only gotten worse, job interviews have been slim to none and i’m waitressing in order to pay off the college degree that hangs above my computer. But usually I realize how much I have grown as a person, i’ve overcome shyness issues and learned to tune out the internal critic that lives inside and creates self-doubt, i’ve learned not to worry and stress myself to death about things i have no control over, i’ve learned not to be so controlling and to be more carefree, to enjoy the little things like reading a good book, taking my dog to the beach, hugging my boyfriend after he’s been out of town working for weeks to support us, i’ve met people i never would have if I hadn’t moved and learned the value of good friendships. And most of all i’ve leanred that it’s not easy, life that is. Just because I made the decision to move doesn’t mean overnight all my hopes and dreams will miraculously come true. I have to keep learning, take one day at a time and work for my goals. Starting a new chapter is just that, it’s a start, you gotta fill in the pages after that and we all know any good story, any great character has to overcome A LOT of conflict before the resolution.
So would I change my spontanious choice to leave security behind in search of a new horizon …. nope.
Amber – thank you for sharing your story here. It’s a clear example of how much you accomplish when you start trying. My opinion? As long as your learning, your living – You only fail when you don’t try, when you tell yourself you can’t when you really can, when you let fear and doubt consume you. As long as your moving, whether it be baby steps or giant leaps of faith – as long as you keep moving forward you’ll never live the ‘what if?’ lifestyle. Thanks again – and I hope you’ll become a regular read here and share your insight and experiences in further conversations.
I liked this post! I agree that the “I can’t” complex and fear of failure so often hold us back from so many things we want to do. Every single day people talk about, “one day I want to…”–but why one day? Why not today? It’s definitely easier to hold yourself back, but sometimes just taking a leap can be so rewarding. We all need a little risk here and there.
The greater the risk the greater the reward – I can say that I’m a living testament of that as we speak. I quit my job, moved here with nothing lined up – and in the past two months I’ve settled into a new city, found an amazing job, signed the lease on my first place with my fiance – life is good – I’m a long way from home, and sometimes can’t believe I’m here doing what I’m doing – but I owe it all to my own ’screw it and just do it’ attitude. We all have that inside of us, but for some, letting it out is a hell of an obstacle to overcome.
Hey Matt, I felt like I was reading my own words for a minute there. I to am 23, I to quit my job in the middle of the recession and moved out to the north-end of Chicago with nothing but a suitcase and a backpack. I had this feeling that there is more to experience out there, but was being held back by fear of everything, of uncertainty. But I took a chance and went on an adventure. I stayed in Chicago for the summer and planned on staying there for a year or so, but an opportunity came up that would take me to NYC and that’s where I’ll be heading in just a few weeks. It’s something I think I would have never come across had I remained on auto-pilot, complacent with where I was career wise and personally. It took everything I had just to say, “OK, I don’t know what will happen, but it’s OK” I finally saw that sometimes you need to make opportunities instead of waiting for them. I just found your site and look forward to coming back for more. Good luck seems like the wrong thing to say here, because you’re out there making things happen. I will simply say to you, enjoy.
Hey Timoteo – first of all I have to say that I love your blog – very unique and love the picture/writing combination you have going on there – thanks for coming by and sharing your story here! It sounds like we are both making things happen – and that’s what life is all about, putting your foot forward, one step at a time, even when people are telling you not to. I will say good luck to you with your upcoming move – it sounds like you have the right attitude – and with that, I have no doubt you’ll find success. Cheers!
I love your blog, Matt! Why did it take me this long to find it? Not only can I relate to the topics you blog about, but your layout is so aesthetically pleasing, as well!
This post definitely caught my eye. As a 22-year-old going on 23 in a few months, I was surprised to see that we’re about the same age. You have this je ne sais quoi (sp?) about your writing that is so personable yet professional.
Anyway, this post somewhat reminds me of the movie ‘Yes Man’ with Jim Carrey. Although I’m not so much a fan of Mr. Carrey’s obnoxious humor, that humor didn’t play out so much in this movie. Instead, the story was all about taking chances and saying “Yes!” to every proposal to show how far you could go with a positive mindset. I see you as that ‘Yes Man’ now, taking the chance to move to Chicago without any promises to hold onto. Money (or the lack thereof) is definitely a huge excuse for me – and perhaps many others – not to follow through with my dreams, but even when I have good friends proposing cheap and free alternatives I still find myself shooting their proposals down.
Like you said, YOU are the only person holding yourself back. I have this post-it pinned to my corkboard that screams: “KEEP MOVING FORWARD!” It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that despite all the rejection and complacency I’ve endured as a recent graduate, I seriously need to get off my butt and conquer the world.
Cheryl
@CheElizaga
Hi Cheryl. I’m not sure why it took so long for you to find it – maybe i need to do a better job of getting the word out there? Regardless – I’m glad you did! I genuinely appreciate your kind words and accolades and I’m glad this post ‘hit home’ with you.
I can now look back on this and say that this leap of faith was all worth it – It was stressful, it was hard, it nearly broke me down – but here I am in a new city with a new job (which I love), about to move into my new place. It’s amazing how fast things move when you actually start moving. Living in Nashville, worrying about moving up here – seems like so long ago. This blog has been about much more than my personal journey – but it’s fulfilling for me to go back and read about my fears and doubts and how they motivated me to where I am today.
Thanks again – here’s wishing you well in conquering your own life, one step at a time!