Stepping into the Unknown: Evidence and Inspiration to Help You Take the Leap
Evidence that stepping outside of your comfort zone will make you look back and say “I’m so glad I did”.
I want to talk about taking risks—diving into the unknown, stepping out of your comfort zone, and making the hard decisions that most people steer clear of. Many of us want to try something different but give ourselves 100 reasons not to. Yes, you and I don’t want to fit into the box of “most people.” Yes, you—the one with that dream business idea you’ve always wanted to pursue. You—the one who wants to learn a skill outside of your wheelhouse and knows you can if you just prioritize it. You—the one who says, “I’ve always wanted to do that, but I don’t think I can.”
What if I told you that stepping out opens a door to stepping in? That behind the door, you’ll step into your untapped potential. I’m telling you this because I was you. I still am you. But I stepped outside when I had 1,000 reasons not to, and I’m so glad I did. So, I want to give you evidence of why it’s worth it. You can do it too, and it can lead to opportunities you would’ve never expected.
To make sh*t happen, teach yourself what you don’t know.
Whether you want to start a side business, learn a new skill, or change careers, many resources can help you do it. Today, we have access to so much free information, and we are capable of learning anything if we are truly persistent and committed. I’m talking about online courses, articles, webinars, workshops, blogs—just to name a few. And with social media, we have access to so much inspirational content that we can learn from. We can get inspired by others who are doing something similar, or learn what not to do by following their journey. That’s honestly one thing about social media that actually feels positive. I’ve attended so many webinars and workshops that I found through social media, and they have really helped me on my journey.
Here is what I did that brought me closer to my vision and goals.
Mindset and Perseverance
Have an open mind.
If you can’t figure it out, keep trying. Eventually, you will.
Learn from your mistakes and adapt.
Be consistent.
Learning and Education
Teach yourself what you don’t know.
Supplement what you don’t know through books, videos, articles, and simply trial-and-error.
Lean into what you do know.
Take an online course.
Networking and Community
Find people who have done what you want to do, and connect with them on a call.
Lean into your community and ask for advice/feedback on your ideas.
Lean into your network for insight on the topic or skill you want to learn.
Join a networking community of like-minded folks that you can learn from.
Practical Experience
Practice your skills on volunteer opportunities with friends/family (no pressure!).
Practice, practice, practice.
Put yourself and your work out there.
Utilize free resources (there are so many!).
How doing this led me to starting my own business.
To give a bit of context, I used to be a clothing designer. I quit my job in fashion because I was itching for a career shift, but I had no clue what I wanted to shift to. I studied design in undergrad, so I had a bit of a design foundation, which guided me when I became interested in exploring web and graphic design. Some of it just clicked for me, but most of what I learned felt entirely new. About eight months into my journey, I decided to start an LLC designing Squarespace websites for small businesses. I had zero experience. I don’t think I really knew what I was doing when I decided to launch. I just remember thinking, “Why not? I might actually be able to do this.” I was still learning how to design websites when I launched, but I was confident that I could figure it out along the way once paying clients started to like my work and pay me to do it.
Entrepreneurship has always been in my dream journal, but I never thought I was actually capable of doing it. Until I just did it. My journey has had a lot of unknowns. There are still many unknowns, but that’s also what brings me excitement (most days). I will also note that my partner currently plays a huge role in supporting my ability to launch a business. I would not be able to do it without him, as we still need to pay the bills. Most people start a business while working a full-time job and advise against quitting your job without a backup plan. If there is one thing I would do differently, it would have been to approach it with more of a financial plan, as making money doesn’t happen overnight.
At the beginning, I felt so much doubt, imposter syndrome, and lack of confidence—the list goes on. But I’m now a year into my business, and though progress is still slow, I’m so much more confident than I was. Why? Because of all the hours (and tears) I put into learning, trial and error, adapting, improving, and making mistakes. And I have zero regrets about leaping into the unknown. As I reflect over the last year and the mental side of things, I ask myself, “What did I do to get here, and how can I inspire others to do the same?”
So, what were the results of stepping into the unknown?
I learned that I can actually make things happen. Everything I listed is from my own experience. Have I done all of them well? Definitely not. Do I struggle putting myself out there even after getting validation? Yep, you betcha! This is all totally normal. It’s part of tapping into the “unknown territory” of your potential. It will not be perfect. It will be messy. It will be hard. You will feel like giving up some days. But I promise you, eventually you will figure it out.
Need evidence? Below is a list of everything I’ve learned over the last year:
How to design websites
How to use Squarespace
How to use Figma and what a wireframe is
Write and edit basic code
How to start a business, register an LLC, and apply for a business license
How to use a client relationship management software (Honeybook)
How to write proposals
How to create contracts
How to have a client inquiry call
How to use Notion
The different elements of a brand suite
How to file taxes, write-offs, and track expenses
How to build revenue goals
How to build a content calendar
The different types of marketing strategies
How to design a Shopify website
How to present my ideas to clients
How to handle price negotiations
How to sell myself with confidence
The basics of SEO
How to brief my clients and build a timeline
…..THE LIST GOES ON!
How to step into the unknown and where to even start.
The list I gave might feel like a lot, but remember, I did all of those things over the course of a year. My advice? Start small. Start simple. Start doing. And celebrate the small wins toward progress. This is the hardest part for me. I get so lost in what I need to do that I forget to recognize what I’ve already done that has brought me closer to my goals.
Here is where I suggest you start:
Identify your goal and put it on paper.
Find people who are doing what you want to do or achieve, and connect with them for a coffee chat.
Do your research. Start adding resources, links, and anything that you could learn from to a Google Sheet.
Set aside a few hours a week for learning time. Revisit and read through the resources you found.
Put your learnings into action. Practice. Practice. Practice.
If you follow the steps above, you will be that much closer to your goal. It can feel overwhelming at first, especially getting started. But once you start, you’ve passed the hardest part! The key is to keep learning and to take action. If that means only a few hours a week, that’s more than you were doing before. So celebrate that.
All you need to do is start one thing. That alone pushes you out of your comfort zone. Then do another, and another. Before you know it, you’ve learned a ton. You’ll ask yourself, “How on earth did I get here?”.
Believe in yourself. Keep going. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.
