New changes in life always involve a risk and a great belief in yourself. What has been and continues to be helpful to me in such situations is to take the time to think about those who have taken great risks in their life and who ultimately reached their dreams through perseverance and not letting failures or losses hold them down for long.
Some great people come to mind. For example, J.K. Rowling's work was rejected several times (I don't know the exact number) before her work was accepted. She lived in poverty with children. Abraham Lincoln has a long list of failures before he successfully won the presidential election. Donald Trump was in debt for millions of dollars at one point in his life, but he rebounded greatly as is enjoying multi-billionaire status today.
While not everyone must go through such extreme failure and success stories to enjoy success in life, I do believe that without great risks, you often do not open yourself to great rewards.
Right now I am starting a new job. It is a straight sales commission job that I am terrified about. The first day of training was inadequate to say the least, and the second day I was on my own. I only sold one item for the five and a half hours I was there. Granted my boss said there was no pressure to sell anything given it was my second day and that I had had next to no training, but still I know that in sales there's always impending pressure and you cannot go long without selling anything.
Part of me wants to give up and part of me wants to try anyway, just to prove something to myself. While its long hours right now, more than they originally advertised to me (only 30 hours a week, they said due to the holidays), I want to try a position where I am getting paid for my own skills. While an office job that pays you the same amount regardless of your job performance from a day-to-day basis, I have never tried anything like what my sales rep position offers me now and well, I just feel something inside of me wants to rise to the challenge.
I spoke to another sales lady working in the next door booth to me my second day. She is working on commission as well. She said that she hated her job the first two days that she worked. Funny how this gives a person comfort. And, then she said she's had incredible sales days.
I am terrified. I used to be too proud to admit this about myself. I would always say I can do anything, piece of cake. And while this confidence is important to have, it is also important to recognize when you are frightened about something. I think it gives you the opportunity to really prepare yourself for any new endeavor you are about to step into.
Continuing with this position might be another life lesson I need to go through right now, something I need to get out of my system. Even as I write this, I think this might be very true because I have another part of myself that is also pulling at me. One that entails more life changing decisions and I think part of the reason I feel the need to stay where I am at right now is that I need some sense of stability in my life right now. There have been one too many drastic and traumatic changes recently that my spirit just needs a break, I believe.
So for now, until I am completely sure of my next move I am sticking with this new position. For now it offers me an incredibly challenging and completely different experience in the working field. It is opening my mind and eyes to a whole new world, one that exists outside the typical 9 to 5pm job and is giving me the chance to see what I'm truly made of under pressure; in a situation where you truly are on your own to bring home your paycheck.
So now I know I am going forward with this position:
You must check your ego at the door, you must become a sponge, you must realize that you are only human and be kind to yourself when you make mistakes. You must know that you are where you are for a reason.
If I fail or if I succeed, this experience is something I feel I need right now. In the past, I used to be afraid to tell someone I failed, but now, I know in my heart that if I do, I won't feel ashamed. I will feel good that I even tried at all. It takes courage, strength, and belief in yourself to try something so completely different than anything you've ever done before. Some people dream their whole life of working up the courage to do such a thing. I have taken the leap. I have taken the risk and this makes me feel completely alive. Wish me luck.
Best wishes and blessings to all.
