Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. - Andre Gide
About a month ago I left full time employment to follow a long-cherished dream of mine – owning my own company. I had planned well for the big leap, both mentally and financially, yet at some point the inevitable nerves crept in. What if the money I saved runs out before my business really takes off? I began wondering if I should find a 3-6 month contract position to tide me over the initial stage of my startup venture, while I secured some more clients.
I put my CV out in the market, and as expected, I received many calls for interviews. But then something I did not expect started happening. I started telling interviewers about the reason that I left my previous company and the first thing that they all asked is: “Why am I looking for employment if I am starting my own company?” It took a few interviews before I gained that clarity that doing both at the same time was simply not an option. As tempting and logical as the idea seemed, I needed to choose. Do I want to grow my company, or do I want to grow someone else’s? I cannot have both. And therein was the bitter pill that I had to swallow. Growing my company would not be easy and neither would I have an infinite stream of income to secure me while I made a go of it. But, I would have to let go of everything that I know and travel into the unknown waters of new oceans if I was to ever know success. And with this I thought about all the explorers through history that left the homes they knew - their families, friends, a known way of life, all in search of something better – a better life, a new prosperity. Christopher Columbus, Jan van Riebeeck, Vasco da Gama, Captain John Cook and many others. My own grandparents had even embarked on this journey, travelling from India to create a new life in South Africa. For many the journey was not easy. Some even lost their lives travelling the uncharted waters of new oceans. But there were those that made it. And for them began a new life in a new country. Slowly but surely upon reaching their destination, they built their lives and their families. I look at my gran-in-law now, at the wise old age of 84 and I can only imagine the pride and joy and sense of accomplishment she must feel looking at her grandchildren and great grandchildren, knowing that she had accomplished what she had set out to achieve on that journey all those years ago. And with this realisation I vowed to let go of all that is familiar to me and all the comforts and security of a known path and regular salary, in favour of travelling the dangerous and choppy but vastly open and free waters of the open ocean. And yes, while this journey will most certainly come with its challenges, the reward of discovering new possibilities will most certainly be worth it, when I myself one day at the age of 84, will also look back with a sense of pride and accomplishment at all I have achieved!
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Meera JeramI am passionate about helping people and organisations to achieve excellence by inspiring, empowering and enabling them to achieve their goals. ArchivesCategories
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