In order for a bird to take flight, it needs to generate enough airflow across the wing. Taking off is one of the most energetically demanding aspects of flight, so in order to make it easier, the bird always faces the wind. Smaller birds can hop up, begin flapping their wings and with the help of a little wind, off they go. Larger birds need to get a running start first before they, too, are soaring into the sky. The stronger the wind, the easier it is for the bird to take off.
The bird prefers a strong wind to its face. I would have thought the opposite, but if the bird were to try to take off with its back to the wind, it wouldn’t be able to control the lift and would risk crashing straight into the ground or wherever the wind decided to take it.
I’ve just recently realized that I have been standing with my back to the wind for my whole professional career. Everything, from graduating with an accounting degree in the early 1990’s, to becoming certified as a CPA and CMA, to moving up the “corporate ladder” as Controller, then Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and finally as a high level executive, I have accomplished while standing with my back to the wind.
I didn’t realize my back was to the wind because over that 23 year period, I have been succeeding and growing as I have been promoted higher and higher. But I’m still on the ground.
The reason is now very clear to me.
My back is to the wind, and that wind has gotten stronger as my responsibilities have mounted: my marriage, my three children--one of whom is in college and the second one is close to starting--bills to pay, a mortgage and a six-figure salary that makes my life comfortable.
When I first began my career, that wind was a warm breeze on a spring day, a mere zephyr. Now it feels like a dark and cloudy fall day with a frigid, gale force blowing.
All the more reason to keep my back to it. Right?
But if I want to take flight...if I want to get out of the 9 to 5 mentality...if I want to use my most unique God-given talent and make the greatest impact on the world...if I want to get the opportunity to make far more than I can today to ensure my family will be taken care of, even after I’m gone...if I want to take flight, there’s only one way to do it, I need to turn around and face the wind.
I need to give up my six-figure income, I need to stop worrying about the mortgage and the other bills, and I need to trust my instincts and pursue building a company around my unique talent: my ability to turn around struggling small businesses, helping them overcome their cash flow problems and bringing them to the next level of growth and profitability.
I need to break free from the fear that I will fail, I need to embrace my unique talent which combines my accounting background with my love for operations, team mentoring, process and goals.
I need to realize that there’s nothing more for me here and it’s time to go.
I’ve surrounded myself with successful entrepreneurs who have taken flight and are soaring high -- they’re not that different from me. All this time as I watch them fly high into the clouds, I think to myself, “If they can do it, so can I -- I know I can!” But I keep looking up, wondering why am I not soaring with them.
Now I realize why.
All this time, fear of failure has held me back. My back is to the wind.
Is your back to the wind too? Perhaps you are in the same position I am. Do you wonder why you haven’t accomplished more; are you fearful of what you may lose? Are you also so comfortable that it’s just easier to stand there, like me, with your back to the wind? That “wind” doesn’t have to be job-related either. Perhaps your wind is related to a struggle with a family member but instead of dealing with the problem, you find it’s easier to have your back to the wind and not talk about it, only making matters worse. Or maybe your wind is health-related -- you want to lose weight, but it’s far easier to just come home from a busy day, sit in front of the television or computer and eat. Perhaps your wind is related to your increasing debt, but instead of talking to experts to create the plan to pay it off, you watch the debt grow.
My suggestion to you is simple. Face your fear, think worst-case scenario if you do turn around and face that wind. In my case, the worst-case scenario is my consulting business fails and I am forced to get another 9 to 5 executive job as a CFO, COO or President. That’s not the end of the world. So even if I fail, even if I land, I will do it just like a bird; I will land into the wind and this time I will remain facing it. I will not turn my back to it -- I will be ready to take off again! I encourage you to do the same. Once you are comfortable with the worst-case outcome, tell everyone you trust that you are making a change, that you are “turning around and facing the wind.” You will be pleased to find out that they will give you the support and confidence you need to go through with it.
It’s uncomfortable and painful to face the wind, but without doing it, you will not grow, you will not be the best you can be, you will not utilize your unique talent the way that you were meant to use it. Anything of real value is going to be uncomfortable; heck, birth is uncomfortable, but that certainly has value.
Think worst-case scenario and begin preparing yourself for that moment when you do turn around. It’s important because when you don’t take matters into your own hands, sometimes other people do and you get pushed right over the cliff. If you’re prepared for that by thinking worst-case scenario, you can react like an eagle, face down toward the ground, create your own wind, spread your wings and soar to the sky!
I have decided to pursue my consulting career and leaving my comfortable executive job in August. I have finally turned around, I’m facing the fear, I’m facing the cold, hard wind (which doesn’t seem nearly as cold as I expected) and, like a very large bird, I’m beginning to run as fast as I can, straight into it!
I’m spreading my wings and using that strong wind to lift me up toward the sky, and I plan on rising until I break through those dark clouds and experience that undeniable truth that the sky is always blue and the sun is always shining!
Wish me luck! I hope you have a great day, I know I’m going to!