Is it the right time?

New opportunities, experiences, and change comes flying at you everyday when you are in business. Some of these you've already experienced and good or bad you have a strong sense of whether or not to become involved again with a certain type of project or prospect.  Then every so often something comes your way that you have been hoping for. It is an experience or opportunity that you have been dreaming of doing or taking part of and you know in  your heart you just can't pass it up!


When I was in business school, my dream was to be quoted in the Wall Street Journal. Once it had happened I knew in my heart I would truly have been successful.  Funny thing is I ended up being quoted for a law signed by President Bush and how it was going to negatively impact my business.  Well so maybe our dreams don't always turn out to be what we expect but don't dismiss them so quick. Every experience is and opportunity in life for growth or to decide to stay where you are for a little bit longer.

How do you decide if it is the right time to take on a new risk?  I've always followed my gut instinct and my heart but last week in Cancun I had an experience where I had to push past what I thought my gut was telling me and I am so glad I did.  I came face to face with fear and thankfully there was someone there to literally pull me through it to the other side.  Life tends to bring you what you need exactly when you need it - just keep your eyes and mind open to the possibility.

I am a risk taker in business. I have no problem saying yes to new opportunity and prospects.  I tend to jump before I look and I have faith that everything will eventually turn out as it is supposed to be.  When Diana asked me to go to Mexico with six other women I said YES!  In my mind I pictured a long overdue break that alternated between lying poolside and by the beach. Perfect!  Then Diana came back from a Scuba Dive and literally jumped on my lounge chair and made me promise I would dive.  NO, NO, NO I told her. It didn't fit my agenda of lying, sleeping, reading, and being in a pure "lizard" state of mind in the sun.  Then something in my gut said "why not".

My experience started in the Resort pool with my instructor Daniel for a quick try to see if I liked it.  It went well and I felt okay about the experience. I would have to do it again in the pool the next day to learn more of the basics and gain a knowledge of how it would work in the open ocean.  I was joined by a brother and sister from New York who were in their early twenties.  Not that I feel old but it made me realize that if there is something in life you want to do don't keep putting it off to when you have more time or are in a better place.

After the hour long pool lesson we had a lunch break and then met back to take a taxi to the park for our dive.  I was very calm during the taxi and boat ride out to the dive site.  Cancun is beautiful and there is so much to look at in every direction.  Then the boat stopped and Daniel said we were going in the water first.  We sat on the deck at the back of the boat with our flippers, mask and tank and suddenly I started to freeze.  My body became tense and my heart began to race.  My mind began flooding with a million what ifs and suddenly my gut was screaming don't do this, don't take this risk, you don't want to go here.  Daniel motioned for me to jump into the water and I did but I had already made the decision I was going to somehow stay on the boat while the others dove.

My two new friends were already down at the bottom holding onto the guide rope and Daniel motioned to me to put the respirator in my mouth and start descending.  I couldn't move.  He handed it to me and I put it in my mouth but couldn't breathe. There was a lump of fear in my throat and no matter how deeply I took in air from my tank it wouldn't push past the fear.  I turned and started swimming back to the boat but felt a hand tugging me back.  I tried to pull away but had become weak from the fear I was experiencing.  Daniel tugged at my arm until I was facing him and he motioned for me to look at his eyes. We were floating in the water and he took a huge breath from his tank and told me to do the same as he kept looking at me. Somehow I was able to do it. One breath after another floating at the surface and without me knowing it he was slowly deflating my vest and I went under the water.  It seemed to take forever to reach the bottom and join the other two even though it was only 20 feet.  I had to keep stopping to blow air through my nose to pop my ears from the pressure.  Daniel never let go of my hand or took his eyes away from mine.  It felt like he was descending for me.

At the bottom, I had finally pushed through my fear and realized that I had just literally been guided into a brand new world that I had never experienced before by a total stranger who spoke English as a second language but had communicated with no words at all. This stranger had taken me through a major lesson of trust without saying one word to me.  He held my hand at the bottom as we swam over coral looking at fish and creatures but soon into the dive my independence took back control and left his side to swim by myself  and have the experience of being alone under the water with the sea life and current moving back and forth pushing and pulling me at the same time. My gut had told me not to  take the risk but my heart was overjoyed that someone was there to guide me through it and open up a whole new world that I would have never experienced on the boat sitting with the captain.


My advice to you whether you are wondering if it is the right time for a new opportunity in business or life, when in doubt open your eyes and look around.  If you are meant to have the experience someone or something will be there to guide you.  Don't let fear be the deciding factor as you are becoming who you were always meant to be.