When you've gotta let go and crow, what do you do?
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Greetings!
If you were a child during the 50's like I was, you may remember watching Mary Martin as Peter Pan, triumphantly singing to Wendy Darling:
"When I discover the cleverness of a remarkable me,
How can I hide it
When deep down inside, it just tickles me so
That I've gotta let go and crow!" *
(lyrics by Carolyn Leigh)
That's exactly how I felt as my own dream took shape in my heart. I couldn't wait to share my ideas about creating a forum where women in their late 40s and beyond could let go and crow about pursuing and realizing their dreams.
So I let go and crowed to everyone. With decidedly mixed results.
Someone who placed a premium on security was likely to respond: "What are
you thinking of?" or "How can you afford to take the chance?" or even
"Is this really a good time to be launching a business?" On the other hand, if someone was already pursuing her own goals or open
to taking risks, she was more likely to give me an enthusiastic "Go for it,
girl!"
It took me a while to realize that the worriers were responding out of concern and love. They wanted to protect me from failure and disappointment. They wanted me to be safe and secure. Taking a risk doesn't work that way, though. Anything can happen. When we set off on our path, we need to accept that as part of the quest, trusting that what we may first see as a misadventure or a step backwards instead leads us to flashes of insight and spurts of creativity.
The next time someone questions you about your dream, ask yourself this: Does dealing with this move me forward on my path? Or does it sap my confidence and stop me from making progress? So, when you've gotta let go and crow (and we all do!), this is what I've learned.
1) Steer clear of naysayers who sap your confidence.
2) Seek out others on their own journeys who boost your confidence.
As our November Quest Maker Harriet Carroll observes from her own experience, "spend time with people who understand the path you're passionate about, who believe
it's the right path for you, who ask how they can help you
move along on your path."
Shall we channel Mary Martin as Peter Pan (I'm sorry but Mary Martin, and not the Disney version, IS Peter Pan to me) with a tweak of our own?
Don't hide the cleverness of a remarkable you from those who will be as tickled as you are deep down inside that you are on the way to where you want
to be. With them and with me? Crow away! "Er, er, er, er, er!"
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Interview with Quest Maker Harriet Carroll
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What do you get when you mix a passion for London and a love for travel planning with losing your job at age 52? A happy confluence of events and Harriet Carroll's quest called Harriet's London Club. As "a concierge on the ground," Harriet plans highly personalized trips to London for women travelers based on their desires and interests.
At what point in your life did you decide to embark on your quest?
It started when I was in my early 50's. You see, I had always loved to travel and had been a travel agent for about 15 years. Now that my kids were grown and I found myself with 5 weeks vacation every year, I decided to develop a little side business. Every year I'd use two weeks of my vacation to take small groups of family and friends on trips to London.
Then in 2006, the call center where I was a trainer closed and I was out of a job. That freed me to explore what I really wanted to do with my life: start a travel business. Except, I had a problem. I was good at planning trips and not good at running a business. In my visits to the unemployment office, one of the counselors told me: "All you talk about is travel, travel, travel. Do I have the class for you!"
The class was an entrepreneurial training program that involved 10 weeks in the classroom and an additional 10 weeks in a mentoring program. I left with the tools, the knowledge and the confidence to get Harriet's London Club going.
I take between 4-8 women on a trip. No two trips are ever the same. Ahead of time I get together with the women travelers who are going on the trip. We talk about their desires and interests beforehand and I learn what they'd like to do or visit. Then I can crystallize the trip they desire.
What is the one essential quality that you'd tell women to pack for their own journey?
It's essential not to listen to negative people or those who ask: "Can you really make a living doing that?" Or, "When are you going to get a regular job with benefits?"
It's essential to spend time with people who understand the path you're passionate about, who believe it's the right path for you, who offer "is there anything I can do to move you along on your path?"
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Month's Journal Sparker
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 "When setting out on a journey, never consult someone who has never left home."
Rumi
Harriet learned, as other questers have, that it's essential not to listen to negative people. Many times, those who are the most negative have never ventured beyond the safe and secure. They don't know that every quest has its dips and rises, its winding turns as well its wide open spaces. This month's Journal Sparker deals with this. We've also created a cover sheet if you would
like to begin a binder for your Journal Sparkers. |
| Do you know a Quest Maker, a woman who has realized her dream?
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Do you know a woman in her 40s or beyond who declared "now it's my
time," and realized her dream, just like Hilary Cooper-Kenny has done? Perhaps she's a friend, a family member, an
acquaintance. Perhaps it's you! If she or you would like to considered for an upcoming Quest Maker column in the Chronicles, please send me an email with a brief description and the best way to reach her.
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| Need an idea spark to ignite your own quest?
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Have you decided that now it's your time to claim your own realm and undertake your own voyage of discovery? Except you're not exactly sure how (or even where) to start?You may need an Idea Sparker to help you figure it out. That's where I can help. Learn more about me at www.yournextquest.com.Take the next step with a free 15-minute consultation with me. We'll talk about where you are now and where you want to be and how I can help you get there.
Learn more about how I can help you at www.yournextquest.com. Start your journey now by contacting me at info@yournextquest.com or by calling me at 781.583.7185.Together, we can start you on the journey to where you want to be!
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