I remember the sweltering Indiana heat beaming through my windshield. Sweat droplets were forming an orderly little line down the middle of my back, one right after another. Except this time it wasn’t just summer sweat, it was nervous sweat too.
I was about to do something I’d never done.
I had sat in countless trainings, hearing success stories others shared when they finally decided to do the thing they had been dreading…and procrastinating. I had watched too many others move the needle on their success journeys with pangs of jealousy in my heart and closeted recognition of the false obstacles in my way.
I was done being a listener in those audiences and ready for my turn as the storyteller, but I first needed to do the work. And honestly, I knew exactly what the work was, I had for a long time, I just hadn’t done it.
As I sat in that car, fear-filled about taking my next action, I heard my own voice. It was outside of myself, a Morgan Freeman-like narration, with step-by-step instructions.
“Halle, turn off the car.”
Sounded like a necessary first step, so I did.
“Take the keys out of the ignition.”
Ok, good idea.
“Open the car door”
Yep, I’ll do that too.
It was like this for the next three minutes, step-by-step instructing me out of the car and into the building to talk to that first person. Those pivotal three minutes dripped along, slower than molasses in January, but all I could do was obey. The future I so desperately wanted was on the other side.
This was the moment I showed up as both my own mentor and the terrified yet willing student. This was the pivotal scene that set up the next 13 years of my career. This is where I coached myself beyond my edge.
edge - where you reach the end of your familiar patterns, habits, and comfort zone and have a new thought or action that transforms you from the inside out
I faced many edges before this moment and more since, but this moment was so vividly unique. Some edges are more terrifying than others. Some are sudden and abrupt, while others have a long, slow runway. However they present, there will be a moment (or if you’re lucky, moments) where it’s critical to engage and take flight.
This is the work I am now privileged to do! I help clients find their edge and then grow beyond it. Together they muster courage and develop into the next evolution of themselves.
What’s an edge you’ve faced or are facing? I'd love to hear your story, just hit reply to share
Halle
ps…If you’re feeling stagnant, overwhelmed, or simply don’t have energy to explore your edges on your own, I’d be happy to set aside some time to give you the experience of a coaching conversation.
pss…if you’re not yet following me over on Insta, click here to do so!
Plus a few other links of interest:
1. TIMEOUT, a 2-day private coaching retreat! Travel to the resort town of Traverse City, Michigan for an escape from distractions to clearly think, regroup, prioritize, and plan.
2. Could your team benefit from upgrading their leadership? Inquire about Leadership Essentials Academy, a 6-month leadership training & coaching cohort for new and emerging leaders.
3. Time for a new journal? Pick up a new copy of my Know Thyself Journal for daily support towards your most important intentions for the next 90 days.
4. Are you into individual assessments? Here is a link to take a free Core Values Assessment (CVI). It only takes 10 minutes and measures your innate, unchanging nature. Take it yourself and feel free to forward it to a friend, too.