I was so honored by the response I got to our recent Creative Passion to Profit Speaker Series. So many of you told me you gained valuable knowledge that you would put to use to grow your business. You took lots of notes and were looking forward to taking your business to the next level. That was my goal, for you to find value and grow.

However, I was saddened by some of the emails I got from those who were not ready or willing to invest in their business, whether that was with me, someone else, or even their own pursuits. One person said that she just didn’t know enough and that is what her big takeaway from the calls was. She was discouraged and wanted to stop working on her art because the road to success was too long. She just had too much to learn. Another person wrote that she was just a beginner and was not ready to invest in her own growth. Someone else lamented the fact that others were so much further along and did not think she could catch up.

Whatever your reasons or excuses – they really are the same thing – at some point you have to take that chance – that leap – to grow your business. If you have faith that you’re following the right dream, that net will appear and catch you as you grow.

What I wanted to say to those who were discouraged about their path and wanted to wait to know more or to be better is:

1. Don’t put off your dreams. The time to start is now. You will never be further along the path by waiting.
2. Don’t consider others in the equation. Each of us is on our own journey, moving along the path at our own pace. Those people you are watching started just where you are at one time.
3. Take time to invest in your own growth, whether that is taking business classes, working with a coach, joining ICAP or creating your own networking group. You need support of some type.

Regardless, you need to take some action to build your business and to realize your dreams. The action will build confidence and you will be surprised how far you will go. When I think about putting off the growth, I think of this old Chinese proverb. It’s humorous, yet true.