STOP HIDING! It's Time to be Brave

"What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?" (E.H.)

My sister (right) and I on my grandmother's veranda in our home country of Jamaica.

I have always been an independent person. As the oldest of six children, I was self directed, always knew what I wanted and was apt at figuring out how to make something out of nothing.  For the last year I have been steadily building my business on my own.  I refused to get a business coach because I felt I did not need to waste my hard earned money paying someone else to tell me what I already know.  After all, I have a Masters Degree, I am a Certified Public Manager (CPM), I am relatively smart and I have a strong strategic mind.  Phooey! I was smart and educated enough to coach myself.

Wowser! Was I wrong!

Almost 90 days ago, I decided to suck it up, be brave and get some help. I dragged my feet for a while (a long while), but finally selected a business coach. My life has  not been the same since! After hearing about all my personal, professional and business accomplishments, my coach asked me, "Rachel, why are you hiding?" I replied, "Huh? Wait...what?! I am not hiding!" She didn't back down (what a brave soul).  I mulled over her question for a while.  Was I hiding? If so, what could I be hiding from? I mean, I have always considered myself to be a go getter, resilient and persistent.  You can't hide and be all that, right? Apparently, you can!

So, what was I hiding from? Who was I hiding from? Why was I hiding? Well, I was hiding from my FULL potential. Yes, I had accomplishments but they were limited. I was afraid to maximize my God given potential. I was hiding from criticism. I was hiding from people's opinions. I was hiding from making someone else jealous because of my hard work paying off. I was hiding from shining too bright. I was hiding from my past. I was hiding from recognition. I was hiding as far back in the dark as I could.

Matter of fact, I realized that I spent so many years hiding that I forgot I was even hiding. Hiding became a secure blanket for me. Warmth in the winter. Shade in the summer. Hiding allowed to me take limited risks. Hiding allowed me to feel secure and safe.  Hiding chipped away, year after year, at my potential.

Ninety days later, I am beginning to come out of hiding. I am transforming my company and am preparing to launch a new product that will propel me to a new level of business development. I have stepped out of the dark and am embracing my recent accomplishment: being named on of Maryland's Top 100 Women! Yahoo! 

I am coming out of hiding to proclaim to the world, loud and clear, who I am: I am a servant leader purposed to coach and mentor others so they can discover and walk in their full God given potential.

Ironic, huh?

If you are reading this, ask yourself: Am I hiding? What am I hiding from? What brave step do I need to take to move from out the shadows and into the light? What God given gifts have I buried because of fear? Why am I keeping the light of my purpose hidden under the proverbial bushel?

Join me in my 2015 quest to be brave! It's time for us to stop hiding!

---