When It’s Time to Expand Your Plan
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at this for awhile, there comes a time when you know it’s time to expand your business, career, ministry – or vision.
Growing pains
One way I know it’s time for a change is when I start to get restless and antsy. What I’m doing just isn’t quite cutting it anymore. Maybe it’s something that you once enjoyed or maybe it’s something that was helping to pay the bills. But if you have this sense that there is more you need to be doing with your gifts, pay attention!
I’m fortunate that I know my mission and what I call my Divine Assignment. It involves using therapeutic drumming to help people focus, feel better, hit their goals, and find their joy. It also helps them heal. I’ve seen it happen many times. I’m also living proof.
Paying attention to this calling and accepting it took some time. But once I made the commitment, it was much easier to see what opportunities and activities I needed to avoid or eliminate. I recently decided to drop several things that were once fun but were becoming frustrating and stressful. That was the first sign that I needed to let them go…and get out of the box!
Letting go so you can set sail
Boats are really cool. But if they stay tied to the dock, they’re really not doing what they were designed to do: Sail!
Is it scary to let go of that rope? You bet! I just resigned from a part-time teaching position at a local music school – right before my husband’s layoff. It was taking up loads of time, at the expense of my mission, and it was becoming increasingly frustrating. I prayed that something would come to replace that lost income.
As soon as I handed in my resignation, I got a new client for my 3-month ADHD program. I also now have even more therapeutic drumming classes lined up for the fall. If that isn’t a confirmation to stay in my lane, I don’t know what is! My classes have been filling up so much, I needed to buy more drums! I have no idea how I’m going to fit them in my tiny clown car! It might be time to finally trade up to a bigger vehicle.
How do you know if you’re really ready? You get out of your own way and you move forward! It could be a small step or a big leap. It’s a lot like drumming: You start a steady beat and keep going! When you get comfortable, you add a few beats to make it interesting, people take notice, and things expand from there. Remember to surround yourself with positive and supportive people and pay it forward!
How about you? Have you ever taken a big leap? Are you thinking about it? Feel free to reach out or leave a comment!
Dori Staehle, MBA lives in the Raleigh, NC area and is the founder and CEO of Next Stage Drumming. She’s a drum therapist, percussionist, speaker, author, and an ADHD specialist with a different take on ADHD. She loves to share the joy and healing power of drumming with individuals, groups, and organizations! Dori has enough hand drums and percussion instruments for 50+ people. Her programs are personalized, science-based, and loads of fun!
