Saying “YES” Can Change Your Trajectory

Have you ever thought of writing a book or being in a book? Do you know that saying “Yes” to an amazing opportunity could change your life forever? In this blog, I'm going to be sharing a little story from a client of mine who said “Yes” to an opportunity.

The opportunity

The opportunity was being in a collaborative book with me and other top thought leaders, experts, and dynamic women who are doing well in their industry or have a really cool story or experience to share.

Every year, I put out a Dynamic Women anthology or collaborative book, a compilation of stories that I've curated from amazing women. The first book was Dynamic Women® Success Secrets. All the women were sharing stories and secrets on success in whatever industry they're in, or whatever part of life they want to share from. 

Now, when I was working on the second book, the Dynamic Women® Confidence Secrets, I reached out to my authors to ask if they wanted to share the feelings they had in writing their piece or their experience in writing for the book. 

I really wanted to include some stories from these authors in one of my presentations coming up at a summit. 

The Response was so Touching

What I said in the post was, “I really want to feature and highlight some of you.  I'm also looking for authors who are appreciative of the opportunity to be in the book and how it has enhanced your life or helped you reach some success.” The response I got from one of the authors was just so very touching. 

One of the ladies said, “Hey, I really want to share because I thank you every day when I sit down to write my own book. My belief in myself and my ability to write has grown from that first seed planted by having the opportunity to share in the Dynamic Women Success Secrets book.”

That was such a rewarding message to receive. She said that she was going to send me a letter explaining this even further. And what was really cool was I didn't expect the extensive and deep response that I got.

Planting a seed

But first of all, I want you to think, have you had someone plant a seed, just kind of drop a little idea or a little nudge to get you going in that direction? 

Maybe you think you couldn't do it yourself. Maybe you're currently in that situation where you're thinking, “Oh my gosh, do I take the leap? Do I do it? Do I go for it?” ​

Her letter

Read her letter. Then, you can come up with your own answer of should if you do it or not. 

From Paula Kent:

“I had always dreamt of writing a book; I found joy in reading aloud when I was little. A secret activity allowing me to share in the words and to experience how my favourite authors pieced together the stories that captivated me.

I imagined I could join their ranks, to write a great story, but fear and my own self-doubt locked away my hopes. I pushed it down, not wanting to risk others telling me I couldn't do it, and to be honest, taking any step to bring my dream back into the light scared me. 

It was my choice to enter graduate school, which had me pull that dream out of hiding. While I was writing in an academic style, the action of thought generation and word choice dusted off the childhood dream, and I once again found that spark joy. Yet, I never polished that dream; it was enough to write for school. To go deeper into that dream never occurred to me, an unspoken and unrealized fear held me back.

It was an email that changed all that, one email inviting me to find out more, and participate in an anthology and share my success secrets. Thoughts rocketed around in my mind; success? Write? What? It was the idea that Diane thought I had something to share, more than any inner confidence that led me to attend that first information session. What I heard excited me; my dream of writing and of being an author, oh it grew legs and burst wide open. Just imagining that someone would read my words, it was an intoxicating pull. I joined, so happy to have received the opportunity… and then self- doubt arrived.

Self-doubt reigned, joined by fear; the gamut of emotions was intense, almost paralyzing me. But now that the dream was out in the open; I kept coming back to it. I would sit with my vision, thinking about writing and imagining how it would feel to hold a book in my hand. A book that contained my words, a small piece of my truth, and I knew that I had to write something or else that dream would disappear, and this time it might not come. That was my motivation – the fear of losing my dream again. As a child when we don't follow our dreams, they go to sleep, they will stick around and stay with us. As an adult, when the dream is staring at you, if you don't walk forward through your fears, it might just leave for good. That was my motivation. I couldn't risk losing my dream again.
​
So I wrote, too many words, many many iterations, and my computer trash grew. When it happen, when I found the idea which resonated, I didn't have to chase it; it flowed.
The day I picked up the Success Secrets was sunny and glorious, I cried tears of joy and of pride at what I had contributed. I also knew that I wanted to experience it again. My trajectory changed. I am living my dream - I am currently writing my first book.”

Wasn’t that amazing to read?! I might have shed a tear and my heart was bursting with pride and joy. Now, it’s your turn.

Questions to ask yourself

I ask you:

• What is it that you wanted to do as a child? 
• What was it that you wanted to do? 
• What was it that you really wanted for yourself? 
• What dream have you put aside, put on the backburner not cared about? 
• What if you went for it?
• What if you had an opportunity to do it?​

I don't usually share a letter from someone else. I don't share someone else's words. At least not to that extent, maybe just a quote or two.

But this woman, this author once and soon to be twice, she said “Yes”.

• She said “Yes” when presented with an opportunity.
  
• She said “Yes” to something, a burning desire, a dream that she had had. 
  
• She said “Yes” to something that she loved as a kid.
  

She didn't let that die. She didn't ignore it. She listened. And key thing, she took action.

I ask you to look at your life and think, “Am I saying YES to the deep things that I want or am I settling? Am I too afraid to go for what I want? Or are there people around me that could help me?”

All you need to do today is to say “Yes.” 

• Say “Yes” you'll explore it. 
  
• Say “Yes” you'll figure it out. 
  
• Say “Yes” you'll put one foot in front of the other. 
  
• Say “Yes” that you'll do one small task to get you closer to that dream. 
  

Just say yes and claim it. 

You're going to hear more of this woman. I know it. I'm seeing the growth that she's having. Paula Kent will have her book published in a few weeks.

If you want to say “Yes”

If you…also have a profound story of how you've said “Yes” to someone giving you an opportunity or said “Yes” to a seed that was planted.
If you…want to be able to say “Yes”.
If you…want to have clarity about what is it that you have to do. 
If you…want the confidence to know that you can take that next step.
If you…want to be able to get into action, real action, and be accountable and be able to move forward in an easy and efficient way…

Reach out to me at [email protected]. You may also check out author opportunities at my website if you want to learn more about how to easily be an author with my team’s help.

Just say yes and you never know where it may take you!

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