Trying Something New
Trying something new can be scary.
I remember the first time I decided to become an entrepreneur. Honestly, I wasn’t looking to start a business. I was just trying to figure life out.
I had just broken up with my oldest daughter’s mom. We could go on and on about why it happened, but that’s a story for another day. At that point in my life, I was grieving.
If you’ve ever dealt with grief, you know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t always make you cry. Sometimes it just makes you numb. You wake up, go through the day, and you’re really just existing.
I’ve always believed in God. Even during that time, I knew He was in control. Looking back, I think that season actually strengthened my faith. It was like God started opening my eyes to things I would’ve overlooked before. I began noticing opportunities that didn’t seem like accidents anymore.
One of those opportunities came when I randomly ran into a friend from high school.
At the time, I was living in Atlanta. I’m originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina, so I didn’t have any family around. To make things even worse, my car had broken down.
She stopped to help me get everything straight with my car. While we were talking, she asked what I was doing for work and started telling me about the insurance business.
She explained that I’d be around other people who thought like entrepreneurs. I’d be meeting new people every day, knocking on doors, walking into businesses, and traveling around Georgia and South Carolina. Eventually, I got my insurance license in South Carolina and decided to give it a shot.
I’m not going to act like everything was perfect after that because it wasn’t.
I didn’t make as much money as I thought I would, and I ended up getting into some debt. If that’s all I looked at, I’d probably call it a failure.
But that’s not what I remember most.
What I remember is who I became.
Before that job, I made a lot of decisions based on how I felt. If I was nervous, I hesitated. If I was uncomfortable, I’d avoid it.
Insurance forced me to grow up.
Some mornings I had to knock on doors when I didn’t feel like it. Some days I heard “no” over and over again. I had to introduce myself to complete strangers, start conversations, and keep going even when my confidence wasn’t where I wanted it to be.
I realized something during that season.
Your feelings don’t always deserve the final vote.
Sometimes the best decision is still the best decision, even when it feels uncomfortable.
I also started reading. A lot.
Books on business, leadership, mindset, communication—anything I could get my hands on. I honestly feel like I learned more about life during those few years than I did through all my years in school.
That season didn’t make me rich.
It made me stronger.
It built my confidence, strengthened my faith, and taught me that growth usually comes from doing the things you’re afraid to do.
Looking back now, I’m thankful for that season.
Not because it was easy.
Because it changed me.
So if you’re standing in front of an opportunity that’s making you nervous, don’t automatically assume it’s the wrong path.
It might just be the thing God uses to grow you into the person you’re supposed to become.