Kimberly Adams Kimberly Adams

Leap and the Net Will Appear

Entrepreneurship is scary.

Even with a planned leap, the jump is still unsettling and a true test of one’s faith—in God and one’s self.

Every step I take into what I am now calling ‘the Deep’ makes me pause to ask myself for the hundredth time, “Kimberly, are you sure you can do this?” There was a moment of silence before choosing a new health insurance plan. It marked my transition from a company-paid group plan to my own little health plan for one. Not to mention the pregnant pause I took before withdrawing money from my savings account for October living expenses. The last day of the month, affectionately known as ‘payday’ for the last five years, came and went in September with no direct deposit from an employer. Cue: deep breathing.

A few months ago, I read the quote, “Leap and the net will appear,” in the book, The Artist’s Way. I remember scoffing at the time at just how ridiculous it sounded. Nobody has time for that. Not only do I want to see the net before I jump, but I also want to interview the weaver, research the supply chain, and test the knots for myself.

Despite or maybe because of my work in unstable, complex humanitarian environments over the years, I long for certainty, absolutes, and stability. One of the reasons I like waking up before dawn is the comfort I feel from the certitude and inevitability of the sunrise. Few things in life are guaranteed. The rising of the sun is at the top of a very short list.

Nonetheless, here I am, casting my net into the daunting world of entrepreneurship. I realize more clearly that even though I crave certainty, I have learned to thrive in its absence. I am energized by the amassed possibility in an unknown outcome. I’m relying on faith, focus, emotional intelligence, and hard work to tip the scales in my favor. Come what may, I have resolved to enjoy the journey.

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