I JUMPED! TWICE. Episode 10

Hey Finishers!

Guess what I did? I didn’t wait. I didn't overthink it. I simply let go of the rail, flexed my faith muscle, and JUMPED.

When I say, “I jumped,” I mean I took action before I felt completely ready. I didn't wait for the nervousness to disappear, for every question to be answered, or for everything to feel comfortable. I made the decision to move forward despite the uncertainty—and trusted that I would learn and adjust along the way.

I applied all that I have been sharing with you over the last two months and bravely put it into this one moment.

What am I talking about? Substitute teaching. Yes, you read that right. I am now a substitute teacher, which was nowhere on my radar. And when I say nowhere, I mean nowhere! It wasn't something I had considered AT ALL.

“So, how did I go from not even thinking about it to standing in a classroom?

It was during a friendly conversation with my neighbor Saundra, who mentioned substitute teaching as an area of interest for herself. Then she casually said to me, "You should do it."

Those four simple words introduced a plot twist I didn't see coming. With little warning and short notice, I was moving in a direction I had NOT planned for, but I believed might have been planned for me.

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What started as a simple conversation quickly turned into a series of steps —and before I knew it, I had completed the application process, background check, fingerprinting, and credential verification. Then it became official, I was in the system and ready for an assignment.

The SAME DAY I gained access to the system, I mistakenly selected an assignment to substitute for first graders the VERY NEXT DAY!

The plan was to wait at least a week to give myself time to adjust and plan my new schedule. But thanks to a slip of the finger, I had jumped before I even realized I was jumping! I took action in the uncomfortable.

I'm sure I could have gone back into the system and deselected the assignment. Instead, I thought, "Let's just go with it!"

Despite all the questions in my head.

Am I ready?

What if this is harder than I thought?

Should I wait a little longer?

The same questions that show up when you’re starting a business, beginning a new role, moving to a new city, launching a project, or pursuing something you’ve never done before.

Remember the episode, It All Started When? Nothing grows until YOU start.

The business can’t develop until you begin building it. The book can’t get written until you put words on the page. The idea can’t become a reality until you take action. And you don’t discover what you’re capable of accomplishing by remaining in the same place because you’re afraid of the uncertainty.

Starting is part of development!

Despite all the emotions and feelings of being unprepared, I am soooo grateful that I went ahead and jumped. And since I was already out there, I decided to take another jump two days later—this time at a high school!

Jumping from first grade to high school? That is what you call a leap!

The same feelings I had walking into a first-grade classroom for the first time were the same when I stepped into a high school classroom for the first time. The uncertainty, lack of preparation and lack of training was a lil unnerving. But I was willing to flex my faith, move forward —and trusted that I would learn and adjust along the way.

I now have lessons learned that I can apply to future assignments.

In project management, lessons learned means reflecting to identify what worked, what didn’t, and what you can apply to future projects. My substitute-teaching experience reminded me that taking action—even when I don’t feel completely ready—creates opportunities to learn, adjust, and grow that I would miss if I never started.

You may not know everything on DAY ONE. You may have to ask questions, make adjustments, learn new skills, and figure out a few things along the way.

So, what do you say? Are you ready for a plot twist?

Reply. I want to hear from you!  What have you jumped into? What's your next courageous move? 

Start it. Flex your faith. Develop along the way.

Until next time, I will be praying yours, and I hope you are praying mine.

See you at the finish line.

Tammy D,

Your Project Manager

Project Finish It™ 

Believe It. Build It. Finish It.     

LESSONS LEARNED

1. Engagement matters. Simple conversations can open the door to new opportunities.

2. New opportunities are like walking on water: unstable, uncomfortable, and unnerving. Trust that Jesus is with you in the jump.

3. You won't always feel ready to jump. If you wait for everything to feel right and for you to feel ready, you may never jump.

4. A delayed start means delayed growth. The sooner you start, the sooner you grow.

5. Be ready for plot twists.