Are you a female entrepreneur ready to soar and live a life of freedom? Read more about Amy Pocsik and Bold Moves here.
I jolted awake. Something in the faint white noise of my corporate office woke me; I was daydreaming again, of a version of myself that felt bold and aligned. She was wearing bright colors. Bursting with vibrant ideas. Traveling. Modeling in photoshoots. Leading conferences. And… was she speaking on stage?
Sigh. No, I was back at a desk that looked like everyone else’s. At my stable, well-paying, prestigious executive accounting job. That bold vision of myself was indulgent, unreasonable and unreachable.
Why wasn’t I satisfied? I was using my degrees. I’d worked my way up at a male-dominated, top accounting firm. Then landed an executive position managing a $40 million budget and leading a team of hundreds. I was told the long hours and life sacrifices were worth it—my sights were set on promotions, awards and finally seeing the view from where my mentors stood. I would be crazy to give up a six-figure salary and stability.
Then my world got rocked.
I finally met one of my corporate heroes who, in my eyes, had “made it.” If anyone was bold, free and shaping the world, it would be her. She had done everything right! If I could get to her level, I could be doing meaningful work, living life on my terms and helping others do the same. I arrived at the meeting expecting to see a woman glowing, standing in her power and ready to inspire.
She was miserable. The systems she sacrificed herself to had become a cage, with her “golden handcuffs” becoming heavier every day. She said all the right things, but the light had faded from her eyes. I got the sense that she had resigned herself to this life, that it was too late to get off the ladder—even if she wanted to. And, boy, did she seem to want to.
Had she also dreamed of a version of herself who was bold, free—a vision that was just around the corner, if only she did all the right things? What would happen to me if I kept waiting for someone else to give me permission to chase my dreams?
The idea marinated in my head for years while I continued to work long hours, stuck in corporate drudgery. Could I do this? I wondered.
The light flickered and wavered—there were some days when I doubted that I could ever leave the comfort of a steady paycheck for the uncertainty of going out on my own. And there were days when it was a raging fire within me, a mandate to leave and pursue my dreams. The vision of my future self remained, pulling at me to move forward.
“Make a bold move,” the vision said.
Eventually, I marched into my boss’s office and quit. I told him why. “What if it doesn’t work out?” he asked. Strengthened with the collective resolve of every woman who’s ever been doubted, I declared, “I’ll figure it out.”
And I did. With that, I took the first steps into a life of making bold moves. I became a mortgage broker, then co-founded a national women’s networking group from the ground up, fueled by the incredible potential I saw all around me. Every time I was told “You can’t,” I answered with “I’ll figure it out.”
Since leading the Women’s Business League, I have met countless women with big dreams who needed direction and permission to embody the role of CEO. For them, I founded Bold Moves, an educational and inspirational platform for female entrepreneurs who want to unlock their full potential, realize their dreams and change the world with their vision.
Now, I wear bright colors. I walk boldly onto stages to share my story. I am the woman I saw all those years ago, who never gave up on pulling me forward. I have more big dreams, pulling me forward one step at a time. Here are three things I’ve learned along the way:
• Evaluate your dreams—then make them bigger. If you have a vision that you can create by yourself, it isn’t big enough. Pull in people who can amplify your ideas and make them bigger and bolder. If it begins to feel scary, you’re on the right path. Let those people reflect your capability back to you.
• Break the mirror. Along your journey, you may stall and realize that your business can’t grow further until you do. It may be time to do the inner work and embrace a new version of yourself that’s right there in your heart—bursting to get out and live the life you always wanted. This may require you to make hard decisions about your personal life and who is around you—to smash what you see in the mirror and start fresh. It’s okay to let go. It’s okay to embrace the best version of yourself. Permission granted.
• Pushing leads to burnout. Vision recharges. Pushing into what doesn’t feel aligned with your purpose can lead to burnout and stagnancy. We’ve all done what others expect, only to feel uninspired, doubtful and stuck. Let your vision pull you forward into the new spaces that serve your greater goal. Let your dreams be the magnetic force that guides your decisions and growth. The path will still be hard, but you’ll know without a doubt that the effort is worth it.
When you make your “impossible” vision a reality, you empower others to do the same. The curious thing about this, too, is that your vision, and your confidence, can also expand. Success is addictive. Once you’re walking your true path, living out a reality you never thought possible, you will crave fulfilling an even more grand vision. This is where legacies are born and real impact is made. Jolt yourself out of the daydream and make it a reality.
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