When was the last time you took a significant, scary risk? What was the result? Spectacular views? New opportunities? Increased confidence?
Ten years ago, when I left a stable income to pursue my passion, it was a considerable risk. I wasn’t a polished speaker nor a great writer. Nevertheless, faith guided me through excruciating darkness and nauseating twists and turns.
This week I delivered a two-day Business Writing class for the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) at the Executive Office of the POTUS (EOP).
With over 500 employees, OMB, the largest component of the Executive Office, reports directly to the President, helping a wide range of executive departments and agencies across the Federal Government implement the commitments and priorities of the President. Their headquarters is located just west of the White House in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington D.C.
The attendees were ordinary people like you and me. Democrats. Republicans. Independents. Americans. Some worked through the Administrations of Presidents Bush, Clinton, H.W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden. It’s their job, not a political assignment. Every Federal employee takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution regardless of the political party in power.
When politics aren’t part of the discussion, we can like each other and learn from one another. It’s incredible.
Ten years ago, I never imagined I’d develop leaders and communicators in the highest office in the land. Nor could I fathom working with our armed forces, a regular occurrence.
I am grateful for the faith that guided me. In 2018, my boss was tight on cash and couldn’t pay me. Penniless and unplanned, I started my consulting practice. As I was gaining momentum, Covid kicked my small business to the curb in 2020. Here I am today, standing on solid ground, enjoying the unobstructed view in broad daylight.
It’s been a journey worth the significant risk. So don’t be afraid to step out in faith. The best view comes after the hardest climb.