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Today’s talking points:

Feel the fear and do it anyway! That’s how you make big boss moves in business.

I’m sharing how you can balance risk, safety, and your mindset to make bold decisions.

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A phrase that I say often to my clients, and that is one of my guiding principles is this: if you want big results, you've got make big moves.

This is one of the most common topics of conversation I have with potential clients in the DMs who are considering joining The Embodied Boss Collective this year because we look at, okay, well I'm doing this little thing and I'm doing that little thing.

But then we go through the same motions every single day wondering why nothing is working or changing…

So, Boss - it’s time to make some big moves. But to make big moves, you often have to take big risks. It is simply a requirement as an entrepreneur to take risks.

But rather than me just telling you that you need to take risks, let's actually dissect what taking risks means, what safety means, and how you can completely reframe the way that you look at taking risks.

This episode is actually inspired by some of my clients. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that they’ve been asking me way more questions about my journey and how I’ve taken big leaps in my business pretty much every year since I started.

So I’ve almost been dissecting this based on their questions and I had this lightbulb moment one day where I thought oh my gosh, I need to talk about this more. I need to talk about this on the podcast. And so here we are.

If you want big results, you've got to make big moves.

Now, I'm not the only one to ever share this, but it’s so true. It's a line I find myself repeating in discussions with clients in the DMs, during one-on-one coaching sessions, or when folks are eyeing the Embodied Boss Collective.

Here's the deal: many of us get stuck in the same old routine, wondering why nothing's changing. We know change requires action, but we somehow trick ourselves into thinking, "I'll stay in my comfort zone, do a bit of uncomfortable stuff, and voila!" Then we scratch our heads when nothing feels different.

Being an entrepreneur, one of the toughest lessons to grasp is that it's not just about the small stuff—though the small stuff matters, and I preach about the compound effect all day. To make seismic shifts, to see substantial results, you've got to take massive action. It's on you to make it happen, which is both empowering and a tad scary.

Success in your business demands hard work and effort. I've mentioned this before, but it's more than just pushing outside your comfort zone—it's practically living outside of it. Commitment is key to moving forward and seeing results.

Now, the beauty of it all is that you grow—constantly. Your business grows in ways you might not always see immediately. Risk-taking, which we'll dive into in this episode, boils down to a simple question: How badly do you want it?

I'll be real with you—it's never always easy. When you examine those who've seen mind-blowing success, there are no excuses. Fear is there, for me, for you, and for everyone. The difference is, they feel the fear and still take action. Entrepreneurship is about doing it anyway.

So, ask yourself: If a big decision looms ahead or if you've been contemplating something for months, how badly do you really want it? What's holding you back? Spoiler alert: More often than not, the only thing holding us back is ourselves. Time to break free.

let’s talk about risk, safety & decision making

So let's break this down. What is risk? Why is this so tied to safety? How does safety play out as a business owner?

We can't have a conversation about risks without mentioning safety and decision-making. So let’s dive in.

consider your worst-case scenario

The first thing I want to talk about when it comes to risk is looking at your worst-case scenario. This is something I do with every single client at some point or another.

One of the first steps that I think is really important when we are looking at this big decision in front of us is uncovering the narrative that's happening in our brains. This happens to all of us when we're just aware and caught up in the emotion of this feels off. This feels scary, this feels fearful. But we're not always pausing to address the narrative in our brain, because a lot of times when we do will then start to rationalise it.

For example: you're contemplating ditching your nine-to-five grind, a scenario many of us have experienced or are eyeing on the horizon. Now, our brains start cooking up stories like, "What if the business tanks? What if I have no money and need to sell the house and move in with my parents?" We keep spiralling, emotions intensify, and we're caught in the emotional whirlwind without tackling the narrative head-on.

Worst-case scenario in this situation: no steady income, crashing on a friend's couch. Not the dream setup. But let's get real—Is that truly the worst-case scenario? Ask yourself, is the tiniest possibility of that nightmare worth the potential gain? The problem is, we often assess risk one-dimensionally—focusing on what we might lose now, not what we could gain.

Consider that even staying in your current situation, no matter how secure it seems, always involves risks. There's a status quo, and staying in your comfort zone feels safe. But here's the truth: what's comfy now wasn't always so. Remember the first time you tackled something new? Uncomfortable, right?

We trick ourselves into thinking that discomfort equals danger, when, truthfully, safety comes from getting comfy with the uncomfortable. Remember when your first job felt like navigating a maze? Now, it's easy. Comfort and safety aren't always the same—they're not reliable decision metrics.

So, let's face the blunt truth—how badly do you want this? Dissect that worst-case scenario playing out in your head, untangle the emotions, and let's get real. Regardless of the worst-case scenario, is it worth it? Is the possibility, no matter how slim, worth enduring discomfort for the potential magic that could unfold?

The 1% chance of that worst-case scenario happening doesn't matter to risk-takers. Why? Because, for most, the worst-case scenario aligns with where they're at right now. You can always go back to square one—you've done it before, and you can do it again.

don’t get caught in indecision

Let’s step away from the worst-case scenario talk and get back to the raw simplicity of what's on our plate—a decision.

Remember, that the most dangerous place to be is in indecision. Now, I'm sharing this with loads of compassion because, hey, I used to be the queen of indecision. But hear me out—this is so simple and so important for business owners.

Picture your journey as an entrepreneur—no matter where you're at right now, you'll nod along. You can say yes, you can say no, but the real danger zone is that middle ground of indecision. When you're stuck muttering things like, "I'll think about it more, maybe later, not sure yet, weighing pros and cons," you're in dangerous territory. But the thing is that our brains can't distinguish between fiction and reality when we dwell in indecision.

As you're mulling over joining that program, diving into that mastermind, or launching that offer, the more you sit in the indecision limbo, the more you trick your brain into feeling satisfied. You're thinking about this fantasy, but guess what? In reality, you've taken zero action or made any decisions to move closer to any version of that dream. That's why indecision is the riskiest place to be.

We often think the right answer is a straightforward yes. Say yes to that thing yesterday, and here's a nugget for you: If you're pondering joining one of my programs, say yes, say no, but for the love of all things bold, don't park in the maybe zone. No one achieves greatness with a maybe. If it's a no, fantastic! I'll cheer you on. Commit to it, don't waste energy on it, move forward in whichever direction your gut leads you because you might change your mind later. It's rarely about right or wrong. Yes or no, at least you're in motion.

Sitting in indecision drains your energy. "Oh, it's too risky, let me weigh pros and cons, maybe this, maybe that." Imagine redirecting that energy toward moving boldly in one direction or another. You need you use your energy wisely in business.

There’s no real right or wrong with your decision, either. I’ve made countless decisions that haven’t panned out how I hoped, but I decide, I move and I decide again. That's how I've crafted a business bringing in consistent income, supporting my family in four days a week, part-time hours. It's simple, not always easy, but the results speak for themselves.

The pressure we pile on ourselves to make the perfect choice keeps us stuck in indecision. Let's ditch that and learn to be decisive. The risk and fear? It's not from the decision itself but from the pressure we put on ourselves to nail down the right and wrong. Instead, it’s how we react and keep moving forward.

Ok, so how can I make more decisions?

So, instead of just tossing the "be decisive" card your way, let's explore a fresh approach to decision-making. Typically, when we're making decisions, we tie the act of deciding to an envisioned result. Imagine you're pondering whether to invest in a program and naturally, your mind connects the decision to potential outcomes. "If I say yes, it will scale my business and solve XYZ Zed issues. If I say no, maybe I can still achieve the same result on my own and save some cash." Sound familiar?

This way of decision-making isn't all that helpful. Because, truth be told, nothing is guaranteed—no matter how much control we think we have. This line of thinking keeps us trapped in the mental battlefield of right versus wrong, leaving us stranded in the murky territory of maybe and indecision, the perilous quicksand we all want to avoid.

I want you to shift how you make decisions - instead of attaching decisions to results, increase look at the opportunities it may create. Because when you create opportunity, there is literally no right or wrong.

Are you clinging to ‘safety’?

Now let’s tackle why so many people find themselves hesitant to take action, often stuck in indecision and fear for years. I've got followers who've been tuning into my content for what feels like forever, contemplating joining my programs but wrestling with the decision. Just last summer, someone messaged me, saying, "Holly, I've been listening to your podcast for two years. I think it's time to invest." It's a common scenario—people trying to make the 'right' move and seeking comfort.

Now, when it comes to taking risks, our brains often scream 'danger.' Before we get back to that, let's discuss safety because it's closely tied to our perception of danger. Imagine you're facing a significant decision, and I want you to consider what feels risky about it. Now, flip the coin—what feels safe about one of the options? Let's get specific. Using the example of quitting a nine-to-five job, safety might be linked to having a steady paycheck. Got it? Now, where are you finding safety in this decision? Perhaps it's money, which is understandable.

But even if money brings you a sense of safety, feeling unsafe can hinder the moves you need to make. The challenge is that relying solely on money for safety means you might get jittery when the cash flow isn't consistent. The solution is not just to blindly forge ahead; we need to introspect. Depending on a stable salary for safety isn't foolproof in the entrepreneurial world. The good news is, we have a choice. We can rethink where we draw our sense of safety. Entrepreneurship is uncertain at its core, so pinning safety solely on certainty might lead to a bumpy ride.

my success is largely due to my risk taking

Here are some examples of taking risks in my own business journey.

In 2019, as I thought about starting a family and elevating my business, I took a bold step—I invested in a mastermind, committing to a monthly payment plan of around £2000, roughly what I was making in my business at the time. Super risky - I had nothing to fall back on, considering we were on the brink of getting married. But I felt the need to go all in; it was a now-or-never moment. I recognised the energy and attitude of wholeheartedly committing would generate results, regardless of the risk's size or how I felt. I knew it was worth it.

I felt confident that I could navigate almost any situation and come out okay because I could figure it out. I continued investing in that mastermind, terrified each time, as success wasn't guaranteed. Yet, I understood it was precisely what I needed for growth. This isn't financial advice, and I'm not suggesting going into debt for a program but it was an attitude—an approach of decisiveness, refusing to let fear and emotions govern my actions. It was about knowing I'd be okay, even without guarantees.

I’ve made lots more risks and decisions since then and I think my decisiveness has contributed to success. I can also recognise that this trait is shared among many successful business owners.

I have two core beliefs that from day one have fueled my ability to be decisive, not stay in indecision, to work through the fear and to rely on myself.

These two core beliefs are:

My success is inevitable. I believe that to my bones. That is not just an affirmation sitting on my mirror, I fully believe and embody that.
I knew and still know that there's no other option. This is it.

These two core beliefs have served me beyond any others.

So I want to invite you instead of this phrase of, “Going all in” if that feels a little bit overused or cliche for you, I want to invite you to adopt this belief that there is truly no other option for you not to succeed. Your success is inevitable.

This has to be true to your bones, you need to embody it so that you know, your success is inevitable and there is no other option and then you need to act that way. You need to act in the way that you know your success is inevitable. Your actions will reflect that if you actually believe it.

your action steps

I want to leave you with some action steps beyond what we've talked about here. Instead of spiralling when we do get in these states of fear and indecision, I want you to learn to ask yourself better questions. This is honestly one of the most powerful skill sets that you can acquire.

If we can learn to ask better questions then we can uncover and pull the subconscious narratives that are controlling us moving forward. Because you are never truly stuck, we are only stuck if we just sit in the indecision and we never take action.

So for example if you’ve got this big decision about quitting your nine-to-five to start an online business. You could ask yourself:

Yes, you can think about the worst-case scenario, but what's the best that can happen?
How would I feel if I were able to make this possible?
What's a backup plan if X, Y and Z happened?
What would need to happen for me to accomplish the goal?

By altering your questions, you'll gain varied perspectives, leading to different emotions, results, thoughts, and actions.

In case you missed it, here is the last episode of the podcast - The REAL uncomfortable truths of scaling to a 6 figure business