And Speaking Of... That Entrepreneurial Feeling

Last week, one of our advisors who is currently going through our 12-month new-to-industry program, Travel MBA, shared some big news with us at Gifted Travel Network: She just gave her notice with her well-paying job in corporate America so that she could pursue her luxury travel business full time. Her email was giddy with excitement, and I could feel the optimism bounce off the screen.

Her email brought me right back to the first month I started my journey as an entrepreneur. It was January 2012, and in so many ways, it feels like it was just yesterday. I love recalling that emotion of unbridled positivity that completely consumed me in those early days.

There is something so special and magical about that entrepreneurial feeling. It is the feeling that you are unstoppable and can take on the world.?

Have you ever felt it?

One of the main reasons for my unbridled enthusiasm that propelled me into 2012 was my choice to quit my job at the end of 2011 and start the new year with a blank canvas.

In April of 2011, I was in a situation where it was not my choice to be unemployed. Instead of feeling inspired and excited for new opportunities, I felt desperate, anxious, and resentful, taking a “pound the pavement” approach to find my next gig.

I found a great opportunity in the Special Needs Group, but ultimately, I didn’t feel like it was my path. I trusted my gut in December of 2011 and put in my notice to Andrew Garnett, whom I deeply respected. Quitting with no “real” safety net except faith in your abilities was just about the scariest thing I have ever done.

There are many lessons to reflect on from that decision, but the biggest one is capturing the entrepreneurial feeling that propelled me into 2012.

The best way to describe this feeling is total joy in your soul. It was this spark that led me to trust and take important leaps of faith. Arguably, that feeling is the juice of entrepreneurship.

Over that time, I was surrounded by and sought out incredible mentors. One such mentor was Nancy Matthews. She always said, "When you are inspired, you are never tired,”?and that sentiment has stayed with me over the years.

When you have that entrepreneurial feeling, you never feel like anything you do is really “work.”?Have you felt that??You feel untethered and excited about the endless possibilities that exist for your journey.

On Friday, I emailed our Travel MBA student to congratulate her on the decision to leave her job and pursue entrepreneurship, and I could feel that old excitement from my own journey wash over me as if it was January 2012 all over again. Everything seemed effortless and fun that month, and I knew in my bones that everything was working out the way it was meant to be, and all I had to do was follow my joy and trust in the unfolding of the journey.

I know that seems unpractical for many of you reading this. And that is OK. We are all at different stages of our journey. But I will tell you that the feeling I can recall from my decision to pursue entrepreneurship has stayed with me in various forms over the years.

Entrepreneurship is a vibe, and as Meredith Calloway teaches, it is important to take the emotional journey as well as the practical journey.

My entrepreneurial feeling is one I cherish. I know it is my choice to feel the way I want in any given situation; all I can control is how I react and respond.

I wish I had the emotional acumen not to feel too defeated in 2011 when I was told my position was being eliminated after returning from an unpaid maternity leave. But I needed to go through that experience. I have the life perspective now to identify that emotion and not succumb to it. I can pause and do my best to capture the entrepreneurial feeling that brings me so much joy.

Can you relate to my article this week? Do you have an entrepreneurial vibe or feeling that helps sustain you on your journey?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please share your comments below!?