Are you a Monkey or an Eagle?
Are you a Monkey 🐒 or an Eagle 🦅?
There are two types of people when it comes to navigating big life changes.
Some handle transitions like a monkey. They hold onto the next branch before letting go of the old one, embracing a gradual and calculated shift.
Others approach change like an eagle. They leap boldly into the unknown, trusting their wings to carry them as they build the plan mid-air.
Examples:
1. Moving Abroad
A monkey meticulously plans and researches, testing the waters, and ensures there is a clear plan before committing to the move. They may take a few years to feel fully ready. An eagle, on the other hand, books a one-way ticket, trusts in their adaptability, and figures it out on arrival.
2. Starting a Business
A monkey balances their current job with evenings or weekends working on their business idea. Gradually, they reduce their job hours before fully transitioning into business. An eagle quits their job and dives straight in, pouring all resources into making it work.
Which approach is best?
It depends on your values, risk tolerance, and circumstances. Both have pros and cons:
- Monkey (Gradual): Financial stability, less risk, but slower progress and more juggling.
- Eagle (All-In): Full focus, faster momentum, but greater uncertainty and potential stress.
My Experience
In 2018, I took the Eagle approach with a tech startup that I co-founded. I quit my medical job, invested my life savings, and went all in. While the app had initial success, we ran out of funds and couldn't continue marketing it effectively. I spent the year in constant stress, eventually burnt out, and lost over £140,000.
In contrast, I launched my coaching business in 2021 using the Monkey approach. Balancing coaching and medical work, I’ve transitioned gradually, reducing hours over three and a half years. This pace has allowed me to enjoy the process, learn and grow my business, whilst having financial security and a calmer nervous system.
How to Choose Your Own Path
Ask yourself:
- How comfortable am I with uncertainty and risk?
- Do I have financial stability to sustain a bold leap?
- Do I thrive with a plan, or when fully committed?
- What support systems or resources can I rely on?
- What’s the worst-case scenario, and how would I recover?
Whether you swing like a monkey or soar like an eagle, every step forward brings you closer to the life you want. Take some time to decide the best approach for you, and then just start. Growth and progress begin with action.
If you are thinking about, or you’re currently navigating a big transition, let’s chat. I’d love to help you find your best path forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
Marcela
You’ve got this, and I’m here to help you every step of the way.
Marcela
💭 Quote of the week:
‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone’ – Neale Donald Walsch
Dr Marcela Aguirre Coaching
Major Life Transitions Coaching for High-Flying Professionals, Executives & Business CEOs | ICF Certified Performance Coach | Doctor | Ex-Military Officer | 1:1 | Group Coaching | Workshops | Speaker | Mentor
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