Leap of Faith

Letting go is a challenge we all face on repeat in our lives. We let go of who we were for who we’ve become. We let go of parents, children, homes, careers, and more. We can all think of hundreds of personal stories about letting go and finding something at the end of the process that offers solace, possibility, growth, or a new way of being. Joseph Campbell’s Heros Journey embraces and sets a familiar structure around our journeys of letting go.  

I felt sad and lost, letting go of my decades-long career in Information Technology, a profession that began when I was ten in 1960. I loved being at the office with my father on weekends. He embraced everything about the new computer technology. He established a Data Processing service bureau. When I think of the overhead he incurred leasing large IBM computers, sorters, and printers, I wonder how he grew his business. Yet he did and sold it after fifteen years. From him, I learned about entrepreneurship and the sacrifices necessary to grow a small business. I thought everyone's fathers spent most of their time building businesses.

I worked for him all through high school and college breaks. I advanced from cleaning ashtrays to balancing general ledger packages. I also worked at a local bakery, where I learned much about entrepreneurship from the young, successful, hardworking owners, Carol and Albert. They sold their business, moved to Pennsylvania, and bought a few McDonald’s franchises.   

Fast-forward to my post-college years. I graduated during a recession in the 1970s with a liberal arts education focusing on Anthropology, Writing, and German. Despite my best efforts, I could not find a job. I  fell back on my IT experience. I landed my first job at Allstate. My roles included computer programming and management. I found my niche as a project manager, a role I love. My father begged me to use my writing skills and document manuals, programs, and processes. To say documentation was lacking in the early days of IT would be an understatement. In general, I embraced many roles and enjoyed working in a growing industry 

After 40 years in the industry, I transitioned from IT to a career in real estate. Walking away from decades of experience where I felt confident was terrifying and necessary to grow.  I had fun because I was helping my son start a business, applying my skills as a manager and entrepreneur, and working one-on-one with clients to help them achieve personal and sometimes emotional goals. I built networks with colleagues, lenders, inspectors, and industry leaders.  

Although I found my footing in real estate, I realized that the challenge of letting go wasn’t over. Years later, I transitioned again—this time into ghostwriting. Once again, I faced the uncertainty of walking away from something familiar. But this time, I  started to recognize a comforting pattern: I wasn't losing anything each time I let go of something I had invested years into. I gained more. In ghostwriting, I realized I could draw on all the skills I had developed in IT and real estate. Now, I helped people tell their stories.

The demand of letting go happens throughout our lives, from growing up and leaving home, watching parents age, cheering for children and grandchildren's journeys,  moving on from a career or a business, or letting go of former incarnations of self.  We change and become something more. It’s scary. We can feel like we are giving up a part of ourselves and, therefore, feel lost and sometimes alone. We keep pressing on, the heroes of our journey. We often find something rewarding. Each time we let go, we create space for something new to take root.

Letting go and taking that leap of faith is necessary when we write our books. Our motivations are numerous, from healing ourselves to helping others heal or attain their dreams and more. Then, we must release it after the words leave our heads, make it on paper, and publish a book. The intention and work were ours. The process of letting go and the results can amaze us.

Is there a story you’ve been holding onto? Take that leap of faith and let go. Release it into the world and see where it takes you. It might just be the beginning of a whole new journey.