Swimming with my 5-year old daughter today reminded me of the similarities between Indies and children learning how to swim. When learning to swim, kids need to rely on inner tubes, inflatable arm bands and swimwear with personal flotation devices built in. These "safety nets" empower new swimmers and encourage them to gain confidence in the water.
But relying on flotation devices after they are no longer needed can cause a swimmer to remain stuck in the baby pool forever. At some point, the safety devices must be discarded to make room for new growth and expansion.
It's the same with Indie Business owners. Holding onto extraneous flotation devices for too long can hamper your growth and prevent you from expanding your circle of influence. When that happens, the next thing to go is new customers. And when they stop coming, the gig is up.
From holding a full time job after its no longer needed to mailing a brochure when an in-person cold call is needed, playing it too safe can land you knee deep in a sea of ho hum competitors.
So here's the tip: A safety suit is great when it serves a legitimate purpose, but eventually, you have to remove it and get soaking wet in order to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
