Listening to The Data : Why I’m Going All In

For those that have followed me for a while, you know I love #data, especially about health, fitness, wellbeing. Over the last several years I’ve tracked my stress score on my Garmin and made note of the external factors happening at the time. I’ve watched that score after making changes to my exercise routines, sleep habits, work schedule, social media usage, etc.

In 2024, the highest average stress score was right around the time I was making the decision to leave Credera - those few weeks when I sat on the fence of stay or go. The lowest was after reworking my daily schedule to create more focus time in my day and prioritize 8 hours of sleep.

My average score over the last three weeks exceeded anything in 2024 by a long shot.

I’ve shared some of this in a previous post, but as I’ve been deciding my path forward, my mind has been so chaotic - the window completely foggy. While there was without a doubt a pull to continue exploring The Athlete Identity Project, I was also simultaneously working on spinning up 3 other consulting contracts - work that I know how to do and know would bring predictable income.

I was sitting on the fence in a big way, and it was taking it’s toll.

I started to notice that the times I felt most anxious - the times when the grip on my chest was the tightest - was when I working on work that was just ... work. And the opposite was true was I was hearing athletes share the most vulnerable moments of their athletic careers.

We don’t always have the opportunity to listen to what our bodies our telling us, but in this moment, I do. I just have to step outside of my own fear.

So I did.

Over the last week, I kindly turned down all of the consulting contracts I had been working on. And Marc and I made a true plan - one that gives me plenty of time to explore what is becoming more than a passion project. It’s long enough to decide if there is viable business opportunity for creating lasting change in the athlete transition experience.

I’m listening to 10x is Easier Than 2x as part of a women's professional group, and the authors introduce a framework for exponential growth called the 4C’s:

Commitment – Fully dedicating yourself to the 10x goal, even before knowing exactly how to achieve it. This requires decisiveness and a willingness to leave behind the familiar.

Courage – Facing uncertainty and discomfort, knowing that 10x growth demands stepping into the unknown. This stage often involves fear but is necessary for transformation.

Capability – Developing new skills and abilities that align with the 10x goal. These skills emerge as you take action and push beyond your comfort zone.

Confidence – The result of repeatedly demonstrating courage and capability. Confidence isn’t something you start with—it’s built through taking bold action and seeing progress.

I’ve committed. And you’ll never guess what happened the day after I had the last conversation with my consulting partners - the tension eased up, the fog cleared, the creativity started to flow, and my stress scores started to come down.

I know this all sounds way too “follow your heart”, but I can literally show you - because, again, #data.

Courage is still uncomfortable. I don’t yet have all of the skills or know all of the individuals who I’ll undoubtedly need around me, but it’s not as anxiety-inducing as being pulled in multiple directions. Being on the fence is the hardest place to be.

So here’s to the next few months of exploring, learning and taking the shot.

“You miss all the shots you don’t take” Wayne Gretzky