Ah yes.  You remember permission slips, don’t you? At school we need permission slips to leave early for a doctor’s appointment, to go on the school bus, you know the ones. Sign here, date that, and now you can go do whatever you need to do.
I was at a conference recently where some of the women at the front of the room didn’t think of themselves as leaders. These were not young people – these were women well into mid-life and beyond. And here’s where I get to pull out that old chestnut if it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck – guess what! If you’re running a business, managing employees, getting stuff done, guess what – you’re a leader. 
Author Elizabeth Gilbert talks about permission slips in her book Big Magic as they relate to creativity.
In case you haven’t read it and you didn’t get Gilbert’s memo, I’m happy to issue you your permission slip. Here you go – the world is waiting for you. What are YOU waiting for?

Pen and paper - permission slip

Consider this your permission slip.

Just promise me no more sleepwalking. Try something you’ve never done before. Dare to do the thing that takes your breath away. Because really, how as being timid served you so far?
Stretch outside and beyond your box. Something may come of it – and something may not. But there’s something to the clichéd “you’ll never know if you don’t try”. 
Rediscover yourself. There’s more to you than what you’ve done so far, I guarantee it. And I’d be honoured to witness your bravery up close and personal as your coach.

Darcy Roberts is a business and life coach in Oakville, Ontario helping busy people get stuff done – at work, at home, and everywhere in between. You can reach her at 416.219.6694 or by email at darcy@spiralbydesign.ca.