Diving In

Why the hardest step is starting

So here we are—you and me, carving new paths together.

I launched “Carving Her Path” just days ago, and already I’m thinking about what it really means to take that leap. Not just the leap into Substack, but those moments throughout our careers and lives when we stand at the edge, wondering if we should jump.

I’ll admit, starting this newsletter felt like a big leap. It’s surprising even to me. I’ve never considered myself the type to put my thoughts out into the world this way. I tend to keep things private and have never been one to share much on social media. But there’s something different about this space (similar to my coaching work) where I can connect authentically, build trust, and share stories that might actually help someone else navigate their own path.

As I was preparing to launch, I thought about my journey with swimming.

When I was a kid, I loved swimming. I was on a swim team and always enjoyed the chance to be in the water. Years later, I rediscovered it during my last pregnancy. The low-impact exercise was a gift, but it was also the meditative, reflective space swimming gave me that really drew me back in.

Recently, I decided to start swimming again. I found the lap swim hours at the local pool and thought, why not? But what seemed like a simple idea quickly became filled with doubts. Would there be space? Could I still do it? Would I even enjoy it? Was it worth the effort?

After a lot of mental gymnastics, I pushed myself to just go. Just try it, I told myself. Start small—10 or 15 minutes. Dive in. That was the mental shift I needed to get out the door. The first few times, I repeated those words, pushing past the doubts.

But even as I stood at the edge of the pool, in my swimsuit, ready to jump, hesitation hit again. The worries, the what-ifs, all bubbled up. But then, I just did it. I dove in—literally and figuratively. And to my surprise, I loved it. Each time I went, that 10 or 15 minutes turned into 45, sometimes 60. I discovered that the hardest part wasn’t the swimming itself—it was getting over the hurdle of starting. Once I was in the water, all the worries melted away, and I found joy in what I was capable of.

And here I am, diving into this newsletter with the same approach. The doubts are swirling. How will this work? Will people find it valuable? Will I stick with it? But I’m telling myself the same thing: Just dive in. Give it a try. I’m hoping that, just like with swimming, once I’m in, I’ll find the flow—and maybe even surprise myself along the way.

Photo by Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash

As women in tech, as leaders, as people balancing careers and life, we face these “edge of the pool” moments constantly. The promotion we’re not sure we’re ready for. The career pivot that feels risky. The side project we keep putting off. The difficult conversation we know we need to have.

What I’ve learned—both from my own path and from coaching incredible women through theirs—is that the hardest part is usually the starting. Once we’re moving, once we’ve taken that first step or made that first stroke, we often discover capabilities we didn’t know we had.

Here I am diving in to swim across the lake this summer

My daughter diving in to cool off during a hike

So here’s my question for you: What’s your “dive in” moment right now?

What’s something you’ve built up in your mind, only to find that once you took the plunge, you found success and even joy? Or maybe more importantly—what are you standing on the edge of right now, contemplating whether to start?

I’d love to hear your story. Hit reply and share it with me. I’d love to hear your story, and often find that your experiences spark ideas for future posts.

Thank you for diving into this journey with me. We’re all carving our paths, one brave leap at a time.

Next week, I’ll be sharing a story about leadership feedback that initially made me cringe—and how I transformed it into one of my biggest growth moments without losing my authentic self. Until then, keep carving your path.