The Power of Deadlines

In January of 2017 I gave myself a 1 year deadline to find a new career path, with the ultimatum that I would quit my CrossFit coaching job by end of the year no matter what.
​
I remember thinking 6 months after getting this job that I knew I didn’t want to do this long term.

5 Years later I was still there - hence the line in the sand.

I knew I had to s*** or get off the pot if I didn’t want my life to pass me by.

I spend the next year being mentored to go into Orthopedic sales, almost landing a sales job with Plae (a massive rubber flooring and equipment company that outfits college and professional weight rooms), growing my remote fitness coaching company Relevant Athletics, and interviewing for a management position at a Mechanical Company.

What a ride that year was: I also was recovering from hip surgery.

My window started closing and so I fell back into the pattern of what I knew: Strength & Conditioning.

I applied for internships at Colorado State University and the University of Denver.

In November of 2017 I got offered a job on Colorado State's Football Strength Staff.

I’ll never forget the feeling when I received the phone call, a massive pit in my stomach.

I didn’t want the job, but I felt like I had to take it.

My mentors said it was the right move.

On paper it looked good.

And I had a deadline to meet.

This is where thing get a wonky.

Looking back I made two mistakes:

1. I didn’t trust my gut
2. I was driven by fear​
   ​

To be fair, I was so disconnected from myself I had no idea what intuition was or how to follow it. This is a big reason I teach all of my clients how to feel into the innate wisdom within them. I had all the signs, but I didn’t know how to listen to them.

And the challenge is my gut didn’t “make sense” to the rest of the world. Which is why it can be so hard to follow.

Secondly, fear was running the show. I was afraid of making the wrong decision. Afraid of staying stuck at a CrossFit gym in the suburbs. Afraid of not doing what was accepted in the view of the world around me.
​
I was actually really excited about the University of Denver job because of the strength staff and new things they were doing. Plus I could have stayed in my community. But I got offered the CSU job first and didn’t have the confidence to say no.

And yet I don’t regret any of it.

This whole path led to a lot of challenge and pain, but it brought me to where I am today and gave me so many tools to help other people.

Now don’t get me wrong I would never want to go through these challenge again, but it was way better than sitting around at the gym just waiting for the answers to show up on my door step.

That’s why deadlines are so powerful.

Creating powerful ultimatums for yourself can create the shake up you need.

The only thing I would recommend is to listen to your gut and do what’s in alignment.

It has to be for you, not other people.

I ended up exactly where I’m supposed to be, but man it could have been a way more fun and smooth ride if I followed what excited me.

What needs to change for you?

What’s the thing you’ve been waiting to be different for far too long?

Make a deadline, create a plan, and follow through on it all.

You’ll never regret doing something, over nothing.

​

If you’re smack dab in the tension of a big life transition (or the potential of one) I’m opening up 3 spots for my 90 day 1:1 coaching program.

In 90 days we will completely transform your life from the inside out to live the life you were destined for. I’ll be guiding you the whole way so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did. You can apply here.

-Taylor

Taylor Sleaford Life, Leadership & Men's Work Coach

↠ What do I do? I work 1:1 with Men & Women guiding them personally, spiritually and professionally to be their most authentic, loving and powerful self. I also lead group programs for men. Learn more HERE​

​​