I was electric with excitement. I could see the potential so vividly: a course that would help mid-career professionals shake off the “stuck” feeling and transition into their dream jobs.
The Career Shift would transform a program I used to run live for a small group, and the thought of expanding that reach with an online course felt like a spark of pure genius.
At first, it was thrilling. Ideas flowed like water, and I couldn’t jot them down fast enough. I could practically hear the enthusiastic testimonials people would send me after the course changed their lives.
But then, somewhere in the middle of the process, reality hit.
Writing scripts for each module wasn’t just about jotting down great ideas—it was about translating complex insights into actionable, engaging content. And the tech side? Let’s just say recording videos and coordinating slides was less “movie magic” and more “DIY chaos.” I’d spend hours tweaking details that no one would ever notice, but I knew they would feel, only to fall into bed wondering if this whole thing was worth it.
What if no one signs up?
What if I pour my heart into this and it doesn’t resonate?
What if it just…flops?
Here’s the thing about creating something new: there’s always a point when the initial excitement evaporates and you’re left trudging through the mess. It’s tempting to think the chaos means you’re doing it wrong, that the idea isn’t good enough, or that you’re not cut out for the task. But I’ve learned something powerful—chaos is where the magic happens.
To see what I mean, let’s zoom out. Way out.
Nebulae are swirling, unruly clouds of gas and dust in space. Inside them, gravity pulls particles together, sparking turbulence and collisions. At first glance, it might look like nothing is happening, just dust blowing around in space. But in that chaos, the building blocks of a star are forming. As the particles collide and compress, heat and pressure build. And then, when the conditions are just right, nuclear fusion ignites.
A star is born.
This isn’t just a neat metaphor; it’s a universal truth. The most transformative creations—whether they’re stars or creative projects—are born from chaos.
When you’re deep in the middle of something, and it feels like a disorganized mess, that’s not necessarily a sign to quit. The messy middle is a natural part of creation. Stars don’t just appear out of nowhere, and neither does a meaningful project.
The process takes time, trust, and a clumsy dance with the unknown.
This isn’t to imply that every messy project is worth trudging through. There are many projects I’ve stopped in the middle. Projects that became clear to me I shouldn’t “push through”. Intuition plays a key role in knowing when to stop, and when to keep going.
Enter your projects with eyes wide open. Know that you will hit a chaotic messy middle in a creative endeavor.
For me, The Career Shift started to come together as I trudged through the chaos. A breakthrough script here. A polished video there. Piece by piece, the course took shape. And when I finally launched it, people signed up. They showed up. They engaged.
This was amazing, and it’s by no means a guaranteed outcome. And if I’m being completely honest, not as many people showed up for the first cohort as I’d hoped for.
When you try something new, there is always a risk no one will show up. But if you believe in what you’re creating, it’s worth the risk. If no one had shown up, the creation through chaos I went through for The Career Shift would still have given me valuable lessons. For example, I now know how to create and launch an online course. I also learned how to better communicate the complex topics embedded throughout the course, which benefits my one-on-one coaching clients.
If you’re in the middle of your own messy process, remember this: the chaos doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lost.
The truth is, stars are created out of chaos—and when they’re born, the universe is never the same again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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