If Not Now, When?

Meghan Goff
Founder
Onword Communications 

I’m sure you’ve challenged yourself to think it before. Maybe you’ve seen it on a motivational poster, or used it as your own personal mantra as you approached a new challenge, conquered a long-held fear, or dared to live outside your comfort zone.

In the first few weeks of 2020, they were the same four words I said to myself as I contemplated embarking on a new professional journey, launching Onword Communications and my new career as a freelance development writer.

“If not now, when?”

In hindsight, I wonder if I had stepped outside of myself and seen my life through someone else’s lens, would it have stopped me? There I was, exiting the workforce for the first time in my adult life, relocating my entire family to a new city, all while managing the 24/7 chaos of parenting two children under the age of two (and months away from welcoming a third). And the cherry on top? I was blissfully unaware that we were on the brink of a life-changing global pandemic. The term “blind ambition” has never made so much sense.

“If not now, when?” I’m sure everyone but me was thinking the same thing: probably any time but now.

As I’m sure you’ve gathered, I disagreed. Here’s what I learned along the way.

There is no “right” time

If I’m not a case study in poor timing, I don’t know who is. In many ways, the cards were stacked against me. Personally and professionally I had huge obstacles to overcome to get my business off the ground. 

In a new city, housebound amid quarantine, I had a business to grow! I dug deep into my network, I shamelessly asked for introductions, I cold e-mailed until I was blue in the face. And guess what? It paid off (fun fact: I acquired my longest standing client from a cold email)! Despite the unpredictable nature of the world around me, I focused on moving forward. And with each new project, I gained momentum, and the confidence that kept me hustling through pandemic, pregnancy, and everything in between. 

I quickly learned that in business and in life, there is no “right” time—so stop waiting.

You are more than your job description

I crave structure, so I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that as an employee I found comfort staying in my lane and operating within my designated area of expertise. But as an entrepreneur, I’ve learned I’m not just a writer. I’m a critical thinker. I’m a problem solver. I’m a communications strategist. I’m a content curator. I’m a collaborative partner.

Forging my own path these last 18 months has taught me that I’m not just a collection of skills printed in a job description—my capacity to identify, learn, and explore new areas is limitless. This new mindset has given me permission to explore challenging projects, taking a new approach to storytelling and inspiring change for diverse organizations.

Ask yourself the hard questions

For me, it all started with a hard question; and it didn’t stop there. Being a business owner is full of difficult decisions. Will this challenge me? Can I deliver? What value will I bring to this organization? How will I measure success?

When my family relocated and I left my full-time job, I had to ask myself, “will I be satisfied at home without a professional outlet?” When COVID hit, and my work seemed more unstable than ever, I had to ask myself, “can I do this?” When I found myself at the intersection of ambition and parenthood, pulled in a million directions, I had to ask myself, “is this worth it?” These questions were hard and sometimes uncomfortable. But I faced them head on—and look at where the answers led me!

Whatever the circumstance—a new opportunity, a new prospect, a new experience—I encourage you to challenge your mindset with four little words: “if not now, when?”

And if you’re as lucky as me, the answer might change your life.

Meghan launched Onword Communications to use her passion for storytelling to help even more organizations identify new and engaging ways to develop messages that resonate with their audiences. As a pandemic-era businesswoman, entrepreneur, and mother, she understands that while things rarely go as planned—there’s always a great story to tell!