I did it! I jumped out of a plane!

Have you had a goal on your bucket list that you have been putting off year after year?

Skydiving has been the goal I have been putting off for years… until now…!

I made a commitment declaring 2024 as a year to prioritize my personal and career goals, and to venture outside my comfort zone. This would also be the year I would be fully present and invest in meaningful experiences and relationships which challenge, uplift and empower me. And jumping out of a plane fulfilled my criteria and so much more!

The ‘cappuccino jump’, named by the Skydiving team, refers to the 8.00am timeslot. I keenly listened to the detailed instructions, completed my video message, and cautiously walked to the plane whilst I asked myself, ‘as a daughter, mother and wife was I being reckless?’. I quickly had to push the negative thoughts aside to allow the positive and reassuring thoughts to flood in and calm me. I had to trust the process and lean into this unique experience.

As the plane rose into the sky, it hit me that I had just met the experienced skydiver and now I had to completely trust this stranger with my life. This journey was only going to end well if we worked as a united team. We had to listen to each other, ask clarifying questions, and agree on the desired outcome – to have a successful jump! Additionally, and most importantly, I had to trust the person who had the best skills in our team to achieve this objective. Who was obviously the instructor in this case. On reflection, I realized that this was no different from the actions taken within a high performing team. The leader must leverage the best skills in the team to achieve its’ purpose which includes having a clear roadmap, collaboration, effective communication, and trust!

The tandem skydive freefall was 120 miles per hour, after which we glided for 7 minutes back down to earth, and admired the astonishing breathtaking views of Dubai. This adrenaline filled adventure made me feel liberated, re-energized, and reaffirmed that anything is possible.

Whether your goal is personal or business – challenge yourself, trust the process and lean into the unknown.