A beautiful drive to San Diego from Los Angeles yesterday put me in the mood I was aiming to have. The greenery along side the freeway, the ocean, the sun on my left, the moon still hanging low in the sky on my right, all were staring me in the face reminding me of why we're here.

Now, I've got to be honest: I was not happy about getting up at 5 a.m. to make the nearly two-hour drive down to meet responsibilities of being an Empowered Feminine Leader for an event I signed-up to assist with. I slept only five hours (if that) the night before and I am one of those folks where a good eight-to-nine feel far more ideal. However, the ticker-tape kept replaying in my head, "Show-up. Just show-up. You never know what can happen. Show up and play full-out and take big risk."

I was en route to the Grand Del Mar Hotel, Spa and Resort to support Marsh Engle's Amazing Woman's Day 2008; an event created to celebrate and honor women in their creative brilliance. While the day was surrounded by messages of inspiration, motivation, and action, I saw what was going on from a different angle: The Risk Factor.

You see, Marsh Engle had this idea of creating a day of celebration for women about 10 years ago. She did not know how she was going to do it, when, why, where, etc., but felt she had a calling to follow it through. She talked of her idea with several women and really put herself out there;she really took great risk.

Even greater risk came about when reaching out to some pretty heavy-hitters in the biz like: Louise Hay, Marie Diamond of the Secret, and Michelle Bohbot, the founder and creator of the multi-million dollar fashion empire, Bisou Bisou.

I've now attended two of Marsh's Amazing Woman's Day events and have seen how risk has surfaced and shown up by the women who actually attend the event, not-to-mention, the women who stand on the stage delivering their messages of power, passion, and purpose. The women at the events come as they are, make new connections, and are vulnerable all day long by accepting new teachings as well as spreading the word on their businesses which we all know may at times be a bit challenging. Yet over-and-over they meet the mark, "stretch" themselves and live according to their "higher" self.

With all this said, one of the most phenomenal displays of risk I witnessed yesterday were the men who stepped forward and chose to support and honor women on this truly special and unique day. While we women attempt to empathize with others on a regular basis, I don't know how easy it is for us to imagine being only a small handful of men among nearly 200 women!

The power of embracing risk leads us to new endeavors, beautiful and profound connections, and opens us up to possibility beyond measure. If we flex this "risk" muscle over and over, I've found our life is in "flow," and we have that feeling that there is nothing we cannot do. The more risk we take and the more comfortable we get with being uncomfortable, the greater the rewards and bigger the results.

While writing this, I realized it all sounds so "easy" yet it might not feel that way when trying to execute it. Yes, trust me, I hear you, I get it! The most sacred thing I've realized when trying risk on is that I don't have to go at it alone. I ask for help, reach out to my success-team, and call my coach. If you are ready to design your own life, don't hesitate to reach out. Be risky! Find a mentor, call a friend, join a group. It will be the best risk you ever took. And, I back that with a guarantee.

To your extreme dream,

Laurie, International Coach, Speaker and Seminar Leader

www.extremedreamtraining.com

www.coachesjointventure.com