The Power of Bold Moves: Big or Small, They All Count

Jump Right In—or Ease Your Way Slowly

When it comes to bold moves, there are two kinds of people.

The first walks straight up to the pool, glances at the water, and jumps in with a cannonball big enough to splash the lifeguard. No hesitation, no testing the temperature—just pure “let’s do this.”

The second? They take the scenic route. One toe in. Then the other. A pause at the ankles. Inch by inch, they climb down the ladder, taking time to acclimate.

Here’s the truth: both are bold. One is just fast and messy. The other is slower but steady. In the end, both people are swimming.

Bold moves don’t come in one flavor. They don’t have to be dramatic to be powerful. Sometimes ripping off the Band-Aid is what’s needed. Other times, it’s about taking those incremental steps that eventually add up to something life-changing.

Why Bold Moves Matter

At its core, a bold move is about disrupting the comfortable in service of something greater. It’s about breaking the cycle of “maybe later” and choosing action instead.

And here’s what science tells us:

• Confidence grows through action. Psychologists describe something called the confidence-competence loop. Every time you act—even in small ways—you prove to yourself that you’re capable. That proof builds confidence, which makes the next bold move easier.
• Fear shrinks with exposure. Cognitive-behavioral research shows that gradual exposure reduces fear. Dip your toes in, and your nervous system learns: “Hey, this isn’t as bad as I thought.” Each bold step retrains your brain.
• Momentum creates motivation. Behavioral psychology reminds us that small wins release dopamine—the brain’s reward chemical. Every time you make progress, even tiny progress, your brain rewards you. Suddenly, you’re not forcing yourself forward—you’re being pulled by momentum.

That’s the real power of bold moves: they compound. One small act of courage today makes tomorrow’s bigger leap possible.

Big Leaps vs. Small Steps

So which one is better—the cannonball or the ladder?

Neither. It depends on what you want most.

• If the thought of waiting, watching others swim, and living with that knot in your stomach is worse than the shock of cold water, you’re a cannonballer.
• If the fear of freezing up completely and bailing out is stronger than the need to be first in, you’re a ladder-stepper.

Both approaches are valid. Both get you to the same destination. What matters is that you move toward what you want—not that you impress anyone with how you got there.

The FOMO Factor

Here’s where it gets interesting: often, the cannonballers aren’t braver—they’re hungrier. The thought of missing out outweighs their fear of the shock.

Meanwhile, the ladder-stepper might want to swim, but not badly enough to endure the discomfort of jumping in all at once. And that’s okay—because their smaller, sustained moves still build confidence. Each step is its own bold act.

The lesson? Gauge your moves not by your comfort level, not by your fear level—but by your desire. How badly do you want what’s on the other side?

What Bold Looks Like in Real Life

Bold doesn’t always look like quitting your job overnight or moving across the country. Sometimes it looks like:

• Signing up for a course you’ve been eyeing.
• Asking for help instead of white-knuckling it.
• Saying “no” to something that drains you.
• Admitting you want more—even if you don’t know what that looks like yet.

Those are bold moves, too. They’re the “toes in the water” moments that build you up for the bigger leaps.

And when you’re ready, bold also looks like:

• Finally leaving the toxic workplace.
• Launching the business you’ve dreamed about.
• Speaking your truth, even when your voice shakes.
• Choosing yourself when it would be easier not to.

Every bold move matters. Every step counts.

Why Women Hold Back

Let’s be honest: women are experts at playing small. We’ve been conditioned to measure risk against the comfort of everyone else in the room. To wait for permission. To downplay our desires until they feel “reasonable.”

But here’s the problem: boldness and reason rarely coexist. You can’t wait for your bold move to feel comfortable—it won’t. Comfort is the water you’re standing outside of.

At some point, you have to decide: do I want this badly enough to risk the shock?

My Advice: Stop Letting Fear Be the Judge

If you take nothing else from this, take this: never let fear be the deciding factor. Fear is not a reliable compass.

Want proof? Science again: the amygdala—the brain’s fear center—lights up the same way whether you’re facing an actual life-or-death threat or just speaking in public. Fear doesn’t distinguish between danger and discomfort. It just shouts “STOP.”

But discomfort isn’t danger. Discomfort is growth. And every time you choose action anyway, you rewire your brain to recognize that truth.

Bold Moves Are a Muscle

Think of boldness like strength training. You don’t start by deadlifting 200 pounds. You start with smaller weights. You build muscle over time.

Small bold moves are your warm-up sets. They strengthen your confidence, build resilience, and prepare you for the bigger lifts. And when the moment comes to lift heavy—to quit the job, end the relationship, start the dream—you’ll be ready.

Ready to Take Your Next Bold Move?

Here’s the bottom line: bold moves—big or small—are what carry you from where you are to where you want to be. Don’t discount the baby steps. Don’t downplay the cannonball. Both matter. Both transform.

So, what’s your next bold move?

If you’re ready to stop waiting on the sidelines and start making the moves that align with your purpose, let’s talk. I offer free discovery calls where we’ll get clear on what you want, what’s holding you back, and what bold step will move you forward.

👉 Sign up for a free discovery call here



Because here’s the truth: just because you can keep standing on the edge of the pool doesn’t mean you have to.