Hey Reader,
A few years ago I won a free coaching session with Jill Stanton of Screw the 9 to 5.
I was thrilled. Here was this brilliant entrepreneur offering me her time and expertise - exactly what I thought would finally get me unstuck.
I'd been following her and Josh and the business they'd built as digital nomads whilst dreaming of being able to achieve a similar level of time and location freedom for years.
But when we got on the call and she asked what I actually wanted help with, I froze.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. And I didn't.
I knew I wanted to build a life where I could work online, travel when I wanted and have full time autonomy, but I had NO idea of how to make it a reality. I had lots of passions and skills, but felt completely paralysed.
The session was a write-off. Not because Jill wasn’t brilliant - she was. But because I was waiting for clarity to strike like lightning before I let myself take any action.
What I didn’t realise then is that that’s not how clarity works.
That session planted a seed that took years to sprout. It showed me what doesn’t work: sitting in indecision, hoping for certainty.
And if you’ve ever felt stuck between ideas, pulled in different directions, or paralysed by the fear of choosing wrong, I want to share what helped me move forward.
Unbound Shift: you need motion, not certainty.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that successful people just know. That they have some big epiphany and then everything falls into place.
But that’s a myth.
Clarity isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build.
And you build it by doing.
Every time you take a small step towards something you’re curious about, you gather data. You learn what energises you and what drains you. You stop guessing and start sensing.
That coaching session wouldn’t have been a waste if I’d just tried one small thing beforehand. Written one blog post. Had one conversation. Tested one idea.
Instead, I was stuck in analysis paralysis, waiting for an answer that could only ever come through action.
Unbound Step: test one idea, gently
This week, I want to offer you a different way forward - especially if you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or unsure where to begin.
Pick one idea that’s been circling your mind and test it: not by planning it to death, but by taking the smallest possible step.
Here are some low-pressure ways to start:
• Curious about freelance writing? Write one LinkedIn post in your real voice, or spend 10 minutes commenting meaningfully on posts in your area of interest.
• Wondering about a career change? Spend 15 minutes browsing job descriptions in that field, or follow 2-3 people on LinkedIn who already do that work.
• Thinking about starting something? Tell one trusted friend about the idea and ask what they think, or join one relevant online group and observe what resonates.
• Want to create content? Commit to posting consistently on ONE platform for two weeks and track engagement.
When you're overwhelmed, even choosing feels like a risk. That’s why your first step should be so small it's impossible to fail at.
You're not committing to anything; you're just gathering information.
Clarity is earned. And action is how you earn it.
Your tiny action this week:
Pick one idea and take one small step. That’s it.
When you're ready, hit reply and tell me what you're going to try.
Sometimes just saying it out loud makes it feel more real.
Getting unbound
If you've been following along since my Odyssey Planning edition back in May, you might be wondering: “But Sam, I already mapped out three different lives. Why am I still stuck?”
Because sometimes, having options can feel as overwhelming as having none.
That’s why the next step isn’t to choose - it’s to test. Start small. Start curious. But start. Don't wait for perfect or for something to happen first.
And if you want some structure to keep building clarity, my Life Unbound workbook walks you through the next steps. You can get it here.
In your corner always,
Sam 💛
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Sam Sheppard
Introvert Life Design Strategist
I share practical tools to help you design a life that actually fits.
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