Taking the Leap: A Shared Journey of Courage and Friendship

We all have that dream or goal that feels just a little too far out of reach. For some of us, that dream involves pushing past fear and taking a literal leap of faith.

Nexstar Implementation Coach Kristin Quate and Customer Experience Coach Jennifer Frith know all about getting out of their comfort zones. Read on to find out how a leap from thousands of feet in the air helped these coaches discover courage and learn to make dreams reality.

Jennifer Frith: I’d dreamed about skydiving for a long time. I inherited a taste for adrenaline from my father, a daredevil who loved flying and adventure. However, even though I knew I wanted to try skydiving, I continually put off the idea. I’ll wait until my daughter is 18, I thought. But that milestone passed, and I was still hesitating. The idea seemed too daunting and risky.

This all changed the day I decided to share my dream with my colleague, Kristin. During a casual conversation, I mentioned that skydiving was something I wanted to do for my upcoming 40th birthday. Without hesitation, Kristin’s response was a resounding, “I’ll do it with you!” From that moment, the dream became a plan.

Kristin’s enthusiasm brought the spark to life. She didn’t wait for the perfect moment or a fully developed plan. She took immediate action, booking our skydiving adventure during a work trip to Miami.

Kristin Quate: In taking this leap together, we learned some valuable and unexpected lessons! Sure, we got out of our comfort zones, but we also got a refresher on achieving goals, pushing through fear, and the power of relationships.

The first step to making a dream a reality is often the simplest: writing it down. Jennifer jotted down her skydiving goal on her whiteboard. She says, “What’s written is real,” and that act of committing her goal to paper turned it into something tangible. Writing down your goals is like planting a seed — every subsequent action nurtures it toward growth.

Jennifer: What’s that second step? Sharing your dream with the right person to get powerful encouragement. Kristin was that person for me: someone who immediately ignited the spark and fanned it into a flame. Not everyone will support your dreams, but finding those who do can make all the difference. Sharing your goal with someone positive and aligned with your aspirations creates a space for courage to grow.

Kristin: Yes! It’s important to note, though, that taking action doesn’t mean having the entire path mapped out. The first thing I did was simply align our schedules and book the jump. That was enough to move the needle. Often, the hardest part of a big leap is the first small action.

Jennifer: When the day of the jump arrived, the experience was both exhilarating and challenging. As I floated down from the sky, I felt a rush of freedom and excitement. Kristin, on the other hand, discovered that the harness and altitude caused a wave of nausea that lasted for hours afterward. But both of our experiences were part of the journey. Fear, discomfort, and unexpected hiccups are all part of pushing ourselves toward growth. Even through the messy parts, every leap we take brings us closer to who we are meant to become.

Kristin: After the jump, we celebrated with laughter, mimosas, and massages. The memories of that day, both the thrilling and the uncomfortable parts, are now etched in our hearts as proof that we can do hard things.

Jennifer: Exactly. More than anything, we learned that bravery is contagious. Taking risks together deepens trust and connection in a way that nothing else can.

In life, courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s acting in spite of fear. We often forget that confidence is built through action, not before it. The extraordinary thing is that often, the leap you take for yourself becomes a source of inspiration for others.

So, what’s your leap? Write it down, share it with someone who will support you, and take that first step. Your spark is already there — trust it, fan it, and let it burn bright.