We recently connected with Shana Ginsburg and have shared our conversation below.
Shana, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
As a teenager, I appeared to “have it all together,” and for the most part, I did. But what people didn’t know about me was that I lacked confidence and was full of self-doubt. In fact, before my exams in high school, I would walk into the classroom and announce to everyone, “I’m gonna fail,” even if I had stayed up studying for hours the night before. Senior year, during the college application process, I didn’t apply to any schools with low acceptance rates because I didn’t believe I could get in, despite having amazing grades. I liked setting the bar low for myself so I wouldn’t get disappointed. It didn’t matter how hard-working or ambitious I was because deep down, I didn’t believe I was that smart or good enough. That explains why I only ever did things that came easy to me, avoided taking risks, and rejected any kind of challenge or opportunity that required me to get out of my comfort zone.
It wasn’t until I was 18 years old that I took the biggest risk of my life. I said yes to attending a personal development training at ChoiceCenter Leadership University in Las Vegas. Initially, I was convinced I didn’t need to go because I had “no problems,” but when I got really honest with myself, I realized how badly I wanted to work through my insecurities and fears so I could feel courageous, free, and confident. And that’s exactly what happened. I discovered and let go of all the limiting beliefs that weren’t serving me and learned the importance of having a crystal-clear vision for my life.
For me, that vision included traveling abroad on a ship for a college semester through a program called Semester At Sea. It was a costly investment, so I knew I’d have to make major changes in my life in order to afford it. But with the epiphanies I had from my personal development training, I knew I needed to take the risk. In order to save money for my future travels, I made the decision to transfer out of my college in Arizona, live at home with my parents in Las Vegas, go to school locally, and work full-time. Although it was scary to make such a big change in my life and leave behind so many people and opportunities in Arizona, I knew it was a necessary step towards fulfilling my dream of exploring the world.
Leading up to the trip, I applied to several scholarships because I had nothing to lose. This time around, I had a totally different mindset compared to my high school days because I genuinely believed in my abilities. As it turned out, I received a phone call from Semester At Sea notifying me that I had been awarded a $10,000 scholarship for my trip! I burst into tears of joy because that moment was a true testament to the rewards of believing in myself, stepping outside of my comfort zone, and taking big risks.
And that’s exactly what I continued to do in my life. In September of 2019, I traveled abroad and took risks left and right for 4 months straight. I made new friends, explored several different countries, and put myself in uncomfortable experiences so I could grow and learn.
From that point on, taking risks became second nature to me because I had so much evidence that I could do scary things and not only survive, but also come out of it a more confident person. As the years have gone by, I’ve taken more risks than I can count, including ditching my corporate job for a 100% commission sales position!
If you were to ask me how YOU could develop your ability to take risks, I would tell you a number of things.
First and foremost, you MUST tap into courage, and then… take ACTION no matter what. When you’re doing something you’ve never done before, you’re not necessarily going to feel confident because you may not have past evidence or examples to prove you can do it. But I can assure you that you’re going to develop self-belief by continuing to take imperfect action in your life. You want to ask yourself, “What kind of things do confident people do? How do they act?” For me, confident people say YES to opportunities that scare them, they dive head-first into the unknown, they challenge themselves in any way they can, and they practice deliberate discomfort. They seek experiences that evoke their greatest fears so they can break through them. You see, if you want to be more confident, you have to ACT like the confident person you want to become.
You also have to have a vision that is much bigger than the fears holding you back. Your vision becomes your anchor in times of doubt. It grounds you and reminds you of the “why” behind you taking those risks in first place. To have a vision, you need to be pretty clear about what you desire, what you dream of, what you crave the most, etc. You need to get really specific about what that looks like and consider how your life will be different once you have it. Use your imagination to paint a picture for yourself by creating a vision board or writing a descriptive story that brings your dreams to life! Having something to look forward to will be pivotal when you feel most afraid to take leaps of faith.
And here’s the important thing to know — NOT taking risks is RISKY. Think about it. Maybe you feel unfulfilled, complacent, or sad right now because you’re not going after the things you want. Now is the time to ask yourself, “What am I potentially missing out on by not taking the risk?” I can guarantee that you’re already paying prices in your life by staying safe and doing what’s comfortable. You have to understand that whatever you’re afraid of feeling in taking the risk, you’re likely already feeling now. Let’s say you’re considering getting a new job, but the idea of leaving your current one fills you with fear and sadness. Well, the fear and sadness you’re avoiding by not making the change is probably present when you reflect on the long-term consequences of staying at your current job. So, no matter what decision you make, the unavoidable truth is that you’re going to confront the feelings that you’re afraid of facing. The question is, which path, embracing risk and change or seeking comfort and familiarity, will bring you closer to what you want?
There is no magic formula for getting rid of your fears once and for all. They’re always going to be there. The key is learning how to befriend your fears and be curious about why they’re there. Don’t ignore them. Instead, acknowledge them and speak them out loud so they have less power over you. Remember, your fears are trying to keep you safe and trick you into settling for security and comfort. Feel the fear, and take action anyway.
Your ability to take risks is going get easier and easier with experience. All you need to do is focus on the first step in front of you. With each step, you’ll face your self-doubt and fears head on and develop into the version of yourself that you’ve always wanted to be. Don’t forget, one single decision can completely transform your life. You know what they say… “With great risk often comes great reward!”
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the Mindset Coach & Founder behind Co-Elevate with Shana, a coaching business geared towards women in their 20s and 30s who want to feel courageous, confident, and clear about who they are and what they want. Let’s get real — it’s no secret that life can be hard and confusing. As we navigate through different jobs, relationships, environments, and even our own emotions, it’s easy to feel discouraged, overwhelmed, or doubtful about the trajectory of our lives. And it’s even easier to be our own worst critic. But with a Mindset Coach like me, you learn how to develop a relationship with yourself that is much more supportive of the person you want to become and the life you want to create. You cultivate a profound understanding of your fears and limiting beliefs while embracing empowering perspectives that bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
My journey as a Coach began several years ago when I attended an emotional intelligence training that completely changed my life. Through that experience, I discovered all the limitations that were holding me back from stepping into the powerful woman that I always knew was within me. I learned how to take risks, embrace discomfort, and create a vision for my life that inspired me. And that’s how Co-Elevate with Shana was birthed.
When I was younger, I didn’t know how to effectively manage my self-doubt, insecurities, and fears, and I was terrified of using my voice and standing out. More often than not, I felt uncomfortable in different social settings, and I constantly judged myself for being different than everyone else. As I matured and embarked on a journey of self-discovery and healing through various modalities, it became crystal clear to me that I was meant to guide and support other women through their struggles, just as many others had done for me.
The best part about coaching women is witnessing their remarkable transformation from a state of confusion to one of clarity. I love knowing that they feel grounded, peaceful, and confident after having a coaching session with me. There is truly nothing more rewarding than uplifting people in a way that reconnects them with their innate beauty, both internally and externally. And that’s why I do this. As I coach and support women in breaking free from their limitations, I’m also breaking free from my own limitations right alongside them. It’s a unique experience because it reinforces the message that we’re not alone and reminds us that we’re all in this together.
If you’re in your 20s or 30s looking for guidance and you want to connect and grow alongside like-minded women, please join my free Co-Elevate Community chat through this link: https://app.geneva.com/
If you’re seeking personal coaching, you can reach out to me via my website (shanaginsburg.com) or my email: [email protected]. If you’re looking for an extra boost of inspiration, you can also tune into The Co-Elevate Podcast with Shana!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are self-awareness, responsibility, and courage. Without these things, I would not be where I am today.
I believe that you can’t get to where you want to go in life without knowing where you are now. Self-awareness is pivotal because it shines a light on the thoughts, beliefs, behaviors and emotions that affect your quality of life. Self-awareness is the first step towards change. You can’t transform something that you’re not aware of. If you want things to be different, you have to do something different. You may have to change your mindst or tap into a different way of being to create a different outcome in your life. When you become the master of your mind, anything is possible.
Responsibility is a big one. It’s easy to fall into the trap of being a victim and thinking that life is against you. You can believe that all you want, but that way of thinking is going to leave you feeling helpless and disempowered. To go from powerless to powerful, you have to take responsibility for your decisions and your interpretations. At the end of the day, you can’t control what happens around you, but you can always choose how you respond. When you look at life from a responsible lens, you realize that you have the ability to change the direction of your life at any moment, and the power lies in your hands. No one is going to save you or hand you the life you’ve always wanted. You have to put yourself out there and go after it because you’re the only one who can make it happen.
And that brings me to courage. Everything you want in your life is just outside of your comfort zone, so you have to be willing to risk BIG. It’s okay if you don’t feel ready or confident enough, take action anyway. You’re going to develop your self-confidence by acting like a confident person would and doing the things that confident people do. You grow the most from embracing discomfort and putting yourself in situations that scare you. The best thing to do is focus on the very first step in front of you. Then, before you know it, one step leads to the next step which leads to the next step, and suddenly, before you know it, you’re exactly where you want to be!
If you want to develop any of these skills, I highly suggest investing in an experiential personal development training. You can read as many books as you want, but long-term, you will retain very little of that information. However, when you engage in an experiential training that mirrors real-life situations, you gain a fresh perspective similar to exploring different parts of the world. It allows you to acquire a whole new set of lenses through which you perceive and navigate your life. If you don’t feel compelled to attend a group training, then invest in a personal coach who can guide and support you in your journey of self-discovery and personal transformation.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
For as long as I can remember, my parents have always allowed me to be my authentic self and pursue passions that mattered most to me. They never told me what to do or imposed their dreams onto me. As a child, I was most passionate about singing, technology, and home design. I had absolutely zero interest in sports like other kids, and I appreciated that my parents never forced me into doing things I didn’t like. In fact, when I was 10 years old, I started a web-design and tech-support company called Shana’s Web Wizard. Teachers at my public school hired me to edit their class websites and give them computer lessons so they could become more tech-savvy. I was paid by the hour, and very much enjoyed the independence of working and making my own money at a young age. When I needed to buy a domain name for my business and didn’t have a credit card, my parents gave me theirs… no questions asked! When I asked them for a premium MobileMe Mac subscription so I could publish my websites online, they bought it for me! When I wanted to share videos of me singing and dancing on YouTube, they let me. They never prevented me from exploring my passions or made me feel like I was too young to pursue my interests. Instead, they raised me with such a solid and supportive foundation that allowed me to grow and evolve into the woman I am today.
Both my mom and dad have always prioritized self-improvement in their lives, so they instilled that in me as a teenager. When I was 13 years old, they even enrolled me into a Teen Leadership training, where I learned about empathy, responsibility, limiting beliefs, integrity, goal-setting, and so much more. As I got older and saw my parents’ commitment to working on themselves through life coaches, therapists, and healers, I realized the value of self-awareness and growth in my own life, which led me to create Co-Elevate with Shana.
When I look back at my childhood, one thing in particular stands out to me. During family members’ birthdays or special occasions like Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, we would gather around the dinner table to acknowledge the person being celebrated. We would take turns expressing our appreciation, sharing what we loved most about them and communicating the impact they had on our lives. Though I resisted this back in high school, it taught me how to be vulnerable and grateful. Now, thanks to that family tradition, I am very comfortable expressing gratitude and vulnerability with the people in my life.
If it weren’t for my parents, I would not be where I am today. There’s no question about that. To this day, they encourage and support everything I do. I am most appreciative of the way they’ve loved and embraced me my entire life. They’ve never tried to change or control me for their own satisfaction, as many parents do. They are the most accepting people I’ve ever known and have taught me invaluable lessons I will carry with me the rest of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: shanaginsburg.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/shana.ginsburg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Co-Elevate-with-Shana/100081732686221/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shana-ginsburg/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShanaGinsburg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shana.ginsburg
- Email: [email protected]
- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-co-elevate-podcast-with-shana/id1663544915
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34LUshG0QL9FJTan36tH7V?si=3310754db2744d53
Image Credits
Marissa Rachelle Photos
