Put On Your Squirrel Suit

Have you ever seen those people who jump off cliffs in squirrel suits?

A squirrel suit (or ‘wingsuit’ as Wikipedia calls them) is basically a big onesie that has fabric panels sewn between the legs and between the arms and torso.

When you jump off a cliff, if you hold your body just right, you can achieve a sort of gliding flight, as opposed to just, well…free falling.

The first guy to try using a squirrel suit was a 33 year-old Parisian tailor named Franz Reichelt, who in 1912 jumped off the Eiffel Tower to test his invention.

Witnesses say he stared over the edge for quite some time before jumping.

It didn’t end well for Franz, but that’s beside the point.

It got me wondering about these more modern day squirrel suit flying people.

My big question is: “How do you practice this?”

That is, before jumping off a cliff.

I’m sure there is some way. A wind tunnel, doing it with a parachute, maybe.

But the real answer is…

You don’t. One day you just jump.

Eventually you just have to decide that this is the day you’re going to jump off the cliff.

Joey Cofone, the author of “The Laws of Creativity” once said, “Jumping off cliffs is the only way to grow.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Additionally, I’d have to add this: It’s also the only way to find out if you can fly.

Just last week, Lauren Williams, a member of the Brand Design Masters Facebook group from Australia had been staring at the edge of her personal cliff and thinking about it for quite some time.

“…literally months.” Lauren told me.

She made the fortunate mistake of posting a comment in the group about her hesitation and fear of starting to post content.

I say “mistake” because of course, I seized upon it and challenged her to post something by the end of the day…ok, it was a little encouraging push closer to the edge.

But that’s my job, right?

I told her I was going to check up on her about it, too.

And guess what happened? 

She put on her squirrel suit and did it. She jumped.

The most amazing thing about her first flight was that her first post was about…wait for it….being terrified about posting!

Honest, authentic, funny (I mean, come’on there’s a cat and a cucumber involved…) and IMHO totally brilliant for a first post.

If you’re curious about the cat and the cucumber, here’s the post. Maybe you can follow her to give her a little encouragement. 

The other Facebook group members cheered and congratulated her for leaping.

And flying.

Today I went back on her Instagram profile and there’s a 2nd post up there now!

This time it’s a beautiful reel of her portfolio and her services. A higher cliff. A more ambitious flight.

So, if you’ve been anxious, procrastinating, and staring over the edge of your personal cliff for quite some time.

Don’t think about the jumping part.

Think about the flying part.

And put on your squirrel suit.