Imagine standing on the edge of something unknown—a space filled with potential, but also with uncertainty. You feel hesitation tug at you, self-doubt whispering in your ear. It's a feeling we've all experienced, that moment when stepping forward feels daunting. Yet, what if I told you that every great journey—every hero’s story—begins with that very discomfort? It’s the call to adventure, that quiet invitation to move toward something greater.

Every Hero’s Story

The Hero's Journey, was first recognized as a pattern in mythology by Joseph Campbell, who noticed that heroes in mythology typically go through the same 17 stages in their journey toward hero-dom.

The journey typically follows a cycle of events that begins with a call to adventure, where the hero faces a challenge or quest. As the hero embarks on this journey, they face trials, gain new skills, and overcome obstacles, often with the help of mentors or allies.

Isn’t that life? Aren’t we all heroes of our own stories and journey?

Key stages of the Hero’s Journey

There are stages in every hero’s journey and in this blog I want to share the steps and a story of how I have travelled on my own journey and how, you can tap into my experience and work with me as I guide and support you on yours.

Call to Adventure: The hero is introduced to a challenge or opportunity.
Refusal of the Call: The hero may hesitate or doubt their abilities to take on the challenge.
Crossing the Threshold: The hero commits to the journey and steps into the unknown.
Trials and Challenges: Along the way, the hero faces obstacles, trials, and tests of strength or character.
Mentors and Allies: The hero encounters people who offer guidance or assistance.
The Ordeal: The hero faces their greatest challenge or darkest moment.
The Reward: After overcoming the ordeal, the hero gains insight, knowledge, or success.
The Return: The hero returns home, transformed, and shares their newfound wisdom or skill to benefit others.

In the context of life, business, or personal growth, the Hero’s Journey allows an opportunity for us to unlock our potential and to do that you need step out of your comfort zone, face challenges, learn from them, and ultimately growing into a better, stronger version of yourself.

My own journey

In my own life, there have been many calls to adventure. I may not have realised it at the time, but from initially approaching a shop owner to enquire if my embroidered baby blankets could be worth selling back in 1989, to becoming a stallholder at multiple markets and eventually establishing the Bayside Craft Market in 1994.

When I look back I can clearly see my journey and the steps I took along the way drawing on the development of confidence, connection and conversations. I can identify how my skills developed overtime through experiences of working in education, relocation and real estate, and were transferable to founding a business community back in 2010.

Let’s pause for a moment and reflect. A business breakthrough, a relationship that changes your life, or a new direction—these opportunities aren’t far off. They’re right in front of you.

Our baby daughter was about a month old, when I made that choice.

It was a cold wintery day in June and we were sitting in a café in the Mooraduc Coolstores, outside a beautiful babywear shop filled with gorgeous smocked nighties, and woollen booties and soft toys. We were having a coffee and scones, pleased to be out of the house at last, as our daughter lay asleep in her navy blue pram, wrapped in an embroidered baby blanket that I had poured over, prior to her birth.

I wondered if there was a market for my embroidery and whether the babywear shop in the center would be interested in taking my blankets on consignment. I loved creating the blankets, and it could be financially lucrative , but how many blankets does one baby need. I needed an outlet.

Curiosity was the catalyst, the spark that lights the way in many Hero’s Journeys. It’s that little voice inside saying, “What if? What lies beyond the known?” Without curiosity, many journeys would never begin. I was curious to see what opportunities I could unearth and if people would think of my blankets.

I realize now that I had a choice to take that call to action - to approach that shop owner, or not.

Crossing the Threshold

That pivotal moment came when I had to decide to act. I went into the shop, and found they would be happy to take the blankets on consignment, offering me a figure. I was excited. But after some reflection, realized they would be making much more profit from my hours of labor than I would. There had to be another way.

Now, I want you to think about your own threshold. It might look different from mine. It could be starting a conversation, launching a project, or exploring a career shift. The threshold isn’t always a giant leap—it can be small steps.

So, what did I do? I decided to start selling my blankets at craft markets. From that first market, I began attending more and more, and, just like any great journey, unexpected allies appeared.

Through my baby group, I met a friend who also enjoyed embroidery. She made beautiful, perfectly stitched cushions—quite different from my more free-flowing designs. After some time, we decided to join forces and run our own market. Together, we set up the Bayside Craft Market, which operated at the Brighton Town Hall for over six years and at its height had 130 stallholders. There is so much I could share, but that’s another story.

The Reward

For me, the journey evolved from running a craft market to building a community for business owners.

Often, we overlook the idea that we might be just one conversation away from everything we’ve been seeking.

So, what was the reward for stepping into the unknown? Growth—personal, professional, and emotional.

Every time we push ourselves beyond our comfort zones, we learn something new about ourselves and others and we have the ability to contribute , drive opportunities and experience growth and fulfillment. We have the chance to make a difference in our own way.

Unlock your potential

Imagine your own threshold. It might look different from mine, but I’m sure it’s there, waiting for you. It could be starting that conversation you’ve been avoiding, launching a new project, or exploring a career shift. The threshold isn’t always a grand leap—it’s the first step, the brave step into the unknown, a step to unlocking your potential.

And just like in any great journey, unexpected allies appear along the way. Mentors, friends, clients, people who can offer wisdom and support.

The opportunities to find your own mentors and allies are their too, right under your nose and all you need to do is identify and access the right pathways and start a conversation and invest in relationships.

So, when you hear the call to action, cross the threshold, faces the challenges and return from your own journey, I ask: What will you bring back? Will it be the courage to start new conversations? The relationships you’ve built? The lessons you’ve learned?

Your time matters. Your journey matters. And the adventure doesn’t end here—it’s just beginning. What will be your next step? How will you answer your own call to adventure? Let’s start a conversation and find the pathways and opportunities that you are seeking to step beyond self doubt and continue your hero’s journey.

Hello, I’m Kerryn Powell, The Network Catalyst and founder of Your Time Matters.

With a passion for helping business owners build genuine relationships and grow with purpose, I’m here to support you in reshaping your conversations and navigating the challenges of business and achieving your "why."

Whether you need strategies to strengthen your network, stay accountable, or unlock new opportunities, I can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

It starts with a conversation with me , so let’s connect and explore how we can accelerate your success together. Reach out to start a conversation that matters.

Step Beyond Self-Doubt