'Leap Day' Survey Identifies America's Wish List Of Most Popular Aspirations

FINDS 66 PERCENT OF AMERICANS FEEL 'STUCK IN A RUT' IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES

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Feb 29, 2016, 06:03 ET

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To mark 'Leap Day' 2016, when an extra day is added to the calendar, GoDaddy (NYSE:GDDY) commissioned a survey to identify today's most popular life goals. The findings also revealed the obstacles preventing people from taking a 'leap of faith' toward their aspirations.

The survey found the majority of Americans are not satisfied with their professional and personal career goals, with more than three-quarters of respondents (76 percent) admitting they haven't made as much progress as they would have liked in both arenas, with 66 percent stating they feel 'stuck in a rut.'

Demonstrating the desirability of both entrepreneurship and academia, 'starting a business' and 'going back to school' topped the nation's aspirational wish list. While 'marriage proposal', 'trying an extreme sport' and 'writing a book' also ranked highly, the top five risks or 'leaps of faith' respondents wanted to take right now were:

Starting their own business
Going back to school
Taking a job out of state/country
Telling someone off
Traveling alone

Money is the main obstacle to making a life change (51 percent), followed by not knowing where or how to start (33 percent). Nearly one-in-three respondents lacked the confidence (31 percent) or motivation (30 percent) to take a big risk in their lives. More than half (53 percent) of those surveyed have had the same top goal for over ten years and still haven't accomplished it.

GoDaddy customer Candis Jones took a leap of faith when she founded her own business, The Jones Market. "I was eager to stay home with my baby and was willing to quit a job I loved and pinch pennies to live very simply. When unforeseen expenses arose, my only option was to start my own business and carry out an idea that I just couldn't let go," said Candis Jones. "Four years later, The Jones Market provides for my family and I'm continuing to take new leaps into the unknown. It is scary, but I can't let fear stop me from doing what I know is right and neither should anyone."

Steven Aldrich, Chief Product Officer for GoDaddy, the world's largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, commented on the findings: "It's so often fear that stops us from doing things. These findings show that pursuing your life goals – personally or professionally – is no easy feat. In fact, over 50 percent of us have been holding onto an aspiration or goal for over ten years, now could be the perfect time to take that leap."

Jonathan Porter also overcame his fears when he started his business, Chicago Pizza Tours. Leap Day 2012 marks the day Porter stepped up his game and built out his online storefront. "I had no money and was at the end of my rope," said Porter, "but I decided to go ahead and take the risk to register my first domain. I spent a substantial part of my savings to buy a bus for my tours. Now, four years later, I have nine employees, take more than 10,000 people on a tour each year, and the business continues to grow steadily. It was a leap well worth taking!"

"One thing we hear all the time from customers who have taken the plunge and taken a new career direction is that they wish they had done it sooner. Leap Day on February 29 gives us all an extra day of opportunity to pursue our goals and ambitions," said Steven Aldrich at GoDaddy. "For those thinking of taking a leap to start their own business - the number one risk people would take right now - a small start such as creating a website and professional email address can be a big step in the right direction."

Notes to Editor

The survey was conducted by OnePoll of 1,000 Americans in February 2016.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy's mission is to radically shift the global economy toward small businesses by empowering people to easily start, confidently grow and successfully run their own ventures. With 14 million customers worldwide and 62 million domain names under management, GoDaddy gives small business owners the tools to name their idea, build a beautiful online presence, attract customers and manage their business. To learn more about the Company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

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SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.