Everything you want in life is going to require one thing: Your ability to take a risk.
Now, when most people hear the word “risk,” they get squeamish – risk feels like something to avoid. Look at the way the word “risk” is often presented to us: “Risk Vs. Reward,” as if taking a risk is the downside of a choice.
I want you to orient yourself to a new definition of risk: “It’s making a decision that leads you into uncertainty.” That’s not bad, right? It’s just a choice where you’re not sure what the outcome will be. Putting it that way, we take risks all the time: marriage, children, education, employment, moving, etc. We live in a world where we take risks.
Yet some risks seem scarier, don’t they? These are often the scenarios where we’re pushing boundaries and no one around us is doing what it is we want to do – like investing in real estate, opening up a small business, or making a big bet with your department and its go-to-market strategy.
We need confidence in taking risks in these moments because it’s the skill that’s going to allow us to level up in important ways in our life.
I want to introduce you to Three Misconceptions about Risk that might be limiting your ability to see risks fully – not as just something to avoid, but rather something to embrace. Here goes:
- Misconception #1: Risk is the Opposite of Reward. Wrong. Risk is the path to reward. Every good choice you’ve made in life required you to take a risk.
- Misconception #2: Risk is a Big Leap. Risk done wrong is a big leap – like rip the band aid off, or 90-day Fiancé . Risk done right is small, thoughtful steps toward your goal. 1% better every single day!
- Misconception #3: We think We Can Avoid Risk. Yep, still wrong. Risk is all around us – not taking risks is taking a risk. We can’t keep our head down and think we can avoid change. We can, though, move with change by taking risks that keep us with the times.
When you start to see risk as something to step toward, versus something to hide from, your world starts to change – you see abundance, opportunity, and growth. Sure, you’re mindful of both best case and worst-case scenarios, and you workshop through them, but you put your attention and focus on success. I know the world feels a little crazy right now with the headlines coming at us. Yet, I know this: it’s the perfect opportunity for you to start making some moves. Here’s to a whole new era of risk-taking where your dreams are honored with action.
