Life Equals Risk (part 1)
March 19, 2010 by Jeanne Male
Each morning we get up and plan our day. But each day, a fair number of those who knew what they would be doing that evening were wrong because the risks of living caused their lives to be forever changed or lost. A sobering thought, yet none of us is immune to an automobile accident, a sudden illness or random event. I was musing about this topic this past December when my long-time friend and book keeper went out to her car, slipped on the ice and suffered serious head trauma – she is currently disabled and may never be the same.
The stark reality is that simply getting out of bed in the morning and stepping into the shower is a risk. So now that we have yanked open the illusory curtain of safety and certainty, let’s begin to bring taking risks into perspective.
We get out of bed because the risk is so worth taking that we don’t think about it as risky. And what about the risks you do think about – until the notion of actually taking them becomes as frightening as your first roller coaster ride? Are you considering…
- starting a business?
- leaving an unhappy situation?
- taking a new job?
- changing career fields?
- becoming a stay-at-home mom or dad?
- living with authenticity and transparency?
- going back to school?
- relocating?
- following a dream?
If so, what’s holding you back? Fear of failure or rejection? Watch this video about “Famous Failures” for inspiration well worth holding onto.
Hang on tight to the feeling you have after watching the video and read part 2 now (risk tolerance) and then click the RSS feed to get part 3 by email – to hear from everyday people who climbed aboard the risk roller coaster of their dreams.
Let’s get the discussion started:
- What risks are you considering?
- What risks have you taken – will you share your story?
I’m naturally a very cautious person, but over the last few years realized that I wouldn’t really move forward in any area of my life if I didn’t start taking some risks. So after having my third child, I decided to leave the world of work and start my own business. It was a huge risk…not knowing if we would have enough money to support our growing family, not knowing how I would be received. Turns out it was one of the best things I have ever done. It gave me the chance to, first and foremost, spend more time with my kids while they were young. But equally important was what it did for ME. It opened the door to let my creativity shine and make an impact in the world more on my terms. I have met some incredible people…like you Jeanne…that I don’t believe I would have met had I not taken the leap into entrepreneurship.
My subsequent big risk was starting ballet classes. I had mulled it over for a while and decided to take the plunge. Again, one of the best things I ever did for myself. Taking the first risk made the second one a bit easier to make. I now I feel I look at the world, myself, and potential opportunities a whole lot differently.
Lydia, Thanks so much for sharing your risks, fears and successes – no doubt your story will be helpful to others. I’m so glad that you took the leap into the unknown because what you learned is profound, especially this comment: “Taking the first risk made the second one a bit easier to make. I now I feel I look at the world, myself, and potential opportunities a whole lot differently”. Bravo!
My viewpoint on taking risks has changed over the last few years. Now, I am sorry for the risks I DID NOT take over my lifetime. No longer. My plan now is to look every one squarely in the eye and step forward. If I fail, I fail but I will have made the attempt.
Jeanne, this is a wonderful, compelling question that I’ve tackled routinely thoughout my life. Some risks have been performance-related, leaving public school teaching to become a manager in a Fortune 500. Then there was entrepreneurism when life meant I needed another stream of income. Then I’d always wanted to own a horse but then needed a farm to go with it. That lead to many years breeding horses commercially when I had no knowledge or background in it. Being part of the horse industry is all about risk, financial, physical, and competitive. From there, I left a cushy corporate job to become a full time consultant not knowing if that would succeed. Today my risks are more about expanding my reach, like through social media, and sharing my knowledge as a speaker. In retrospect, I don’t think I ever thought about next steps as risks but rather adventures that tested me in ways that in time would convince me that maybe I had what it took!
Diana, thanks for sharing how your views on taking risks has changed. Only perspective can teach us that we can be as sorry for risks NOT taken as those we may have taken even if we had failed. Wishing you every happiness and success as you go for it!
Hi, Dawn! There are so many aspects of your story that are worth comment so I’ll just focus on a few: 1. Clearly you are not risk averse. 2. Your wide ranging interests likely fueled your ability to reinvent yourself and served you well. 3. The big takeaway for me was your last line. The lesson I see is that only in stretching yourself can you truly build confidence and perhaps self-actualize. Dawn, I’m grateful to you for taking the time to share and encourage other JobLife Architects.