Embracing The Idea Of Risk

If you’re looking for a job, or contemplating trying something completely new, it can be tempting to be complacent about it. Stick with the tried and true and hope for the best. This temptation can lead to personal stagnation. And stagnancy by definition will get you nowhere. Sometimes the road out of nowhere is paved with risk.

For you, risk might mean calling people you know and asking for help. It might mean getting in touch with the president of a company you want to work for. It might mean putting something you’re passionate about online for the world to see.

Doing something completely new and possibly risky can completely revitalize a career or a person, but at the same time it’s also completely terrifying.

What if I fail?

You have this idea. You want to convince yourself to do it, or pitch it to someone else, but you’re feeling intimidated by that voice in your head. What if I fail?

Turn on a light

There are a bunch of versions online of Thomas Edison’s response to failure in the process of inventing a light bulb. “I haven’t failed 10,000 times. I found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” Or “I didn’t fail 1000 times, the light bulb was an invention of 1000 steps.” The point isn’t whether it took him 1000 tries or 10,00 tries it’s that he kept at it. He didn’t let the risk of fear or failure stop him.

The views on uncharted paths

Risks, failures or successes, are all paths to learning. If you fail, you’ve learned one of the many ways not to go. As long as you’re mindful of the mistakes you made, the excursion was most likely a valuable experience. You may not like all the views you see along the way, but as long as you keep moving the benefit will generally outweigh the risk.

Vary your approach

Another inspiring source of endless quotes (and new ways of thinking), Einstein, said, “The definition of insanity is attempting the same thing over and over and expecting

different results.” Risks lead to change. Change is the engine of growth and success.