“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-term risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” – John F. Kennedy

The 2 most dangerous, paralyzing words for performers and creatives (and in almost every aspect of life) are:

“Be careful.”

To live ‘safely’ is to run your life without spontaneity and creativity. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the ONLY path to success in life is giving yourself permission to ‘take chances and risks’.

“Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until they are 75.” – Ben Franklin

When asked what they would do differently if they had their life to do over again, most of fifty adults 95 years and older replied that they would risk more.

How many times have you wanted to take a risk or meet a challenge in your business, in a performance situation or in your personal life, but were too afraid to? The following quote is a guiding principle in the coaching work I do with my clients.

“Change and growth takes place when a person has risked themselves and dared to experiment with their own life.” – Herbert Otto

• In what area of your business or career are you currently afraid to take some risks?
• In what performance situation are you afraid to venture out and try something new and unique?
• In what areas of your personal life are you afraid to take a chance?

Sam Walton once said,

“Swim upstream. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody is doing it one way, there’s a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction. But, be prepared for a lot off folks to wave you down and tell you you’re headed in the wrong direction.”

Here are 6 principles for overcoming your fear of risk-taking:

• Stop limiting yourself – Become aware of your self-imposed beliefs that keep you from taking chances and pursuing your dreams and goals.
• Get rid of your ‘reasons’ for playing it safe – Call an excuse an excuse and challenge yourself to quit playing it safe.
• Quit dreaming, start acting! – Put your dreams into some kind of concrete reality – get them ‘out of your head’ and into action.
• Anticipate obstaclesand ‘failures’ along the way – Identify them earlier and use them as stepping stones to success.
• Stick with the processeven if there are twists and turns along the journey and you end up somewhere a little different.
• Never forget that the greatest risk in your life, whether it is in business, personal areas or performance situations, is to cease risking.
  

“We cannot grow without taking risks, without loosening our grip on the known and the certain, and taking a chance in reaching for a little bit more of life.” – Tim Hansel

A poem that I end many of my Workshops with is one that I am sure you have read before, yet it is such a great reminder of the power of risking:

RISKS

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feeling s is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams, before a

crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair.

To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken, because the greatest

hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing,

has nothing and is nothing.

They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they

cannot learn, feel change, grow, love, live.

Only a person who risks is free.

My wish for you is to take a step towards what makes you uncomfortable and then, over time, be amazed at where that will ultimately take you in your life journey!