Sunday, October 24, 2010

5 steps for Taking an Enormous Risk




I know you. Probably better than you think I do. I know you have some big ideas, some dreams. I know you wonder how you’ll ever actually do them. I know you have responsibilities and choices to make and things don’t always work out like you wish because there isn’t quite enough money, time, or energy.
I know that no matter what happens, though, you always get that nagging voice in the back of your head that asks, “What if? What if I just did it?”


Okay, maybe I don’t know you that well, but it’s an incredibly common feeling for almost everyone. There’s something you really want to do, but the time is never quite right and it just feels too risky.
Risk is a four-letter word these days and I don’t think it gets the respect it deserves.
You can work your whole life to keep risk at bay, but it comes at the cost of boredom. Anyone can elect safety, but you’ll pay for it with your life’s biggest desires.
If you ever want to realize your dreams – if you want to start that business, find that true love, go on that adventure, or anything else – risk is going to become an intimate part of your life.
Once you accept that, you can get on to actually taking them. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you do it right:

1) Embrace Uncertainty

The fear of the unknown is paralyzing, but going toward your fears is the only way to actually get what you really want.
Everyone wants something out of reach, but the only thing keeping it there is your own belief. Once you convince yourself that it’s possible for you to achieve something, even if it’s not reasonable, you’re far more likely to actually work towards it.
Personally, I know that if it my goals don’t scare me, they probably aren’t worth doing.

2) Forget About the Odds

Let’s face it, when you want to do something incredible, the odds are stacked against you. No way around it.
If everything was set up for you to succeed, no one would care when you did (including you).
Forgetting the odds means realizing that doing something important is hard work. It means understanding that success is uncertain and doing it anyway.

3) Plan, but not too Much

You may have no idea how to actually make your goal happen yet, and if anyone tried to figure out all the details now, they would never even get started. Instead, I plan only what you can foresee. Plan what you can count on. You’ll have to figure out the rest later.

4) Take the First Step

Don’t forget this part. Take the first step. Make the leap. Get started. Do something.
This gets ignored far too often. You don’t have to change the world when you’re getting started, but if you just take the first step, eventually you will. Make your first step the easiest one you can imagine.

5) Throw Away Plan B

Should you have a fallback plan? Here’s my answer: no.
When you’re going after something big, uncertain, and risky, it’s going to be hard and Plan B is usually something easy – probably even something you’ve already done before even if it makes you miserable.
The harder Plan A gets, the more appealing Plan B becomes. Some things are too important for a Plan B. It’s up to you to decide if this is one of them.

37 comments:

  1. Hmm... throwing away plan B is an interesting idea. I guess to truly take a risk, you have to give it your all.

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  2. I like #5. I never have a back up plan...

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  3. these are some great tips!

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  4. Great, thanks for the action plan.,

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  5. I agree, doing all these steps will certainly increase you RISK =P

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  6. Oh, you are right. From time to time, risks should be taken, but sometimes they have to be properly measured, even more if your actions affect other people or you are responsible other one's wellness (talking about relatives, sons, etc).

    Nice article, I enjoyed it very much.

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  7. its all about risk reward. great post.

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  8. Risk is only four letter word. Nice one!

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  9. i will try it! thanks!

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  10. Great tips, as usual!

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  11. Totally agree with all of the points. I'm not really affraid of taking risks either, the only really hard part for me it step 4, I sometimes forget to actually make the first step and still don't get anywhere...

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  12. that's very usefull

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  13. All this advice directly goes against my way of thinking and living. Pretty interesting though. :)

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  14. interesting post, keep it up

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  15. That's great advice. I usually stumble at step 4. I get a lot of great ideas and plan them out and just never follow through and do them.

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  16. This is a good way to get someone to take a risk. We all have to take one now and again, and usually it ends up working out in our favor. People need to take more risks, make more mistakes. The world didn't become the place it is because people played it safe.

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  17. I agree entirely.

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  18. Anonymous2:10 PM

    damn that guy in the picture did just take a big step

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  19. I agree entirely.

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  20. "life is change, change is risk, stepping from the known to the unknown."

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  21. Wow ty il try some.

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  22. Words of wisdom.
    Really makes me think..

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  23. idk i love taking risks but i make sure to have an escape route just in case things go awry.

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  24. Anonymous3:33 PM

    very cool, i like #5. keep it up

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  25. really nice post.. I love it ! :)
    It's actually very motivational :)

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  26. Thanks for the info. Just wondering what that blogsurfing tab is on the side, can you leave the answer as a comment on my blog(s) please =)?

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  27. This is exactly how you everyone should live :P

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  28. Amazing post, Thanks!
    Great tips.

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  29. Interesting tips, I'll have to look more into this

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  30. So inspiring. Taking the first step is always the hardest, but you're right, if you can hold your breath and jump in, amazing things happen.

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  31. great steps there

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  32. I like This post! We all need some tips in life! :D

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  33. Pretty awesome advice, agree completely with all of the points.

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  34. A great perspective, thanks!

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