“There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky, and you ask “What if I fall?” Oh but my darling, what if you fly?”
— Erin Hanson, Australian Writer
“There are risks that everyone should take in life. Why? Because they are almost always necessary ingredients in the recipe that is happiness.(Elite Daily)” Taking risks is how we learn, grow, and create the life we want. It can be risky to change jobs or careers, move across country or out of country, or to start or end a relationship. But those are the risks that advance our lives to a greater level of happiness.
What’s guiding you?
First you must know your personal mission. Mine currently is: “to empower women to create independence and success for themselves and future generations.” This mission statement serves as a personal compass for my life. When I come to hard decisions I assess, is this choice in line with my mission or not?
A mission statement is simply “a guiding principle that makes it easier to say no to things that don’t support it and helps you to focus your time and energy on the things that truly matter to you.(Brand Yourself)” The Brand Yourself link has a great how-to on developing your mission statement if you don’t have one.
This statement isn’t something to put on a resume, it’s a statement that represents your core values that will help you make decisions in all facets of your life.
Yes, but…
If it is in line with your personal mission, then there are follow up questions to ask such as:
- How does this impact my time for work, family, friends, self-care?
- Do I have the resources and support I need?
- Am I OK with both sides of the coin?
Both sides of the coin meaning each choice has an upside and a downside, some more drastic than others. By making the choice, are you as OK with the potential risk as you are the potential reward? “When weighing up whether to take an action that could leave us vulnerable to failing or some other form or loss (of reputation, money, social standing, pride etc), we have an innate tendency to misjudge four core elements in assessing risk. (Forbes)” The Forbes article goes into detail about how we often mis-judge, and over assess the risk we face.
“I wish people were realer in talking about how leaps of faith don’t have to be taken without at least looking down first.(Medium)” Look down, and around you. Get real about what happens if you fail and who or what resources will be there to help you recover.
Armageddon
I think it is safe to assume that if you take the risk and get the best possible outcome we are in need of celebration. But, what if you take the risk, and the worst possible outcome you identified comes to fruition? “You put your heart and soul into a big project that really meant something to you…and it just didn’t happen. That’s epic. So, then, what do you do? (Inc.)” Check out the link article for steps to take post an unsuccessful risk.
Don’t let a failed attempt, keep you from trying. Sometimes our biggest risks are what lead us to our greatest triumphs of success whether that is at work, home, or just for ourselves. “We can’t walk around on eggshells for our entire career, nor should we take the exact same risks as before. Use your second chance to make smarter decisions—and the experience of bouncing back to remind yourself that nothing you do can’t be fixed. (The Muse)”
Nonprofit Spotlight
Center for Women and Enterprise: “CWE provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women in business to increase professional success, personal growth, and financial Independence.” You can read more about their work here. Everyone needs support at some point and that is why we love this organization!
Share your story of risk-taking and be sure to tag us #HSS or @herstoryofsuccess.
