“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out just how far one can go.”
~ T.S. Eliot
I’ve seen it too often. We hold back. I notice it in my clients and my colleagues. My family and my friends. Somehow we’re too cautious, too unsure. We are willing to take risk, but not too much risk.
At times I counsel caution. It’s good to test the waters before we dive in. It’s important to be measured in the risks we take, so that we don’t risk too much.
But we can be too cautious as well.
Because it seems that it’s only by testing the boundaries of how far we can go, that we do find out how far we can go. Many of us seem to underestimate our strengths and our abilities. I see too many clients discrediting – or completely ignoring – what they’re great at and what comes natural to them, and highlighting where they think they lack. So they’re sure they don’t have what it takes to do something, and they hold back on how far they try and go.
I’m all for gathering support before you jump into a new endeavor. I believe in weighing the pros and cons. I remind clients to be smart as they try new things and step into uncertainty. As they push themselves somewhere untested.
I also often encourage them to (smartly) risk a bit more, dream a bit bigger, reach more clearly for their star. To push themselves to go a bit farther, so that they find out just how far they can go.
Where can you risk a bit more, to see how far you can go? Click here to comment.
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If you want to go farther, contact Lisa at lkohn@chatsworthconsulting.com.
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Not dreaming big enough is often the issue with many entrepreneurs. Once they get in the habit of being successful, then often good gets in the way of being great. Some success, without major setbacks can be a road to only average performance. Better to have risked and failed dozens of times and to have learned from each experience. Dream big, go ahead and strike out while you are at bat. Hitting hard is the only way to get a grand slam!
Thank you, Patty, for your comments and inspiring thoughts. Dreaming big and being willing to risk failure are indeed keys to entrepreneurial — and leadership — success!