Just Do It

I dare you to move.

I dare you to take risks.

I am talking to you.

I'm talking about taking risks...no, not foolish risks such as taking a jump from the highest building without any safety gear. I'm talking about the risks we face in life. Decisions we have to make. Ventures that aren't popular with the people around you...in your career, love, family and spiritual faith.

My friends know that I take risks. But what they don't know is that I do think about it...I don't just go and do it. What they don't know is that I do get scared too. Hey, I'm human...sometimes scared of failure, of rejection, of ridicule...but I still take the risk.

Pardon me here, I'm just not feeling good. I don't want to lash out on someone or anyone for that matter. I don't want to say what prompted me to write this but I want to get this off my chest.

I can't emphasize enough how much I admire people who take "smart" risks. People who make decisions...people who have foresight and have the courage. Time and time again, I often share this to people...something that I've learned from the moment I read it. Its an excerpt from Paolo Coelho's book "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Cried".

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen. Every day, God gives us the sun--and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day, we try to pretend that we haven't perceived that moment, that it doesn't exist--that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. But if people really pay attention to their everyday lives, they will discover that magic moment. It may arrive in the instant when we are doing something mundane, like putting our front-door key in the lock; it may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and one things that all seem the same to us. But that moment exists--a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.

Joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest. Our magic moment helps us to change and sends us off in search of our dreams. Yes, we are going to suffer, we will have difficult times, and we will experience many disappointments--but all of this is transitory; it leaves no permanent mark. And one day we will look back with pride and faith at the journey we have taken.

Pitiful is the person who is afraid of taking risks. Perhaps this person will never be disappointed or disillusioned; perhaps she won't suffer the way people do when they have a dream to follow. But when that person looks back--and at some point everyone looks back--she will hear her heart saying, "What have you done with the miracles that God planted in your days? What have you done with the talents God bestowed on you? You buried yourself in a cave because you were fearful of losing those talents. So this is your heritage: the certainty that you wasted your life." "

Courageous risks are life-giving, they help you grow, make you brave, and better than you think you are. If you try to guard yourself against every unlikely danger, you'll never stretch beyond your comfort zone. Don't let the 'what-ifs' run your life. Follow your dreams and have at it. You can become a winner only if you are willing to walk over the edge.

We must dare, and dare again, and go on daring

"Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don't. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.--Philip Adams."

Most successful people were people who took the risks- Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki (a multi-millionaire, author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"), Bill Gates, Thomas Edison, and John Gokongwei (an Asian business tycoon) just to name a few.

Franchising was considered a scam but now franchising is one of the most profitable businesses ever. The bottled water business was also thought of as a scam. The founder of Evian Natural Spring Water was mocked and ridiculed for his idea on bottled spring water but now it's a multi-billion industry. The founder was told he was a fool and a naive...Naive if you spell it backwards is Evian (just an FYI).

"Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.--Dale Carnegie (Dale Carnegie's Scrapbook) "

Even God approves of courageous risks. He is pleased with the faith that we have when we take the risk. Remember how Peter took the risk to get out of the boat and walk on water towards Jesus? It is a given that we have to step out in faith. We need to stop clinging to our comfort zones. Step out! Keep in mind that if God calls you, He will also equip you.

"God grants us an uncommon life to the degree we surrender our common one.--Max Lucado "

Its a lonely ride...full of rejections (and at times deceptions) and derision but I DARE. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus, I can achieve anything He wants us to. Don't put limitations on your abilities, on yourself.

"Please know I am quite aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.--Amelia Earhart (Last Flight)"- just how I really feel!

That was me rambling there about a month ago (refer to above module). Well, we have to admit it... taking risks is part of life. When we were little tykes, we didn't even understand the idea of risk. But we just did it. We ran wherever we wanted to; we touched icky, sharp, dangerous stuff, we ate papers. But then again, we grew up and we were made aware of "risks" or dangers as our parents would call it. And we were even made more aware of it through media, peers, and others, and slowly some of us began to see it as something that would threaten our so-called "comfort zone" or "security blanket". We stayed confined within the box that was drawn around you by others and we accepted it. What happened?

I live in an Asian world where the climate is that of intellectual simple-mindedness and where people have this "destiny" personality rather than the "do-it-yourself". We like staying in our box. We are afraid to think and we'd rather be safe than sorry. And my family typifies that. But I've always been different. There was a point in my life where I learned, because of a congenital condition I had, to fully live life. I know that for me to truly get the best out of life, I had to just stop overanalyzing things and just do it! Sure, there were mistakes and failures I made and maybe some bad consequences but I've had no regrets.

So going back, I just want to share to people the "beauty" of taking risks. Living life is taking risks. We take risks when we wake up in the morning and when we drive to any place we're going to, we take risk even as we eat, we take risk when we choose a university or what major to take in college. We take risks in school, at work, and in our relationships. Choosing and deciding something is taking risk.

So let me go back to the question of "what happened"? Here are some excerpts on How to Take Risks from BrianKim.net.

What happened? On the one hand, when you were young, you just did without thinking of the consequences. On the other hand, when you got older, you stopped doing because you started thinking of the consequences. Neither end of the spectrum is good so how can we reconcile? How can we get the best of both worlds?

First off, let's tackle the part of "not doing". Why do we hesitate to take risks? How can we get back that trait of boldness we had as a child?
It's actually very simple. It just involves changing what we label risk as.
You've got to understand that risk is nothing but a label and the reason why risk yields so much power over us is precisely because of that. Labels are extremely powerful because we tend to pass judgment solely based on that. When something is labeled, we equate some sort of image to it. Armani - fancy suit. Ferrari - fast car. Nike - running shoes. In this case, what image does the label of risk conjure up? Imminent danger. We judge risk as imminent danger.

We need to change the label. Stop thinking of risk as just a one shot do or die situation. Instead, start thinking of risk as a journey of exploration. It's not just about one shot. It's about a journey, a journey you choose to embark on for the purpose of exploring a different path.

Columbus did not take a risk. He chose to go on a journey to explore the new world. Entrepreneurs don't take risks. They choose to go on a journey to explore other means of making a living. Companies don't take risks. They choose to explore doing things differently than the norm.

People mistakenly think that if they take a risk and it doesn't turn out the way they expect it to, that it's all over. The sky will fall, their world will come crashing down, and that they'll never bounce back from it. It's precisely because of that one shot do or die mentality that prevents people from taking risks. Step back and look at the forest. Don't look at the trees. Risk is not just about looking at one tree. It's about exploring an entire forest.

If you start labeling risk as a journey of exploration and discovery, it takes the weight off your shoulders and you become more inclined to take action.

Before, you had no label for risk as a child. Now you do and it's stopping you from taking them. Change the label and start exploring.

Now that you're older, you have the ability of thinking of the consequences of your actions. It's a good thing because if you didn't and you started thinking of risks as exploration and decided to jump off a plane with no parachute, you'd be in for one big surprise.

Again we run into the issue of labels. Consequences usually have a negative label associated with them. You will suffer the consequences of your actions. Do you know what the consequences of that will be? You've got to face the consequences of your actions. Such a heavy label isn't it? Instead of consequences, think outcomes.

Go on a journey of exploration and focus on your desired outcome. Don't focus on consequences.
Also, understand that each time you take a risk by thinking of it as a journey to explore, the box around you gets larger and this increase in latitude of exploration spills over to other areas of your life. If you find yourself exploring in work, you'll find yourself exploring in your social life, your personal life, etc. As you keep on doing this, you realize the fact that there is no, or ever was, a box drawn around you and that it was all in your head the entire time.

What about those times when you risk it and it is just about ONE shot; like when you go for it on 4th down during the national championship game? Isn't that a big risk? How can that be exploration you say?

When it comes down to those times, those aren't really risks from the coach's point of view. What the audience doesn't see are all the times that the coaches ran risks during the pre season, going for it on 4th down in the middle of other games, the hundreds of times they went through this exact same scenario in practice, etc.

You see, the coaches took many risks BEFORE this moment to explore how to handle this type of situation if it were to ever come up in the future. Meanwhile, everyone at home is thinking this is a HUGE risk, a big gamble to go for it on fourth down, but the players and the coach know otherwise. It's not a risk because they've explored this scenario many times before so they know what to do and how to deal with it when the situation actually came.

So must it be with you. When you begin to take little risks of exploration, you make yourself bold enough to take those big risks that appear to be like do or die situations from the outside, but you will smile on the inside because you know otherwise.
Change the labels. Go on a journey of exploration and focus on the desired outcome and the word risk will have power over you no more. When you do this on a consistent basis, you'll find that a new label for risk emerges.

Freedom.

Taking risks can be both the smartest and dumbest thing you can do with your life. A smart risk -- one that may put you a rung higher on the corporate ladder, or saying "I do" to the love of your life -- is, in fact, just about the only way to get ahead in life, whether that be financially, career-wise, in relationships, you name it.

Meanwhile, a not-so-smart risk -- like popping wheelies down the highway on your new motorcycle or leaking that confidential memo to your company's competitor -- can easily spell disaster.

Taking risks might seem scary, but the more you do it, the easier it will become (and the further ahead you'll get) if you follow the guidelines below.

With some risks, the "smartness factor" is inherent and obvious. But for all those other risks, from the tiny 'risking a new route to work,' to the major 'changing careers,' knowing whether or not the risk is a good one can be confusing. Knowing how to take a calculated risk to get ahead is a skill we all need to have, and it starts, first and foremost, with knowing what you want.

The Key to Taking Smart Risks: Know What You Want

"What I encourage people to do is picture themselves 20 years from now in the same job at the same desk and with the same people, simply to show them what will happen if they don't take any risks. The color just drains out of their faces. But if you don't make an effort to change and get what you want, then life probably won't turn out how you want it to," says psychologist Gary Leboff.

A major part of the problem, according to Leboff, is that most people are living their lives to please other people, or they are living the life they think they should (rather than the life they really want).

"The reason most people are unhappy is that they are attempting to live the lives they have been persuaded are right for them," Leboff says. "If you don't know yourself in the first place, then it is impossible to find happiness in life -- most people are lost in a fog that blinds them to seeing who they have the ability to be, rather than who they think they should be."

Risk-taking rule #1: Don't Risk Everything.

Your first step, then, should be to identify what it is you want then start taking the risks to get you there. If you want more fulfillment in your social life, perhaps you would consider "risking" signing up for a class that interests you, in order to meet some like-minded people. Or, if you want to make more money, you might consider taking the risk to ask for a raise.

"The idea that it is about making these huge, sweeping adjustments such as leaving your partner or changing jobs, is not what this is all about -- yes, perhaps in the future, but such big changes always frighten people to begin with %u2026 your initial risks don't need to be life-changing. It's all about taking baby steps because you need to find the confidence to try out bigger things later on -- and you could start with absolutely anything," Leboff explains.

Ready to Take Some Risks? Here's How to do it WELL

Don't risk everything. You should only risk something that, in the event it doesn't go your way, won't ruin you financially, emotionally or physically.

Ask for what you want. More often than not, you will get it.

Avoid unhealthy risks. The risks you take should be positive. They should not put you, or others, at risk of physical or emotional harm.

Learn from failures. Inevitably, some of your risks won't pan out. Turn these failures into a positive by figuring out where you went wrong, then applying what you learned to your next risk.

Start right away. The more risks you take, the easier it will become. Remember, it doesn't need to be a huge risk to make a meaningful impact on your life. Some small risks to get you started include trying a new type of food, wearing a different style of clothing, changing your hairstyle or taking a weekend trip to someplace you've never been before.

Don't worry about what others think. Remember, this is your life, your desire, your risk. Keep moving ahead with what you want, even if those around you have different views.

If there's nothing to lose, take the risk. Oftentimes a risk may seem scary, but when you really examine it you'll find you have nothing to lose. If this is the case, always take the risk.

Risk-Taking Faux Pas

According to Shari Peace, president of Peace Talks, a professional speaking firm, and author of "Crank It Out! How to Get More Done At Work & In Your Life," there are six signs that tell you when a risk is NOT a good idea. If any of the following apply, you should skip the risk.

There's a good chance you could lose everything.

You have to put a lot on the line to get only a little.

There are too many factors you can't control.

You feel the odds are against you.

There is no way to fix the outcome if it doesn't turn out how you want.

You have to take the risk before having a chance to prepare and/or evaluate it.

Finally, if you are still wary of taking that first risk, remember that in order to get what you want, there is always some measure of risk involved.

Says Leboff, "Every day, ask yourself what you've done today that is daring or that is a bit of a stretch. If at the end of each day you can find just one thing, then you are moving, but if not, then you are getting more and more limited and your horizons are getting smaller and smaller."

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The phrase, "Get Your Feet Wet", is often used when first learning how to do something or in pioneering a new initiative. When participating in a project for the first time, there's usually a hesitancy to take risks and step out into the unknown. However, there's no better way to learn than by doing. This requires moving away from comfort zones and into areas that usually exceed your reach and make you stretch. Taking risks at work demands courage, commitment and conviction. This article explains how to get your feet wet and venture into the unknown at work.

Things You'll Need:
- Willingness to face fear of the unknown
- Courage of your convictions
- Commitment

Step1
Homework
- Prepare for your next challenge or opportunity by doing your homework. Learn as much as you can and apply that learning when working in ambiguous assignments or dealing with vague requests.

Step2
Leap of Faith
- Take a leap of faith into the unknown and just do it. Don't wait until everything is perfect and you are entirely ready physically, emotionally, and financially. You'll never be absolutely and totally ready or ultimately prepared. Most times, you just have to begin, so build up your courage and take the plunge!

Step3
Start Small
- Start small and see what works. Once you've decided to take a risk, dedicate yourself to accomplishing the task. It's a good idea to get your feet wet by completing smaller action steps related to the task in order to "test the waters" without expending all your effort and energy at once.

Step4
Focus
- Focus on the solutions and opportunities instead of problems and challenges. Make course corrections as necessary, and remain focused and committed to completing the task, overcoming the main challenge, or taking full advantage of the opportunity.

Step5
Hurdles
- Cultivate a passion and fervor for the task. Don't doubt or waver in your belief and confidence that you can succeed. Sure, you will make mistakes and encounter problems along the way, but you must be persuaded and have complete assurance that you can jump over these hurdles to achieve the goal.

Step6
Effort
- Don't be afraid to get your feet wet. Your first efforts may not be perfect, but you've got to start somewhere. Use the wisdom you gain from your experiences to strengthen your character and competence, and to prepare for future journeys.