You set that lofty goal and you are ready to go for it but something holds you back. Something inside you says, hold on, what do you think you are doing?
Fear steps in and you become unsure of that goal now. You aren’t ready. This isn’t the time. Tomorrow, yeah tomorrow is a better day…
Stop! It’s time to reboot and remove the uncertainty and fear. Taking risks is part of life. It is necessary to achieve new levels, to achieve goals. If you want the most out of life, you will have to take risks and stretch yourself. Denis Waitley said, “Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing”. Something worth having is also worth taking a risk for.
To help move you closer to your goals and help you overcome the fear of taking actions towards your goal, here are 4 steps to help you navigate through taking risks:
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Evaluate the risk
Before you begin, see the “end in mind”. Imagine achieving your goal, imagine the benefits and rewards. Keep your reason for wanting this in the forefront of your mind – know your ‘why’.
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Know the obstacles
Identify what may get in your way and prepare yourself mentally so when you do come up against an obstacle, you are prepared.
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Begin your journey
No more getting ready to get ready. It is time to start. It is time to take that first step forward.
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Enjoy the journey
You may not hit your goal as quickly as you want and that is ok. If you achieve it too easily, it wasn’t a stretch for you.
Risk taking is a crucial part in achieving goals and living your dreams. You cannot get from A to B without taking a step. And sometimes there will be rocks in the road. Keep the end in mind and you will glide through the process better equipped for the journey.
Byline:
Michael is a John Maxwell Certified leadership trainer, speaker, coach and a business consultant with Business Impact Coaching & Consulting, Inc. He is also an adjunct professor of Project Management, Leadership, and Communication at New York University. Michael’s focus is on designing and delivering custom leadership development and coaching programs for team leaders, functional managers as well as customized growth and business development strategies for business owners to create high-performance teams, develop leadership ability, and amplify one’s influence to achieve better results with and through people.
Michael holds a Bachelor in Management and Information Systems and a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. You can learn more about him at www.leadingwithintent.com.
