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One of my favourite “success handbooks” is You 2 (You to the power of 2 or You squared) by Price Pritchett, Ph.D. It’s about multiplying your personal effectiveness (great title, eh?)
There’s a chapter entitled, “Choose a different set of risks” which I believe will hit a thoughtful cord.
To preface it, to be successful, we’re encouarged to understand the need to fail. That the faster and more frequently we fail, the faster we’ll succeed.
But there’s more.
It’s not just about the risk – whether we take it or not – but the kind of risk we’re taking.
Pritchett says, “Whether you choose to go for the quantum leap, or to follow your usual routines, you are putting something on the line.”
The question isn’t whether or not you’re a risk taker, it’s what risks you’re taking.
If your decision is to maintain status quo you’re risking missing an opportunity by not exercising change. If, on the other hand, you step out in a new direction, you’re taking a risk on your advancement.
Aha – you’re always at risk!
You see risk isn’t just involved in change. Risk is also involved in not changing simply because life isn’t static. You’re always moving in a direction – forwards or backwards – there’s no such thing as standing still. It’s about recognizing your decisions and what you’re risking as a result of them.
Pritchett has great advice. “Risk believing in yourself. Risk acting on the assumption that you can succeed in making a quantum leap. Otherwise, the risk is that you will settle for only a fraction of what life has to give you.”
Winston Churchill said, “Never, never, never, give up.”
I say, “Never, ever, ever settle!” (life’s too rich)