Are You Taking Risks or Playing Small?

Does the thought of failing keep you from trying new things? If the answer is “yes,” you’re not alone. When we hear the word “fail,” we connect it to something negative and bad. For many people, the thought of failing brings up strong feelings and emotions. The feelings are so strong, it’s feels safer not to take on new things.

If you’ve read the bios of most successful people, you’ll see they’ve all failed many times over before they achieved success. Donald Trump, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time, declared bankruptcy only to make his biggest comeback, not only in the real estate market, but by branding his name on products and television. Donald failed many times over. But to him failure is part of the game, and the game includes taking risks. Anyone who is successful is willing to take risks.

I know what it’s like to avoid taking a risk for fear of failing. I never considered myself a “writer” so I put off writing an online newsletter. I saw other people writing newsletters and envied them for being able to write so easily. I had so much I wanted to share, so I could help others, but I was afraid to take the risk and fail. This held me back for a long time.

Then, I started reading other newsletters, took classes with people who were experts at writing an online newsletter, and the fear began to diminish. I immersed myself in learning about writing. I was ready to take the risk. I finally took the leap and wrote my first newsletter! Wow, I can still remember how freed up I felt having finally broken through this barrier. From then on, it became easier each time to write. That was more than five years ago. Since then, my community of wonderful e-zine readers has grown and continues to grow monthly.

Here are 4 key steps to help you move through the fear and be willing to take that risk.

1. Identify the fear: Write out specifically what the fear is, including all the details. I believe to move through the fear; you first have to clarify exactly what the fear is.
   
   
2. Emotions and feelings: Write the feelings you’re experiencing as you think about your fear. Do you feel frustrated, anxious, angry, or hopeless? The clearer you are about the feelings connected to the fear, the easier it will be to move through it.
   
   
3. Real fear or a self-imposed fear: Ask yourself, “Is this a real or self-imposed fear? A real fear would be if you were about to be pushed out of an airplane. A self-imposed fear is a fear you’re experiencing that hasn’t happened. Once you identify that it’s a self-imposed fear and your life is not endangered, you now know you’re in charge and can take action.
   
   
4. Action steps: A powerful way to move through the fear is taking action. Once you take that first step, you’ll feel freedom and confidence because you’re taking charge of your life and the next steps become easier to take.

They say in life you’re either growing or contracting. The only way to grow is to be willing to take risks. I invite you to be willing to take a risk.

As a business owner, I’ve failed many times over. As I look back, I’ve always learned something valuable from failing that has helped me for the next time. I’ve learned that failure is the stepping stone to succeeding. Had I not been willing to take risks and experience the failures, I would not appreciate the wins as much.

Rather than blaming yourself or anyone else for the times you fail, take each failure as a life lesson. Ask yourself “What have I learned from this experience that will help me for the next time?”

Here’s what Michael Jordan, the famous basketball player, says about failing. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I’ve been entrusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And, that is why I succeed!”

Failing is the stepping stone that precedes growth, develops courage, and leads to success.

Assignment:

• Make a list of all the things you’ve put on hold because you were afraid to take a risk.
  
  
• Ask yourself, “What would my life look like if I took the risk and succeeded?”
  
  
• Ask yourself “What’s the worse thing that could happen?” (The worse thing is either it doesn’t work out or they say “no.”)
  
  
• Make this a game worth playing! Select one item from your list and find a friend or colleague who’d like to play the game with you.
  
  
• With your friend or colleague, determine how and when you are going to accomplish the item from your list.
  
  
• Support each other to do what you said you would do and “just do it!”
  
  
• And, when you do step out and take the risk, stop to celebrate the accomplishment and savor the moment. YOU have won the game, so enjoy the victory!

© 2009. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from Rochelle Togo-Figa, Professional Sales Coach, is prohibited.

If you would like to use this article on your website, or for your own ezine, not a problem; however, there’s one thing you MUST include: Rochelle Togo-Figa, The Sales Breakthrough Expert, is the creator of the Sales Breakthrough System™, a proven step-by-step sales process that will help you close more sales, sign on more clients and make more money with ease and velocity. To sign up for her free sales articles and teleclasses on closing more sales, visit www.SalesBreakthroughs.com.