In today's episode, we'll be talking about taking a great leap into the unknown. If you’re a bit of a weirdo (like me), chances are pretty good that there is something that you’re passionate about, that drives you and that you desire for yourself. You have a vision. Today we’ll talk about the act of creation and turning nothing into something. Stay tuned.
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Transcript >>>
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and for individuals who have had struggles with their mental health, which is most of us - and even more disproportionately in the entrepreneurial community - even normal things can sometimes feel like we’re taking a giant leap into the unknown. Sometimes we can agonize over the decision to leap and feel paralysed with the number of decisions, possibilities and risks. Other times, we take leaps into the unknown without worrying about the consequences, only to find ourselves on a raft floating downstream toward a waterfall with a broken paddle. What does a person do?
Helen Keller famously said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." and we all know the idiom “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. “It takes money to make money”
Mark Zuckerberg says, "The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."
CS Lewis said, “If you never take risks, you'll never accomplish great things. Everybody dies, but not everyone has lived.”
It appears that without taking a great leap into the unknown, you’ll never accomplish your dreams. And there is probably some truth to that.
But what do you do when your heart yearns for adventure but maybe you’ve learned the hard way one too many times? And yes, I am speaking from experience.
Chris Hadfield said, "I’m willing to take risks that I think are worth it and I’ve worked so hard to make sure I survive."
How do we learn to, as my former boss, Alan, used to like to say, “take smart risks.”
What I’ve learned over years of taking risks (and not always smart ones), failing poorly, and then eventually (eventually, eventually) learning to fail gracefully, is that learning to take smart risks is a bit like building muscle. It takes time. It’s a lot more painful if you go about it the wrong way. The more you practice the easier it gets, but if you avoid it at all costs, eventually you won’t recognize yourself. Also - it’s never too late to try again and keep trying again until it finally clicks.
When it comes to our feelings, though, the usual strategies we use to manage risk - insurance, industry awareness, strategic planning and contingency planning, and education and training... sometimes those things can hold us back from taking the next step because they, counterintuitively, make us feel fear.
Interestingly, my small business clients almost always know what their next step needs to be, but something is still holding them back from taking the leap. When you are getting ready to take a great leap into the unknown, it usually feels just like that - a great leap, over a chasm, without a parachute or a safety net of any kind and that’s super scary, right?
Where I help my clients (at least I like to think I do!) - and you can do this totally on your own - is a visual exercise. Picture yourself standing on a cliff high up on a mountain top. You're so high up that you can see the clouds and you can't see anything else around you other than the cliff that you're standing on and directly out across the horizen, say 100 metres away from you, you see another clifftop. On the cliff, you can see the ultimate outcome of your vision, purpose, passion. Think about it in as much clarity as you can. How will it work and function, live and breathe it as if it’s totally finished. Like you're viewing it from afar, as if it's someone else's vision or someone else's dream.
If you’ve ever played minecraft this next part will be more sensical for you, but if not, hopefully you can picture this. We’re going to build a bridge, block by block, and we’re going to make it out of obsidian which is the toughest stone in Minecraft. Place the first block directly in front of you attached to the cliff’s edge. The block represents something - a small step toward your goal. It might be something as small as an informational interview. It might be research. It might be writing your vision down on a piece of paper, or creating a vision board. Something small that you can achieve that will take you one small step toward your goal. If you’re really anxious, place a second block beside it. This second block represents someone who is willing to stand beside you and support you while you're on your journey. It could be a coach, a mentor, or a community of creators that you've joined. As you become more confident, the blocks might get longer; getting you to your destination faster or the pathway might get narrower as you feel more confident with risk. I know some folks who can basically tightrope walk across over to their goals and if they fall off, they’re happy to pull the parachute - usually at the last possible second. Maybe that person is you?
So, taking a leap of faith into the unknown is not just about the leap itself. It's about the journey it starts. It's about embracing uncertainty, learning as we go, and trusting in our ability to make our vision a reality. More importantly, nurturing a supportive community around you and a team that will have your back, which helps you take those risks but makes the journey that much more satisfying.
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." -Anaïs Nin
When you're a passionate person you get to the point when your vision or desire becomes greater than your fear. When you get to that point, know that you can achieve your dreams. You can do it in a great leap or one step at a time. The most important thing is to just do it. Just do it.
Thanks for joining us today on the seventh episode of "Weirdos in the Workplace." Stay curious, follow your desires, and remember that your leap into the unknown could be the start of your most daring adventure yet.
If you liked this episode I’d love to connect with you on linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-patchell/.
I’m Erin Patchell and - never forget - don’t stay out of trouble.
