The BrandProv Blog

“You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

In this post I explore Improv rule #4 on my list “taking risks”.  Risks must be taken if you really want to enrich your life.  If you risk nothing … you do nothing, become nothing and have nothing.

I have taken a lot of risks in my life and I have also passed up a few risks that I will probably regret for a long long time.  I think many of you can relate to this.   However, I move forward and try not to get caught up in the past.  Now I set my sights on the future and take calculated risks that I hope will move my life in the direction of my dreams.  Starting this blog was a risk.  Writing for you every week is a risk.

I can tell you that many of the Improv rules on my Top Ten list help me build the courage to take risks every day. Things like getting out of my head … following the fear … being ok with failure.

However, taking a risk is still hard and can be scary.  So I’ve put together 4 ways to help you ease into it:

1)  Focus on WHY your taking the risk –  What does success look like?  Be very clear on what the final result looks like.  And THINK BIG!  Don’t limit yourself … you’ll be amazed at what can happen when you give yourself the sky as the limit.  Make sure you clearly define your “why”. What is your vision, your goal and the #1 reason you are taking this risk? To learn more about the “why” read Simon Sinek’s amazing book, “Start with Why”.  It’s a book on leadership that has changed my thinking in so many ways!

2)  Understand the obstacles – nothing in life is perfect.  If it was then we would never learn, grow or even take risks to begin with.  So just know … there will be obstacles.  Take the time to write a list of the potential obstacles that are holding you back from taking your risk.  This will allow you to become clear and help you develop the willpower to get started.

3)  Just start already!   Resistance is the enemy .. it is not your friend and never will be.  “Resistance is a repelling force.  It’s negative.  Its aim is to shove you away, distract you, prevent you from doing your work.” – Steven Pressfield, Do The Work . Nothing will ever be perfect … so take the risk, jump in, just DO IT!

4)  Now sit back and enjoy the ride – You did it! You took a risk!  First of all, be proud of yourself this is a major accomplishment.  Now, sit back and enjoy it.  You’ll learn all kinds of things, meet all kinds of people and get to know yourself in ways you could have never imagined.   Nothing in life happens over night, the end result may take time … but your on your way.   Stay consistent, stay positive, stay focused.

What is a risk you’ve taken that has changed your life?