11 Habits For Success: #8 Risk!

Previous entries: #1 Values #2 Focus #3 Deadlines #4 Change Your Mind #5 Rewards #6 Planning #7 Priorities

My neighbors have this cat that I see in the window almost every time I leave the house. He is perched on the window sill looking out, or more often dozing. I’ve thought about this cat more than once. It can’t be what he thought his life would amount to is it? That isn’t what his cat DNA desires to do. He may be totally happy with his life, but deep down, I think that he wants to accomplish more. But he never does. He sits there, growing more fat and lazy. He has never taken a risk in his life!

One of the great barriers to our own success and happiness is a reluctance to risk. I am not talking about risk for the sake of risk. Things like BASE jumping or sky-diving are risks, but not necessarily ones that generate a level of success. I am talking about purposeful, intentional, risk in order to accomplish greater success in life.

The largest risk I have taken is when given the opportunity, I began a new career as a coach, working for myself, instead of continuing working for others. It was and is a wonderful and terrifying endeavor. I am not sure however that I can ever go back to working at a company/organization again. I have found that the risk of business ownership to be challenging, rewarding, exhausting and fun. I have grown more, learned more, produced more than I would have if I had taken another job. Wise, strategic risk has brought that. Risk does the following:

1. Risk makes you grow. I have had no choice but to grow in my faith, as a coach, as a husband and dad in order to take the risk of working for myself. I have had to become the best version of myself that I ever have been.

2. Risk makes you quick. If you want to take a calculated risk, you will no doubt become more deft with decisions and skill development. Risk doesn’t allow for status quo. Status quo doesn’t allow for success.

3. Risk makes you smarter. If you’re going to take a risk, you’re going to have to learn. I have read more, asked more questions, listened more and learned more by becoming a coach than I had in years.

4. Risk gives you confidence. After trying and succeeding and after trying and failing, I have learned that though I am not perfect, by the grace of God, I am pretty good. Those who haven’t believed in me in the past were foolish to do so.

5. Risk cultivates success. There’s an old adage, ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ It is 100% true. If you want to cultivate greater success, break free of what you though you could always do and pursue strategic, informed risk!

Big Question: What risk do you need to take to cultivate greater success?

The mission of Matthew Reed Coaching is “To make the world a more effective and God honoring place, through coaching.” I love to help people genuinely experience the life they have always wanted. I’d be thrilled to be able to share with you the power of coaching.”

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