How to Take Intelligent Risks in the Pursuit of Your Goals

Step 1: Identify What You Want to Achieve · Step 2: Assess Lessons Learned · Step 3: Develop a Plan of Action · Step 4: Decide Whether Risk is Worth Taking · Step 5 ... Skiptocontent Themostrewardingthingsyoudoinlifeareoftentheonesthatlookliketheycannotbedone.–ArnoldPalmer WhatDoesRisk-takingEntail? Risk-takingistheactofsacrificingyourpersonalemotions,energy,timeand/ormoneytohelpyouimprove yourcircumstances,ortosimplytakeadvantageofopportunitiesthatlifepresentsyouwith.It’stheactofstretchingyourcomfortzoneandcapabilitiesbyexposingyourselftouncertaintyandpossiblechange. ThePitfallsofRisk-taking Whenyoutakerisksyouopenyourselfuptoaplethoraofpossibleoutcomes—someofwhichmaynotbetoyourliking. Risk-takingcanexposeyoutopotentialloss,failure,embarrassment,rejection,criticism,andthepossibilityofgettinghurt.Alloftheseoutcomescanseemratherpainfulanddisheartening,however,youmustkeepinmindthateverygreatfeatthathaseverbeenachievedinhumanhistoryrequiredsomekindofrisk.Infact,manytimesthesecourageouspeoplewouldoftenfail,embarrassthemselves,makemistakes,openthemselvesuptocriticismandrejection,andyettheywouldstillkeepfighting.Eventually,theriskspaidoffandtheyreapedthetremendousrewardsthatrisk-takingbroughtforthintotheirlives. WhenYouRiskConsistentlyYouGet… Thereareawidevarietyofbenefitsandadvantagesthatcometothosewhotakerisksonaconsistentbasisthroughouttheirlives.Forstarters,thesepeopleexposethemselvestonewlifeexperiences,opportunities,ideasandskills.Allthesethingsaddtremendouslytothevalueoflivingandtocreativeself-expression. Themomentyoudecidetobecomemoreofarisk-takeristhemomentyoutakeyourfirststepsthatwillhelpyoubreakthroughpsychologicalwallsandovercomeyourdebilitatingfears. Risk-takingisastateofproactivelivingwhereyouareconstantlygrowinganddevelopingyourselfonmanydifferentlevelseverysingleday.Andbecauseyou’regrowing,youarethereforetrulylivingandexperiencinglifetothefullest. Intheend,youaremorelikelytoregrettherisksyoudidn’ttake,thantheonesyoudid. RoadblockstoRisk-taking Ifyouarehesitanttotakerisksinanyareaofyourlife,theninalllikelihoodyouarerunningintooneormoreofthefollowingrisk-takingroadblocks: Fears Thefearoffailure,fearofrejection,fearofcriticism,fearofembarrassment,fearofsuccess,fearofmakingmistakes,andaplethoraofotherfearsaregettinginyourwayandcausingyoutohesitateandrefrainfromtakingrisks. Sometimestheseeminglyinsignificantfearofnotwantingtohurtotherscanbecomeasignificantlydebilitatingfearwhenitcomestorisk-taking.Youdon’twanttotakerisksbecauseyoufeelthatitmighthurtotherpeopleorgoagainsttheirexpectationsand/orbeliefs.Themomentyouallowotherpeopletodictateyourchoicesanddecisionsisthemomentyouareputtingyourlifeandfateintosomeoneelse’shands—forbetterorworse. IrrationalNeeds Yourneedforcertainty;needforapproval;needtoplayitsafe;needtoavoidfeelingguilty,andneedtorationalizeandmakeexcusesareallholdingyoubackfromlivingthelifeyoudesiretolive. Alloftheseneedsareinyourhead.Youdon’tneedtoplayitsafeallthetime.Youdon’tneedtotryavoidingguilt.Guiltcanactuallyhelpandrallyyoutomakebetterchoicesanddecisionsinthefuture.Andoftentimestheguiltyouwillfeelaftertakingariskpalesincomparisontotheregretyouwouldfeelifyoudidn’ttakeariskinthefirstplace. Whenitcomestoyourneedsit’sallabalancingact.Youdon’talwaysneedtotakerisks,however,youdoalwaysneedtotaketherightkindsofrisksattherighttime.Playingitsafeandmakingexcusesforyourchoices,decisionsandactionsoftenwon’tpayoffforyouinthelong-run. IrrationalHabits Habitsaresodeeplyingrainedinyourpsychethatyouoftendon’trealizethepowerthattheyhaveoveryourchoices,decisions,andactions.Whenitcomestorisk-taking,therearecertainhabitsthatwillnaturallyveeryouawayfromtakingtherisksthatarenecessarytoimproveyourlife: RelyingonOthers Thehabitofrelyingonotherpeopletosolveyourproblemstakesallresponsibilityawayfromyourhands.Insuchinstances,it’seasytojustsitbackandallowotherpeopletodoalltherisk-takingforyou.However,ifthingsdon’tturnoutasexpected,it’salsoeasytoblameothersandmakeexcusesforunsavoryoutcomes.Don’tevergiveawayyourpowertotransformyourlife.Playingitsafelybehindotherpeople’sdecisionsandactionswilloftennotworkinyourfavor,andcertainly,willnotprovideyouwiththemomentumyouneedtoliveyourlifewithpurpose. Perfectionism Thehabitofperfectionismwilleatyoualivewithoutyouevenknowingaboutit.Whenyou’reindulginginthehabitofperfectionismyouwillbecomelostinthedetails,andthedetailswillpreventyoufromtakingthenecessaryrisksthatwillhelpyoutotakeadvantageoftime-sensitiveopportunitiesthatwillcomeyourway. Procrastination Thehabitofprocrastinationisthetwinsisterofperfectionism.Procrastinationwilltellyouthatit’sjustnottherighttime,thatyoumustwait,andthatyou’renotready.Thisisallalie.Youareresourceful,andoftentimessomeaction(alittlerisk)isbetterthannoactionatall—whetheryou’rereadyornot. Over-thinkingConsequences Thehabitofover-thinkingconsequencesisanotherformofprocrastinationthatwillbogyoudowninthedetailsandleadtohesitation. WantingGuaranteedResults Thehabitofwantingguaranteedresults.Whenitcomestorisk-taking,therearenoguaranteedresults.It’sarisk.Ifyouwantguaranteedresults,thendon’tdoanythingatall.However,keepinmindthatnotdoinganythingmayguaranteeyougetabsolutelynothing,andyourlifewillspiralintoadeepdarkabyssofunfulfilleddreamsthatneversawthelightofday. Denial Denyingthatproblemsexistorshowingnowillingnesstotakeresponsibilityforproblemswillpreventyoufromtakingrisks. Toovercomeproblemsyouneedtotakerisks,however,totakerisksyoumustfirstacceptthatyouhaveproblemsandthatyouwilltakeresponsibilityforsolvingthem. Begintodaybyseeingyourlifeasagiantpuzzlethatyouneedtopiecetogether.Puttingthispuzzletogetherwilltakeeffortandsomerisk.Ifyou’rewillingtotakeresponsibilityforit,thenyouwillreapthebenefitsofyouractions. You’reLackingSomething Notshowinganywillingnesstotakerisksmay,intheend,comedowntothefactthatyousimplylackself-confidenceorbeliefinyourownabilities.Oritmayevencomedowntoalackofdesireforchange. Ifyoulackconfidence,thenworkonboostingyourconfidencesothatyoucandevelopthecouragetomakethetoughdecisionsthatwillgetyouaheadinlife. Ifyoulackadesiretochange,thenthisisanindicationthatyourlifeisstagnating.Ifthat’sthecase,yousimplydon’thaveenoughreasonsormotivationtomakechangesinyourlifethatwillencourageyoutotaketherisksnecessarythatwillhelpyouimproveyourlifeforthebetter. Ifthissoundslikeyou,thenyoumustfindreasonstochange—reasonstotakemorerisksandchances.Askyourself: WhymustImakechangestomyliferightnow? Whyisthisimportant? WhydoIwantthis? WhatwillhappenifIdon’tmakethesechanges? WhatcouldmylifebelikeifIdomakethesechanges? YourRiskAssessmentGuide Whenitcomestorisk-takingit’simportantthatyoudon’ttakesillyrisksthatcreatemoreproblemsthanopportunities.Risk-takingrequiresthatyoumakesensiblechoicesthatwillhelpyoutomaximizeyouroutcomesandtakeadvantageofopportunitiesthatpresentthemselves.Assuch,hereisafive-stepprocessthatwillhelpyoutotakemoresensibleandcalculatedrisks: Step 1:IdentifyWhatYouWanttoAchieve First,youmustthinkaboutwhatitisyouwanttodoorachieve. Onceyouhaveclarifiedwhatyouwant,nowit’stimetounderstandyouroutcomesandtheconsequencesoftheseoutcomesinyourlife.Askyourself: IfIdothis,whatpotentialoutcomescouldIexpect? WhatwillIpotentiallygainlong-termbytakingthisrisk? WhatcouldIpotentiallylose? Whenyoutakerisks,youwilloftenfindthatyouoftenlosenothingorverylittle.Infact,ifyouloseanythingitwillmostlikelybesuperficialinnature.However,atthesametime,it’simportantthatyoudon’tgetcaughtupwithholdingontothingsyoumightpotentiallylose.Insteadfocusonwhatcouldbegained,andworktowardsattainingthoseoutcomes. Next,youmustconsidertheobstaclesthatstandbetweenyouandyourdesiredoutcome.Askyourself: Whatstandsinmyway? HowwillIovercomethisobstacle? Nowthatyouhaveaclearunderstandingofthepotentialobstaclesyoumightface,yournextstepistolookatotherareasofuncertaintythatyoumightneedtotackle.Askyourself: WhatamIstilluncertainabout? What’stheworstthatcouldhappen? DoIreallyhaveanythingtolose? AretherewardsworththeriskI’mabouttotake? Isthisanintelligentrisktotake? Step 2:AssessLessonsLearned Beforeyoujumpintothisdecisionyouareabouttomake,it’simportanttorememberanylessonsfromyourpastthatyoumightbeabletobringforwardtohelpyoumakethebestdecisioninthepresentmoment.Askyourself: HaveIdonethisbefore? Howdidthingturnout? Howhaveothersfaired? Whatmistakesweremade? WhatcanIlearnfromthis? Ifthisissomethingnewthatyouhaven’tdonebefore,thentakelessonsfromthepastthataremostrelevantthatcanpotentiallybeappliedtothissituation.Rememberthattherearealwayslessonsyoulearnedinotherareasoflifethatcanhelpyouwithyourpresentdecisions. Step 3:DevelopaPlanofAction Createaplanofactionandatime-framefortheresultsthatyouareexpectingtorealizebytakingthisrisk. Whenitcomestooutliningaplanofaction,it’simportanttodefineyourtiming,theresourcesandknowledgethatyoumightrequire,possiblenegativeoutcomesandthesuccessthatyouarelikelytoachieve.Askyourself: Whatisthebesttimetotakethisrisk? HowwillIhandleanynegativeconsequencesoroutcomesofmyactions? Whatspecificallyhastohappenforthistosucceed? Step 4:DecideWhetherRiskisWorthTaking You’vecompletedalltheanalysis,andhavedecidedthatthisisariskthatisworthtaking.Thisisnotimetohesitate.Takeactionusingsmallstepstohelpbuildyourconfidence—especiallyimportantifthisissomethingyouaredoingfortheveryfirsttime. Step 5:EvaluateYourOutcomesandFeelings Havingcompletedyouractionsteps,it’snowtimetoevaluateyouroutcomesandfeelings.Evenifthingsdidn’tgotoplan,youcanusethisevaluationperiodtomakebetterplansforthefuture. Rememberthatyourriskswillnotalwayspanoutasexpected.Infact,attimesyoumightendupfallingflatonyourface.Youwillfail,youwillmakemistakes,howeveralwayskeepinmindthatthelong-termrewardsoftakingthisriskoftenfaroutweighthelong-termpainandregretyouwillexperienceifyoudecidenottotakethisrisk.Askyourself: WhathaveIlearnedfromthisexperience? HowcanIusethisexperiencetohelpimprovemyfutureresults? 10SuggestionsforTakingIntelligentRisks Herearesomevaluabletipsandsuggestionsthatwillhelpyoutotakesmarterandbetterrisksthroughoutyourlife: TransformYourPerspective It’simportantthatyouviewtheactofrisk-takingintherightcontext.Thereforeinsteadofseeingitasadeepdarkpitwithnowayout,seerisk-takingasanongoingexperimentoranongoingadventurethatyouhavesignedupfor.Seeriskasajourneyofpersonalself-discoveryorasanexplorationofyourdesiredoutcomes. Ifthesesuggestionsfailtomotivateyoutotakemorerisks,thendecidetodaythatyouwillviewrisk-takingasachildwhoislearningtowalkfortheveryfirsttime.Thechildwillobviouslynotwalkontheveryfirstattempt.Theywilloftenstumbleandfallmanytimes.However,overthelong-run,theywilllearntowalk,andeventuallytorun.Andthebenefitoftheireffortswillprovidethemwithlifelongjoyandopportunitythattheywouldneverhaveexperiencediftheyquitaftertheirfirstattempt. CommitFully It’scriticalthatyoucommit100%toyourdesiredoutcome.Ifyouhesitatewhiletakingrisks,youwillmoreoftenthannotfailmiserably.Thiswillhurtyourconfidenceandcandisheartenyoufrommakingfurtherattempts. Avoidthispitfall,bycommittingyourselfwholeheartedlytotheattainmentofyourdesiredoutcome. BeWillingtoLose Stayflexibleinmind,anddon’tblindyourselftothefactthatyoumaynotgetyourdesiredoutcomethefirsttimearound. Bewillingtolose,butalsobewillingtolearnandadaptyourapproachthenexttimearound. FailForwardFast Didyouknowthatthemostsuccessfulpeopleareoftenthebiggestfailures?Theyeventuallysucceededafterfailingmanymanytimes. Allthelessonsthatsuccessfulpeopleneededtolearnwerepackedintotheirfailuresandmistakes.Theselessonshelpedthemmakebetterdecisionsandeventuallyobtaintheirdesiredoutcomes.However,withoutrisk-taking;withoutpushingthemselvesoutoftheircomfortzones,theywouldlearnverylittle,andwouldachieveverylittleasaresult.Askyourself: WhatcanIlearnformthisfailure? HowcanIuseittomovemyselfforward? Therewardsalwaysgotothosewhofailforwardfast;wholearntheirlessonsquicklyandthentakethenecessaryriskstotakeadvantageofopportunitiesthatcometheirway. ThinkLong-termBenefits Tokeepyourlevelsofmotivationhigh,it’simportantthatwhiletakingrisksthatyoufocusonlong-termbenefitsandnotonshort-termproblemsandobstaclesthatyoumightconfront. Keepinganeyeonthebigpicturewillprovideyouwiththedirectionyouneedtokeepmovingforwarddespiteanysetbacksthatyoumightfacealongtheway. UseVisualizationsandMantras Visualizationsandmantrascanworkwonderstohelpyoustayfocusedandmotivated.Spendtimevisualizingyourdesiredoutcomethroughoutthedayanduseanaccompanyingmantra.Forexample: Risktakingisexciting… CultivateOptimism Whensteppingontothepathofuncertainty,theworstthingyoucandoisdoubtyourself.Thereforeinsteadofdoubtingyourself,youmustcultivateoptimism,excitement,andfaiththatthingswilleventuallyworkoutnomatterwhatyoumightbedealingwithinthepresentmoment.Askyourself: Whatifeverythinggoeswell? Whatifthissetbackisablessingindisguise? Whatiftakingthisdetourwastheonlywaytogettomydestination? WhatiftheseobstaclescontainwithinthemthelessonsIneedtolearntoattainmydesiredoutcome? Anyobstaclesorsetbacksyoufacearesimplylessons.Whoknows?Maybeyouneedtolearntheselessonsinordertoattainyourdesiredoutcome. TakeSmallRisksDaily Workondevelopingyourriskmusclebytakingsmallrisksdaily.Thisisimportantbecausethemorerisksyoutake,themoreyourconfidencewillsoarasyoubecomemoreandmorecomfortablewithrisk-taking. Overtimeallthesesmallriskswilleventuallybuildupandinstillwithinyoutheconfidenceyouneedtotakeeverbiggerrisksinthefuture.It’sjustlikeamuscle.Themoreyouuseitthestrongeritwillbecome. AvoidNaysayers Therewillalwaysbedoubters.Thesepeoplewillneverbelieveinyouorinthechoicesyoumake.Don’tgivethemthetimeofday.Theygetakickoutofdestroyingotherpeople’sdreams.Theythemselveslivemiserablelives,andtheydon’twanttolivealonewithinthatspace.Theywill,therefore,doanythingtheycantomakesureyoujointhem. AvoidTakingDumbRisks Alwaysworkthroughariskassessmentprocess.Don’ttakedumbrisksthatcauseyoumoreproblemsthantheyareworth.Also,don’tgettalkedintotakingdumbrisks. Somepeoplewilltryandtalkyouintoanything.Theysimplydon’tseethebiggerpicture—theydon’tseetheconsequenceslikeyoudo.Undernocircumstancesshouldyouallowyourselftogetcaughtupintheirfantasies.Makeyourowndecisions,writeyourownpath,andcreateyourownfuturewithpurpose. Aboveallelserememberthatrisk-takingisnotgambling. TimetoAssimilatetheseConcepts GETTHISMAP Didyougainvaluefromthisarticle?Isitimportantthatyouknowandunderstandthistopic? Wouldyouliketooptimizehowyouthinkaboutthistopic?Wouldyoulikeamethodforapplyingtheseideastoyourlife? Ifyouansweredyestoanyofthesequestions,thenI’mconfidentyouwillgaintremendousvaluefromusingtheaccompanyingIQMatrixforcoachingorself-coachingpurposes.Thismindmapprovidesyouwithaquickvisualoverviewofthearticleyoujustread.Thebranches,interlinkingideas,andimagesmodelhowthebrainthinksandprocessesinformation.It’skindoflikeimplantingathoughtintoyourbrain –anupgradeofsortsthatoptimizeshowyouthinkabouttheseconceptsandideas.🙂 RecommendedIQMatrixBundles TheGettingUnstuck10MapBundleincludesaselectionofhandpickedmapsthataredesignedtohelpyoubreakfreefromthelimitationsofyourcomfortzoneandpower-upyourmotivation. TheRiskTaker10MapBundleincludesaselectionofhandpickedmapsthataredesignedtohelpyoutakemoreintelligentandcalculatedrisksasyouworkonpursuingyourgoals. TheConqueringFear10MapBundleincludesaselectionofhandpickedmapsthataredesignedtohelpyouovercomethefearsthatareholdingyoubackfromachievingyourgoals. Ifyou’reintriguedbytheideaofusingmindmapsforself-improvementthenIwouldliketoinviteyoutobecomeanIQMatrixMember. Ifyou’renewtomindmappingorjustwanttocheckthingsout,thenregisterfortheFree12MonthMembershipProgram.Thereyouwillgainaccesstoover90mindmaps,visualtools,andresourcesvaluedatover$500.  If,ontheotherhand,youwantaccesstoanever-growinglibraryof100sofvisualtoolsandresources,thencheckoutourPremiumMembershipPackages.Thesepackagesprovideyouwiththeultimatevisualreferencelibraryforallyourpersonaldevelopmentneeds. GainMoreKnowledge… Herearesomeadditionallinksandresourcesthatwillhelpyoulearnmoreaboutthistopic: 5ThingsEveryEntrepreneurShouldKnowAboutRisk-Taking@Entrepreneur 5ThingstheSmartestLeadersKnowAboutRisk-Taking@Inc. 5WaystoEncourageSmartRisk-Taking@Inc. 7ReasonsWhyRisk-TakingLeadstoSuccess@HuffingtonPost 50AwesomeQuotesonRisk-Taking@HuffingtonPost AfraidtoTakeaChance?@PsychologyToday HowtoMastertheArtofRisk-Taking@Inc. RiskManagementforYourLife@Lifehack TakeaRisk:TheOddsareBetterthanYouThink@Forbes WhyTakingRisksCanbeWorkit@PicktheBrain WinnersTakeCalculatedRisks@AdamKhoo AboutTheAuthorAdamSicinskiAdamisalifecoach,mindmapper,doodlerandvisualthinker.HefoundedIQMatrixin2008andhascreatedover400self-growthmindmaps.Healsoteachesdoodlingforpersonaldevelopmentandtransformation.LearnmoreatIQDoodleSchool.FeelfreetoalsogetintouchandsendAdamamessage.And,ifyoufoundthisarticleofvalue,thenpleaseshareitwithyourfamilyandfriends. TopBlogPosts 6StepsforOvercomingInsecurityandforRegainingYourSelf-Confidence WhatExactlyisaSelf-ConceptandHowDoesitImpactYourLife? TheCompleteGuideonHowtoDevelopFocusedSelf-Discipline 5StepstoHelpYouOvercomingtheInstantGratificationTrap HowtoBuildSelf-WorthandStartBelievinginYourselfAgain HowtoOvercomeHurtandStartMovingonwithYourLife Here'sWhyYouNeedtoStopTakingLifesoSeriously! TheCompleteGuideonHowtoMindMapforBeginners HowtoSolveProblemsUsingtheSixThinkingHatsMethod HowtoOvercometheObstaclesthatareHoldingYourGoalsHostage! Starttypingandpressentertosearch Search… ScrolltoTop