Risk

[risk]

noun

1. exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance: It's not worth the risk.
2. Insurance .
   1. the hazard or chance of loss.
   2. the degree of probability of such loss.
   3. the amount that the insurance company may lose.
   4. a person or thing with reference to the hazard involved in insuring him, her, or it.
   5. the type of loss, as life, fire, marine disaster, or earthquake, against which an insurance policy is drawn.

While attending a mix and mingle party last week, the guests gathered in small groups to answer deep questions and get beyond typical small talk.

There were little cards to review — each with a provocative question on each.  Our task was to answer the question.

My question was “What is the biggest risk you've taken?”

I thought about it and said that it's been a big risk to walk away from the work upon which I have built my professional reputation since 2001 to focus on a new initiative that feels like it's my most important work to do to date.

Folks said, “It hasn't looked like a big risk to us. It has looked seamless and natural.”

That got me thinking.

My hubby Steve and I had quite a conversation about it.

He turned to a sports analogy.

Steve said that those divers who jump from the high tower to do all those flips, twists, and turns invest years and years of practice to make their dives look seamless and natural.  All that practice pays off in the clutch moments when gold medals are at stake.

When  Sully landed that plane with 155 passengers on board on the Hudson River, it was his 40+ years at a pilot he drew upon to make an epic decision in a dire situation to save every soul on that flight.

Since 2006, I've been creating information products, leading group courses, speaking live and virtually, list building, and copy writing in connection with my other business. It's taken years to hone and practice those skills to create impact for clients and in my own balance sheet.

When I switched my focus to Life Goes on Roadmap™ this year, I applied what I had learned from all those prior years of study, practice, and action to the new initiative with extreme focus. What has been different this time is how many times I have said NO to other things that could have distracted me from my primary goal.

It's been a huge risk to take nevertheless.

• Walking away from being known in a certain way to blaze a whole new trail is a big deal.
• Being resourceful to apply all the skills acquired over the years to start up and grow without taking on debt or betting the farm is a big deal.
• Creating buzz and credibility for a new offering takes confidence, persistence, and moxie.
• Creating something from nothing in collaboration with my husband less than a year ago to make an impact for clients and make money is a big deal, too.

If it looks seamless and natural, make no mistake.

There is a lot of paddling going on below the surface to make the dream work.

We are working it.

Every single day.

• What is the biggest risk you've ever taken?
• What have you learned?
• What are you doing to work the dream and live the risk every day?

Comment below. Go ahead. Inspire me!