Risky Business

How do you feel about taking risks? How risky would you say your activity is? Well the bottom line is that we all take hundreds of risks every day.

When we turn on something powered by electricity there’s a chance of electrocution. When we get on a bus or train there’s the chance of a crash. If we buy food prepared by somebody else we risk serious illness and in extreme circumstances death.

Makes you wonder why we get out of bed hey? 

The truth is that these extreme occurrences are relatively rare, and we have faith in the brand of the electrical item, or the chain we buy the food from or the safety procedures in place by car and train manufacturers. So we don’t focus on the risk.

It’s a similar process when we take risks in our business, except that many people find it harder to have faith in their own abilities and talents, and are much more focussed on what might go wrong rather than what might go right.

Since we live in a world which is bombarded by negative messages (just look at how the media gorges us on ‘reality’ shows which parade the deluded and the vulnerable in front of us for amusement), it can be useful to be consciously active in managing this negative self speak when you’re focusing on developing your business.

Working with a coach at Striding Out is one way to help with this. Our professionally trained coaches are experts at helping you chop down the weeds of self doubt so you can put in place green shoot plans for growth and success.

Another great way is to create a ‘negative talk’ swear jar in your workplace. Put 10p in it every time you say something which focuses on what can’t be done (instead of what can be done!) and cost the actual cost of all the negative energy. It’ll be also having a cost that you can’t see!

Think about how you see the risks you take – and how avoiding risks might be damaging your business.