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Take a Risk By Sonia Choquette Followers rely on others to take care of their security ... If there’s any single factor in determining one’s ability to succeed on the job, it’s the willingness to take a risk. I’ve never known anyone who has achieved great professional success without taking chances along the way, yet this is precisely what scares people the most. Those who do risk are few and far between. There are two camps in the work world—the five-sensory followers who play it safe, and the six-sensory leaders who “live it true.” Followers prefer predictable outcomes, seek guarantees for their efforts, and avoid the unknown at all costs. They do what they’re told, stick to the rules, know that their paycheck will be there every two weeks, and refuse to do anything outside this safety net. Leaders, on the other hand, listen to their hearts, trust their vibes, do what they feel, and take the risks necessary to follow their inner voice, even if it means giving up a regular paycheck and taking a chance on their dreams. The basic difference between the two is that those who live it true take full responsibility for making their dreams happen, while those who play it safe do not. Followers rely on others to take care of their security, while leaders know that it’s best to rely on their own hearts, talents, creativity, and work ethic. While five- and six-sensories may display equal talents at work, five-sensories tend to be ruled by fear, insecurity, and low self-esteem; conversely, six-sensories are guided by courage and a valuable sense of self that leads them to entirely different outcomes. Those who play it safe are often frustrated and feel trapped, while those who live it true may be frustrated and even scared at times, but they never feel trapped. They keep seeking new ways to create what they really want to do on the job. And although five-sensories often confuse taking risks with being reckless, six-sensories understand that gambling is a necessary part of developing their personal power and authority. I had a gifted client named Lee who was very frustrated in his job as a copywriter for a New York advertising agency, so he wanted me to help him find his true path. I could see that his true calling was to be a freelance screenwriter, and I told him if he took the risk and made a dedicated effort, he’d eventually succeed. Lee’s face lit up, and he confirmed that it was indeed his secret dream to write for TV and film. But then he shook his head and said that even if what I told him was true, he felt that it wasn’t realistic to try at this time to make a living by writing. He was newly married, and his wife was pregnant with their first child—they needed money and insurance, so he couldn’t even consider being a freelance writer or he’d feel incredibly irresponsible to his family. I responded that he shouldn’t quit his job or be irresponsible in any way, but instead stop having such a “mental death grip” on his job and trust his talent. “Taking risks doesn’t mean being a flake,” I said. “It means having the faith to give your dreams a chance, one step at a time.” I went on to suggest that he keep his job as a temporary means to an end, but at the same time make a serious and consistent effort to complete at least one screenplay on the side. Even though Lee had the talent, and writing was his dream, he rarely sat down to do it—instead, he spent most of his limited free time drinking with his buddies and complaining about his job. Consulting my vibes, I told him, “If you want to be a professional writer, you must write on a regular basis. Besides, the job you’re so afraid to let go of is about to let go of you.” Surprised, he asked what I meant by that. I explained that I saw a series of layoffs at his work in the next few months, and he was going to be one of them. “Not again,” he moaned. “That’ll be the fifth time in three years!” “My point exactly,” I said. “Your conviction that a regular job is the safest way to security isn’t being supported by the facts. Stop avoiding your true desire and talent and give it a chance to develop. Take any job that meets your basic financial needs, but at the same time, work every day on your screenplay. Put in consistent hours (even if it’s only a couple a day) as though it were a real job, and see what happens in the next six months. You have nothing to lose.” Lee listened halfheartedly—unfortunately, his insecurity, as well as his attachment to a predictable paycheck, outweighed his desire to follow his vibes and trust his true calling. Sure enough, two months later he was laid off ... again. He couldn’t find other work anywhere in the advertising industry in New York. His baby was born, and he and his wife were forced to move in with her family in Cincinnati. Yet his job situation fared no better there: He landed a copy-editor assignment but was soon laid off again. In the meantime, he and his wife brainstormed business concepts endlessly so that they could get free of these constant setbacks. They came up with a hot-dog stand, a used-clothing store, even a New Age coffee-and-tea shop—none of which fulfilled Lee’s dream of writing screenplays. After a year and a half of unemployment and low self-esteem, he finally found the courage to change course and roll the dice. As he said in an e-mail: “I’ve been clinging to the Titanic, afraid of the water, and I find that I’m drowning in my own fear. I’ve changed my mind and am going after my dream because as you said, I have nothing more to lose. Wish me luck.” Last I heard, Lee was working in Los Angeles on daytime-TV scripts. I don’t know for certain if he’s working on his screenplay, but I do know in my heart that if he is, he’s going to succeed. As I said before, taking risks doesn’t mean being irresponsible, cavalier, or reckless; nor is it simply crossing your fingers and hoping it works out, although some of that is involved. It’s actually quite the opposite. Taking a risk means being willing to do whatever it takes—morning, noon, and night; seven days a week; week after week; year after year—even when it’s painful, while still having faith that your efforts will eventually pay off. You needn’t have blind faith—you just need enough to keep you going when all else tells you to stop. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. And those who do go after their true desires on the job by trusting their vibes usually succeed. Not all people have the courage to give up guarantees, but those who have pursued their dreams and taken the risks required aren’t concerned about guarantees. They pursue what they love and trust that their efforts will eventually lead to success. Every dream you pursue is like a planting a garden—you till, weed, plant, water, and then wait for it to grow. Part of taking a risk is having the willingness to wait for the garden to grow—on its own time and in its way, not yours. While taking chances is necessary for success, it’s wise to prepare for them along the way. Being practical is important, as long as it serves your goals and doesn’t hold you back. If your vibes lead you to pursue changes on the job—especially big ones that have no guarantees, such as changing careers or going freelance—it’s a good idea to support them with a plan. In addition, having a plan can be the very thing that makes taking risks possible. You don’t have to leap from tall buildings; you can simply take tiny, but consistent, steps into the unknown and still succeed. For example, I work with a talented musician named Mark Welch who took a big risk sixteen years ago when he decided to leave his job as a middle-school teacher to fulfill his dream of becoming a full-time musician. He knew in his heart and soul that it was the right thing for him to do, but he was frightened by the notion of getting started. He knew that he’d have to give up a regular salary to live the adventurous life of a musician, so he decided to ease his transition by preparing for it well in advance. First, Mark decided to quit his job one year after his initial decision. Next, he saved every penny he could and put it in a savings account. He also cashed in his modest retirement fund so that he’d have a small nest egg to pay his bills if necessary, Then, as a way of emotionally preparing for the unknown, he played a little game to help him get used to the future: Every time he came to a curb, instead of stepping off, he’d close his eyes and jump off to create the sensation of going into the unknown. As small and silly as this sounds, it helped smooth Mark’s transition considerably. By the time he left his job, he’d stepped into the unknown so many times he could hardly wait. He was ready, he took the plunge, and he never looked back. Six Ways to Prepare for Risks As You Pursue Your Dream Job
1. Make a plan. 2. Save money if you can. 3. Make certain that your talents match your desire. 4. Get emotionally ready by creating opportunities to take little leaps of faith. 5. Look forward with enthusiasm to your new adventure, and talk about it with excitement rather than dread. 6. Take small steps, and don’t overshoot your goal. When I suggest taking risks, especially about trusting your vibes, I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m telling you to begin to fully trust yourself. If you’ve been using your pocket notebook faithfully, you’ll have concrete evidence by now that your vibes are trustworthy. And please know that the Universe is ready when you are: The more you take the risk of trusting your vibes and moving toward your dreams, the more the Universe will move toward you, meeting you somewhere in the middle. Those who take risks will tell you that this is true—those who don’t will never know. Your Turn This week, write down all your dream jobs, fantasy wishes, and true heart’s desires in your notebook. Jot down what risks you’re avoiding: Where are you playing it safe instead of living true? Next, choose a first step in your professional advancement plan and go for it. Note five things you can do to prepare yourself for risk, such as starting a separate savings account for the future, working at a weekend job in some field you love, creating new business cards with your ideal job printed on them, or signing up for a class to improve your skills in the field you want to work in. To build up your emotional and psychic reserves for change and adventuring into the unknown, play chancy games, including the board game Risk. When approaching a curb, close your eyes and jump off. Walk backward with your eyes closed. Have someone blindfold you and lead you around the block. Dance with your eyes closed. In other words, practice giving up control and surrendering to the unknown. Record your experiences every day, and most important, write down how you feel when you take these small, calculated risks—and trust your vibes instead of your brain. If you like it, keep going ... . The Bottom Line: Roll the dice. Excerpted from Trust Your Vibes at Work, by Sonia Choquette. It is published by Hay House (November, 2005) and available at all bookstores or online at www.hayhouse.com. |
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