How Much Risk Is Too Much To Take?

The ladder was braced against the railings going to the basement. I started climbing up. I had to get to the ceiling and this was my Rube Goldberg way of doing it without having to put up scaffolding. I made it up two or three rungs before coming to my senses. It would be so easy for the railing to break and for me to go tumbling down the stairs.

You see I was trying to paint my living room with a cathedral ceiling. I had to get up near the apex at 12 feet. The problem was that there were stairs going to the basement and nowhere to safely put the ladder. So I tried bracing it against the railing before giving up. I was trying to put primer over a quote painted in black that said, "It's not how far you fall, but how high you bounce." It would have been so ironic for me fall from the ladder while trying to paint over that quote. Believe me, I wouldn't have bounced very high.

How much risk is too much? I calculated the risk and found the risk was too high for the reward. I ended up taping a paintbrush to a long pole, and I got the quote painted just fine. Just a little ingenuity.

In the book, "Mental Judo" by Lance Lager, he talks about falling also. "In physical judo, practically the first thing you learn is how to fall. ? In Mental Judo, as in physical judo, learning how to 'fall' is important. I don't mean, of course, falling on your rump, but in a figurative sense falling is falling. Life is a series of ups and downs, and none of us is our imperfection can avoid taking a fall from time to time. When you don't reach your goal, when you are rejected or ignored or just outwitted for the moment, you are experiencing a fall. It is extremely important that you learn how to fall gracefully and be able to snap right back up with a minimum of effort and without fear of the next fall or concern about an injured ego. Just as in skiing or ice skating, if you are not falling, you are not learning or trying something new."

We are bound to fall, whether through our own fault or the fault of someone we depended on, be it life at home or in the workplace. What do we do when we fall? Sit and cry? Get mad? Resign ourselves to the fact that this is the way life is always going to be and that success will never come my way? It can be happen in any of these scenarios.

I've taken some tumbles myself. A big tumble came last summer when I was doing a job search. I had a good meeting with a company that was looking for someone to do business development for them. I had a very good first interview and was invited back for a second one. The owner of the company called the morning of the second meeting and said he had to postpone the meeting until after the weekend because of time deadlines. Okay.

On Monday I called and left a message. No returned call. The next day I tried the phone and an email. Nothing. On Wednesday, I got ahold of the second in command who was in on the meeting. He said I needed to talk with the owner, and that he would call me back. I heard nothing more. I gave one more attempt on Friday and never heard a word.

Did I do something to offend them? Did they think I was a loser who couldn't possibly help them? Was I overly naïve and put too many eggs in this one basket? I don't know what happened and may never find out. But what I learned from that experience was to bounce back and keep doing what I needed to do in order to support my family.

I decided a while after this incident to restart my business, which is another excellent opportunity to fall. But it hasn't been so far. I've been meeting a lot of new people and getting new clients on a weekly basis. But it is a risk.

I was talking with a gentleman who had owned his own business for thirty-five years. He told me, "I didn't go into business for myself to make a lot of money. I just wanted to control my own life."

Life is risky. We are learning in the current economy that it can be risky to even have a day-to-day job with a company. Risk can be fun, and it can be ulcer producing. So, take a bit of a risk right now. It doesn't have to be something big. It takes a while to develop your risk muscles. It can start with little stuff and then move onto something bigger.

Dave Carlson is the owner of Venturewide Internet Marketing, specializing in helping businesses succeed on the Web through search engine optimization and pay per click marketing. He can be reached at 720-922-3124.

See his Web site at http://www.venturewide.com.

© 2005, Dave Carlson, All Rights Reserved

---

Passion and Purpose

Who are we, standing here on this planet, looking for a place to be? Are we the "forgotten ones" from a time gone by, a piece of... Read More

Our Future

I'm back from Hawaii; it was ten days of physical and emotional mastery. We went from learning from twenty of the planets best speakers in their field,... Read More

Are You the Motivator

We're all aware of how important teamwork is and how an inspired team, working together toward a clearly defined goal, can accomplish tremendous results. But how do... Read More

What Does Your Future Hold? Do You Have A Plan? Or Are You Just Waiting To See What Happens?

We often find ourselves in a situation in which we either accept the change that someone else imposes upon us or in which we ourselves effect the... Read More

Planting Seeds of Action

Recently, I was driving past a local nursery and saw a sign that said, "Fall Is For Planting." As I drove, the idea on the sign was... Read More

The IDEAL Problem Solver

The IDEAL Problem Solver is an effective tool you can use to attack your problems. If you are used to getting on your horse and riding in... Read More

A Special Q & A - All About Passionately Soaring in Life

1. How do I discover my passion?This is one of my favorite reasons for giving Divinely channeled private consultations. Most people do NOT know their passion, or... Read More

Constructive Tips About Retrenchment

This article provides constructive tips about facing retrenchment and moving on with new career opportunities.1) Don't take it personally.Your retrenchment should not lower your self-esteem. You have... Read More

The Art of Scripting Your Life

Writing a 'life script' is like writing a movie script. You need to create a feeling, evoke emotional responses and create the scenarios. You dream up the... Read More

7 Tips For Unstoppable Motivation And Enduring Success

Procrastination is of no use to you in your quest to fulfill your dreams. Lose those old habits and replace them with habits that lead to self-motivation... Read More

All Talk And No Action; So Let It Be Written; So Let It Be Done!

It is so important to know how to motivate ourselves in an effective manner and in a desirable direction. Throughout life we continually struggle between the dual... Read More

What Once Was - Ain?t No More

Rather than beat around the bush and try to lead into this in a semi-logical manner, I'll get right to the point. The past is gone ?... Read More

Motivation: 3 Suggestions for Living a Life of Purpose, On Purpose

"There's so many roads that seem, To lead down to the sea. I wonder which road, will be the right one for me?" - SeawindI heard these... Read More

The Road Less Traveled

Can someone please tell me why it is that men who have nothing substantial to offer continually approach me? Do you have anything of benefit to bring... Read More

Believe

It's like that old joke about how long did it take Bell to discover the light bulb. Then realizing it was Edison who did it. Though I... Read More

Persistence

Persistence will carve you as a leader in your industry. Persistence is where you get mental strength. It seperates you from ordinary people. You must learn to... Read More

How Mind Implants Increase Business Success

If your business isn't as successful as you envision, what's holding you back? You might say it's a lack of capital, a lack of employees, a lack... Read More

If Not Now, When?

How many times have you made excuses for putting off something you really needed or wanted to do? Probably too many times to count. It is all... Read More

Are You Facing Challenges? Then Make A Different Decision

Many people don't really understand the gift they have been given in their ability to be decisive. According to the dictionary, decisiveness means 'having the power or... Read More

The True Cost Of A Lack of Motivation

And what a lack of motivation means..As you read this article you will start to understand why a lack of motivation is costing you even more than... Read More

Full Steam Ahead, Just Dont Go Off Half Cocked!

Do you do things that you don't want to do? Do you not do things that you do want to do? Do you find every reason in... Read More

Mortgage Marketing - How to Maximize Your Motivation

Do you have the motivation to succeed in the mortgage industry? Without the drive to succeed you will surely fail.Did you know you can create the motivation... Read More

The ONE Question Winners ALWAYS Ask?.

Over the past several years I have experienced my fair share of success. However, it has not been without its fair share of obstacles and setbacks. I... Read More

10 Things To Do This Summer

Looking for a summer project? How about working on who you are, and what kind of life you really want to live? Here's some ideas.1. Focus on... Read More

Beginnings Arent As Complicated As They Seem

Beginnings are seldom as complicated as they seem. You know what I mean by "complicated ? the dates and the duties and the things-to-be-remembered, the stuff that... Read More

Success: 10 Easy Success Tips To Help You Achieve Your Ambitions In Life

I want to wish you good health, long life, success and happiness.Most people are capable of setting up goals for them to achieve.That is the easy part.The... Read More