On January 16th, I stumbled upon Capital One’s tweet, “True or False ? If you don’t take #risks, you will always #work for someone who does. #Bizdom.” Three weeks later, I went to a discussion led by alumni entrepreneurs Pete Kadens ’00 and Glen Tullman ’81 and was titled “Risk, Love & Entrepreneurship: How they all come together”. Listening to these two speakers attribute their successes to risk-taking made me realize how much one can accomplish simply by taking a chance. I was inspired to start changing how I live my life and taking more chances. Plus, after their talk, I knew that Capital One’s tweet was definitely true.
So why can taking a chance be so rewarding? Taking risks helps us overcome our fear of failure. Many people, including myself, are afraid of taking chances because we exaggerate how bad an outcome may be. We are often insecure because of the negative connotations associated with being a “failure.”
But how bad will the outcomes really be? Failures are rarely unable to be overcome. In fact, many people claim that failures have been some of their greatest learning experiences and the turning point in many of the lives of our successful role models. Once you start taking risks, you will be even more likely to continue to do so because you’ve experienced failure and are no longer afraid of it.
Plus, you can only achieve your dreams if you take risks. If you play it safe, what are the chances that you will be truly happy? Taking risks will open up possibilities that you never even imagined, allowing us to realize our full potential. If we choose to continue on the path that is set up for us, never straying from what’s expected, we will never know what we’re capable of.
Here are 5 easy ways you can start taking risks today:
- Try a new cuisine
Trying new food is the easiest way to train yourself to be a risk taker. Run down to the bookstore and pick out a traditional Filipino cookbook. Or, if you haven’t tried one of the Thai restaurants on Market Street, you’re missing out. Chantana Thai is my personal favorite.
- Find a new hobby!
Whether it’s joining a new club, taking an intro-level language course, or trying out that TRX fitness class, trying a new extra-curricular has very few negative consequences.
- Go somewhere without a plan.
Spring break is coming up. Take the opportunity to get your friends together and go somewhere new. Toss the typical Spring Break in Cancun plan and go somewhere you wouldn’t expect like Iceland or Sedona, Arizona.
- Find a cause you’re passionate about.
There are so many different organizations on campus that target different causes and needs. They are all welcoming of new members, but if you see a different way to make a difference or find a cause you feel more strongly about, make a change! Go out and make a difference in whatever way you can.
- Get a haircut.
Drastically changing your appearance is a personal risk that can have a huge impact on your self-image and confidence. Giving yourself a new look can be extremely liberating. Change is good. Plus, if you don’t like it, hair always grows back.