Here’s one leadership idea and one resource I’ve found beneficial this week:
1 idea: The misery of uncertainty
Whenever I tell people the story of starting my own business, I often hear the same thing: “Wow, I wish I had the courage to do that, too.” When I ask more, I hear about the businesses they wished they’d launched, the books they longed to write, and the risks they dreamed of taking.
Few narratives capture the American imagination better than the entrepreneur success story. We are energized to hear about Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates dropping out of Harvard to found their billion-dollar companies. We’re emboldened when we hear about Sarah Blakely talking her friends into buying Spanx at their local department store so that other chains would carry her product. We love the hustling entrepreneur narrative because it inspires hope, determination, and creativity.
But what makes these stories compelling is not the billions of dollars these founders generate—it's the adversity and uncertainty they had to overcome to get there.
Human beings are terrified of the unknown, and we admire the bold few who choose to face it head-on. As Virginia Satir poignantly says, “People prefer the certainty of misery to the misery of uncertainty.”
Ironically, worrying that we might have cancer can be worse than knowing we have cancer. Contemplating a breakup with a long-time partner might be scarier than continuing in the dysfunctional relationship itself. We instinctively believe that the devil we know is better than the devil we don’t. Consequently, we venerate people who are willing to embrace the unknown.
Our admiration of boldness does not always translate to action, however. As Daniel Pink finds in The Power of Regret, our strongest regrets come from things we didn’t do: start the business, repair the relationship, take the trip, etc. We know that we will regret inaction but nevertheless fail to take the risks we dream of.
But what if you were different? What if...
You explored that other career even though you weren't sure how it would turn out?
You reached out to that estranged family member even though they might reject you again?
You launched that initiative even though you don’t know what the future holds?
The ultimate question is, would you rather endure the temporary discomfort of uncertainty or live with decades of regret?
You don't have to quit your job tomorrow or make a radical declaration on social media. But do consider what the right next step is.
Make a call. Sign up for a class. Ask them to coffee.Choose the road less traveled. It's rarely crowded.
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What risks do you wish you could take?
What do you stand to lose if you try and fail?
What would you gain if your dreams came true?
1 resource: How I Built This
If you love entrepreneur stories, you’ll love How I Built This, a podcast by Guy Raz that chronicles the surprising stories of entrepreneurs. You’ll glimpse into the garages where these companies were founded and go on the emotional roller coaster with these business leaders as they discern what to do next. I find this podcast always inspires me to think differently and to persevere.
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