Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway: Small Risks That Change Everything
Our co-founder, Deborah, says, “Go with the flow, but remember the same water in a river never passes by twice. Jump in now, or an opportunity may be gone forever.”
Her words capture something essential about risk-taking that I’ve been wrestling with most of my life.
I’ll admit it: I’ve fallen down the YouTube rabbit hole of manifestation clips and content. Many podcasts and shows focus on vibration, energy frequencies, and attracting positivity. The common thread seems to be thinking positively, focus on what you want, and the universe will deliver. Vision boards, meditation, journaling, self-talk-there are many tools.
It does follow that success happens when logic meets emotion. It’s not enough to write down your goals and dreams or to speak them out loud to yourself or others. You must feel them, believe them on a gut level, and feel as though you have already accomplished them. The piece that often gets overlooked is taking inspired action. The universe isn’t going to knock on your door while you’re waiting in your room.
Every personality quiz I’ve taken- whether for work, personal development, or financial planning- delivers the same verdict: I’m averse to taking risks. I’m the king of making pro-and-con lists and tend to overthink my decisions. Even when the pros outweigh the cons, the status quo feels safer. No matter what decision I make, that familiar tug in my gut whispers: what if?
Beyond Overthinking: Why Action Matters
Innovation and change come with risk-taking. In 2007, Apple bet everything on a device no one had seen before, the iPhone. They fused a phone, a music player, and the internet into one revolutionary product. If it had flopped, Apple might have, too. Instead, they became the most valuable company in the world.
Then there is Sara Blakely, who had zero fashion or business experience but invested her life savings of $ 5,000 into developing Spanx. That risk transformed her into the youngest self-made female billionaire.
The Power of Small Risks: Everyday Transformations
Those are extreme examples, but risk-taking also works on smaller scales. I once watched a waiter whose energy was so magnetic and genuine that I took a chance and wrote him a note a few days later. This small risk led to one of my best friendships, which continues to this day.
Overcoming the Fear of Failure: A Path to Growth
Fear of failure is a natural companion to risk-taking. The trick is to prevent it from paralyzing us. I think if we start small it helps us build our confidence. My note to the waiter was a low-stakes matter. He could have thought I was crazy and rejected my friendship. This would have stung, but it wouldn’t have derailed my life. When risks pay off, we can achieve our goals and even realize our dreams. When they don’t, we gain experience. With the right attitude, there is no such thing as failure-only opportunities to learn or pivot. If we truly consider it, nothing is permanent. Every outcome is temporary.
From Setback to Success: Embracing the Pivot
Deborah doesn’t only preach risk-taking; she embodies it. “Keep your guardian angels busy,” she says. “Take a few risks. Drive them a little crazy.”
When she ran for Congress and did not win, she didn’t give up. She went to Washington anyway, identified a need, and created Setting Course, a management manual for congress members now in its 17th edition. The loss became a pivot, not an ending.
The river water in Deborah’s earlier quote is not coming back. The opportunities passing you by right now are unique to this moment. You can analyze them, list their pros and cons, and wait for the perfect conditions, or you can jump in. The water is fine. Your guardian angels are ready for the excitement.
