National Take A Chance Day
I've always tried to take chances. I took a big chance when I quit my job a couple of years ago and became self employed. I take a chance every time I have to speak in front of a large group or bid on more work. On the whole, taking business risks has always paid off, and I have no complaints.
But taking a chance on your future earnings is nothing compared to taking a chance on your heart. Laying your self respect, your pride and your faith in humanity on the line isn't easy; in fact, it's one of the most difficult things we can do.
When you're faced with a difficult decision, try to consider all of the potential end results. There are a few possible outcomes you face when you take a risk:
- Things won't go the way you want them to when you take a chance. You'll be disappointed, potentially embarrassed, and risk doing irreparable damage to your heart, mind and soul. But as you grow up, and embarrass yourself constantly, there's less and less risk of permanent damage. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone miscalculates risk and 10 years later, no one remembers the details anyway.
- You take a chance and it sort of works out, but not the way you expected. Well, that's life, isn't it? You escape emotionally unscathed but perhaps no better or worse than when you invested in taking a risk. Chances are, you didn't throw yourself under the train, and that's why you got lukewarm results.
- Everything works out exactly the way you'd hoped when you take a chance. That's what we're all hoping for. Maybe what you want seems out of reach, and maybe you're right. But like my dad always says, you'll never know unless you try.
A while back I was listening to a radio show and the DJ shared results from a survey given to a group of senior citizens. Not the "over 55" Boomer group, but folks whose median age was in the 80's.
When asked about regrets, the respondents didn't say they wished they'd made more money, owned more houses, or got more promotions at work. Actually, the overwhelming regret was "not enough sex." Drilled down even further, another question about regrets netted the on-spot response "not enough good sex." The other regrets ranged from not enough travel to not staying in touch with friends or mending fences with family.
At the end of your life, what will you regret? My sister had a cancer scare last year. She was fine, and later told mom that if she had been diagnosed with cancer, she'd buy a Miata, a dream of hers ever since my brother bought one back in the day. Ever the wise matriarch, mom pointedly asked, "Well, what's stopping you from buying one now?"
Nothing, apparently, and at Christmas I drove the red convertible all over their little college town while home for a visit. This set off something of a chain reaction, as not to be outdone, another brother decided he'd always wanted a Miata too, and one snugly graces his driveway today.
Get inspired. Make a grand gesture. Do something you would normally never ever do. This year, celebrate this little-known holiday by taking a chance- on you.
Comments
I worked in TV for 4 years. And I LOVED it, but with a second child on the way, marriage and bills accumulating every year the hours were not suitable for my changing life style. So, much like you; I quit in pursuit of starting my own business. That is the American dream right, have children…do the passion that will win you success and riches, and all the while have the hours suitable enough to be the team mom for T-ball season? Well, that’s what I was going for. Oddly enough with the risk that I was taking all started by the birth of my second son I named him Chance. I kid you not. Chance Matthew. And off I went, I sunk my savings into an editing suite and decided to shoot weddings, needless to say it was short lived. Between restless nights, midnight feedings, my first graders homework and parent teacher conferences I had no time to market myself, or pay the independent business taxes b/c there was not enough extra money coming in. And so…back to the drawling board. Since the fact hadn’t changed that the Television hours were not workable or changeable for that matter, I had to seek out something new. Since, TV was all I ever wanted to be, I settled for “just” paying the bills. And that is where I am, or was until yesterday. Four years later and all I have done, is “just” pay the bills.
My new plan is to put myself out there, open myself up to new ideas…sniff out new opportunity. But the one stipulation that I have put on myself is it has to interest my soul. It has to give my creativity a run for its money. So, I am quitting my official date was April 19th, 2007. Time to take a chance…and thanks to your article, I feel that it might even work out this time. So, for that bit of knowledge I will mark this date on my calendar and know that spring is a time to start over if what your doing isn’t working.
Emilie Hamilton
EmilieSXH@Gmail.com
There is so much I want to say to you, so I hope that I can say it all without sounding like the dork that I really am.
First off, congratulations to you, for taking a chance on yourself. In the final analysis, I think we all hope that we can look back and be proud of our accomplishments but even more than that understand and comprehend that, in fact, we left a mark. Maybe it is a small mark. But it is still a contribution.
There have been times, and you will feel this too, when you think, what was I thinking? For me, I was making an insane amount of money- but I threw up every single morning in anticipation of another stressful work day. There will be times when you think, I’m so stupid. I can’t do it. This will never work. I did this too. And so does just about everyone, who takes a chance and drops out of the rat race.
Maybe we’re hippies at heart; growing up in Oregon, I can tell you that’s not too far-fetched for me. But what meant the most, more than bonuses, more than profit-sharing, was the day my mom said, do what you need to do- I just want you to be happy. It probably sounds silly- and very immature- but that gave me the gumption-and the strength- to give it a shot.
If you fail (according to societal norms only, because everyone else will think you are brave), but if you don’t accomplish what you want to, then so be it. You gave it a shot, and that’s all anyone, or any divine spirit, can ask of you.
Emilie, the only thing that’s important is that you do what feels right for you. Everything else, it becomes inconsequential when you take that leap.
I spoke with my sister, to make sure she was comfortable with the blog before it went live yesterday, and found out that once again, she’s been both an inspiration- and a deep gulp of fresh air to me- when she told me she was going to go to college yet again, to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a teacher. If you’re struggling with what to do, consider increasing your already substantial educational base. It can never hurt you to continue to learn- and you just might find what you are looking for in the process.
There are grand gestures, there are small gestures, and then, there are the important gestures, that greatly affect your life, your family, and everything you’ve been taught to believe. I know that you’ll find your place- and quitting your job, taking a chance on you, was the first step.
I wish you everything good, and everything peaceful in your quest to find your niche- and I hope you’ll come back and tell me, when you find your great success.
Sincerely,
Lisa
There is so much I want to say to you, so I hope that I can say it all without sounding like the dork that I really am.
First off, congratulations to you, for taking a chance on yourself. In the final analysis, I think we all hope that we can look back and be proud of our accomplishments but even more than that understand and comprehend that, in fact, we left a mark. Maybe it is a small mark. But it is still a contribution.
There have been times, and you will feel this too, when you think, what was I thinking? For me, I was making an insane amount of money- but I threw up every single morning in anticipation of another stressful work day. There will be times when you think, I’m so stupid. I can’t do it. This will never work. I did this too. And so does just about everyone, who takes a chance and drops out of the rat race.
Maybe we’re hippies at heart; growing up in Oregon, I can tell you that’s not too far-fetched for me. But what meant the most, more than bonuses, more than profit-sharing, was the day my mom said, do what you need to do- I just want you to be happy. It probably sounds silly- and very immature- but that gave me the gumption-and the strength- to give it a shot.
If you fail (according to societal norms only, because everyone else will think you are brave), but if you don’t accomplish what you want to, then so be it. You gave it a shot, and that’s all anyone, or any divine spirit, can ask of you.
Emilie, the only thing that’s important is that you do what feels right for you. Everything else, it becomes inconsequential when you take that leap.
I spoke with my sister, to make sure she was comfortable with the blog before it went live yesterday, and found out that once again, she’s been both an inspiration- and a deep gulp of fresh air to me- when she told me she was going to go to college yet again, to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a teacher. If you’re struggling with what to do, consider increasing your already substantial educational base. It can never hurt you to continue to learn- and you just might find what you are looking for in the process.
There are grand gestures, there are small gestures, and then, there are the important gestures, that greatly affect your life, your family, and everything you’ve been taught to believe. I know that you’ll find your place- and quitting your job, taking a chance on you, was the first step.
I wish you everything good, and everything peaceful in your quest to find your niche- and I hope you’ll come back and tell me, when you find your great success.
Sincerely,
Lisa
I worked in TV for 4 years. And I LOVED it, but with a second child on the way, marriage and bills accumulating every year the hours were not suitable for my changing life style. So, much like you; I quit in pursuit of starting my own business. That is the American dream right, have children…do the passion that will win you success and riches, and all the while have the hours suitable enough to be the team mom for T-ball season? Well, that’s what I was going for. Oddly enough with the risk that I was taking all started by the birth of my second son I named him Chance. I kid you not. Chance Matthew. And off I went, I sunk my savings into an editing suite and decided to shoot weddings, needless to say it was short lived. Between restless nights, midnight feedings, my first graders homework and parent teacher conferences I had no time to market myself, or pay the independent business taxes b/c there was not enough extra money coming in. And so…back to the drawling board. Since the fact hadn’t changed that the Television hours were not workable or changeable for that matter, I had to seek out something new. Since, TV was all I ever wanted to be, I settled for “just” paying the bills. And that is where I am, or was until yesterday. Four years later and all I have done, is “just” pay the bills.
My new plan is to put myself out there, open myself up to new ideas…sniff out new opportunity. But the one stipulation that I have put on myself is it has to interest my soul. It has to give my creativity a run for its money. So, I am quitting my official date was April 19th, 2007. Time to take a chance…and thanks to your article, I feel that it might even work out this time. So, for that bit of knowledge I will mark this date on my calendar and know that spring is a time to start over if what your doing isn’t working.
Emilie Hamilton
EmilieSXH@Gmail.com