Communication Skills Tip: Big Wins Take Big Risks

Taking risks is part of my nature. But big risks? The last big risk I took was when I jumped out of an airplane in 2004 to go parachuting. I didn’t feel that I had anything to lose. I was at a crossroad with my business and I wasn’t sure which way to go. I carelessly said to a friend of mine one day, “I want to go parachuting.” She said, “Me too.” And the next thing I knew it, she had everything planned and I was driving upstate New York to jump out of a plane. It was absurd. And it was far from who I was. I like to take risks, but I like to have my feet on the ground while I’m doing it. Yet, it seems to me that taking another big risk is imminent.

I’m sitting here looking at a vision board I made for the future of my career and one of the cutouts is a phrase that reads: “Big Risks. Big Thinking. Big Goals. Big Wins." Seemed right when I cut it out. Yeah, that sounds like me. I want to think big and win big. So, let me get down to business with this risk-taking and understand what it is I need to do to catapult myself to the next level of my success. Hmmm…well, I’m an artist; I’m a communicator; I’m a lover of people and personal development; I’m also a hippie of sorts, a naturist, and a dreamer. As you may be able to see, being the entrepreneur and business woman that I am is a little complicated—at least by the looks of my self-definitions. But, I am a big dream catcher (as a business partner of mine, Lisa Parker, would say), and I do believe that there is a way for me to merge all of my interests into a business. So, if I had to do something hugely risky, like jump out of a plane, in order to propel myself into the next phase of my business life, what would it be? I’m not so sure yet. (Your suggestions are welcome.)

When it comes to learning and development, I coach my clients the same way: Think big, take risks, set goals, and win. It sounds so simple to write. And it even feels so compelling to pursue. Still, there is the reality of the obstacles that peak at the most unwanted moments. As I mention in Lanartco’s Tip of the Week, April 29, 2009, how we face those challenges is how we come out of each storm. I’m no different from any one of you out there right now. I’m digging deep and reaching high to make things happen—sometimes, I’m even floundering. Kind of like when I jumped out of the plane. To be added to Lanartco's Communication Performance Tip of the Week, please connect to this link or send your email address to info@lanartco.com