The Risk Factor
by Belinda Ellsworth

The old adage, "There are no guarantees in this life", is absolutely true. Life is a series of risks, and every day we are faced with situations in which we have to decide whether or not to take those risks. Risk is difficult to avoid in today’s challenging world, and we certainly need to take steps to manage it.

Have you ever seen a new product on the market and thought, "Why didn’t I think of that?" Or worse yet, have you ever seen a new product and thought, "I had that idea two years ago!" Many people have ideas for products and/or services they feel would really take off, but what stops them from developing those ideas and then going on to patent and market their innovations?

When talking to successful business people and famous entrepreneurs, a common thread seems to run throughout their stories. It wasn’t their extraordinary thoughts or ideas that caused their successes, but the fact that they actually followed through with them and courageously took the risk!

When deciding whether or not to take a risk, it’s important to ask yourself two questions: What is the worst thing that could happen if I failed? And if the worst did happen, could I live with it? The real reason why most people don’t follow their dreams is because of their fear of failure. They ask themselves: "What will people think or say if I fail? How will I ever replace my income? How will I ever be able to start over, at my age, if this does not work?"

I can remember experiencing some of the same fears when I was beginning my speaking career. Although I was extremely unhappy in my job, it did bring in a regular, steady paycheck. I asked myself: "Can I afford to quit my job and follow my dream? Can I replace my income with this new business? What would it take to make this work?"

I began to consider the possibilities. I conducted research and consulted and observed others in the industry. I rationalized: "What have I got to lose? If I stay at my current job, I will continue to be unhappy and just settling to be safe. And what have I got to gain? EVERYTHING!"

I felt that the opportunity to:

• Love what I do
• Be my own boss and
• Earn a larger income

would far outweigh the losses.

So, I made a plan and immediately put it into action. I would work at my job for just one more year, cut corners wherever possible to pay down our debts, and set as much money aside as possible to start my new business.

Finally, I set up my first seminar. I still vividly recall every detail. I remember being so nervous, experiencing all of those recurring fears: "Will people come? How will they respond? What will their reactions be? What if? What if? What if?"

I’m thrilled to say that my very first seminar was a huge success! There was a roomful of people, and everyone loved it! Before it was even over, I knew that this is what I was meant to do and that I could make a go of it.

Taking a risk means daring to fail... or daring to succeed. Most people never take a risk because they want all the answers first. They want to know it’s a sure thing, a guarantee they will not fail. They think every "i" has to be dotted and every "t" crossed before they can go into business or pursue their dreams.

It is natural to have doubts and fears about our abilities and to be afraid that we will not succeed or reach our goals. Everything  in life is a risk, but you’ll never know if you’ve got what it takes to become successful unless you try!


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