I don’t know about you, but everywhere I turn at the moment, I hear about risk.

From financial institutions measuring their risk appetite for new clients, products and deals, entrepreneurs debating whether to take greater risks in their business, to individuals wishing they could take more risks in their personal lives to achieve a happier, healthier or successful life.

But what do we really mean by risk?

Every scandal or fraud we’ve ever heard about focuses on the risks that were taken or lack of risk management. It’s absolutely right to have stringent measures and compliance in place to manager and measure risk and I’m not suggesting otherwise. However, I can see how we have developed a negative association to the word risk and how that can play out in our lives.

If you’ve ever googled risk the definition is “a situation involving exposure to danger”.

No wonder so many people are terrified to take risks! I mean, what sane person wants to intentionally expose their self to danger…?

At a simplistic level, I see risk as the level of action that someone is willing to take to step outside of their comfort zone and achieve something, without a guaranteed result.

You may be thinking, “if it’s that simple, then why do so many people struggle to take risks…?”

The truth is that many people are paralysed by “what if” syndrome…

What if I fail
What if it doesn’t work
What if I waste my time
What if I lose money
What if I can’t deliver
What if I end up alone
What if I lose credibility
What if I actually succeed
What if people think negatively about me
I’m sure you can add at least another 50 “what if’s” to this list.

Often times, fear, is the underlying driver that is activating the “what if” response.

 Erin Hanson

So how can you become better at taking risk?

This depends on your outlook to and aspirations in life.

For me, I don’t want to settle for mediocrity, be average or live a life of fear or regret. I want to live my life to the absolute fullest, achieve wild success and make a massive impact to the lives of others.

But…

I know I can’t do that without stepping outside of my comfort zone, taking action and facing my fear… every single day!

It’s probably no surprise then, that my risk level is quite high and I’m not suggesting that everyone else’s should be the same…

but as Tony Robbins famously said, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got”.

The best way to approach risk, is to reframe it as a “positive action with benefits”.

Take a moment to think about where you are now in your personal or professional life and where or what you aspire to.

Risk is the gap between the two.

Instead of thinking of all the “what if’s”, focus on the “benefits” that can be achieved if you follow your heart and your passions.

Imagine:

• Securing a promotion at work

• Doubling or tripling your business profits

• Developing deeper relationships with friends, family and colleagues

• Having more time and freedom

• Having more money to enjoy the finer things in life

• Helping and supporting others

• Living a happier, healthier and purposeful life

• Surely these are benefits that make “positive risk” worth taking…

I can’t remember who said it, but one of my favourite quotes and one, which I tend to live my life by is

“Success is the ability to take action on that which you cannot yet see!”

Natalie

www.natalieclare.com