What Would You Do if You Knew You Could Not Fail?

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Well ........What WOULD you do if you knew you could not fail? 

Sometimes the challenges and changes we are faced with seem insurmountable. We want to do something new or change our lives in some way.

But we feel very small in the face of much larger egos, obstacles and organizations. These feelings of being unable to take on the giant, looming large, can stop us in our tracks, root us to the spot and paralyze our thinking and behavior.

I think much of  this is to do with the fear of failing and/or the ramifications of taking that risk.

The story of Chanukah really highlights the risks of failing and the courage to try anyway. What were the chances that a small group of zealous Maccabees could take on a giant Greek army and win? 

What were the chances that  a tiny amount of oil- enough to burn  in the menorah for just one day in the Temple, would burn for  eight days  until more oil could be brought?

 On paper or at the betting shop  neither of these would have had great odds of happening. But I don't think the Maccabees or the Priest in the Temple stopped too long to think about failing. So driven for their cause, so sure that they  must do what they set out to: there was no indecision, second guessing or opportunity to opt out.

As I was thinking about this, my eye was drawn to a quote I have on the wall facing where I sit to write. It says

What would you do if you knew you could not fail? 

 Of course some of the reasons that might stop us trying are legitimate.

But so much of our rationale is misdirected. We make many excuses that have little real basis for preventing us from follow through.( I am guilty of this for sure!)

I don't have enough time/ hair/ experience /height /______________( fill in the blank)

People would think I was crazy/ irresponsible/ selfish/______( fill in the blank)

There are other people who can do this much better/ faster/ more intelligently_______( fill in the blank)

Who will look after the children / the lizard / Auntie Flo/____________?( fill in the blank)




But.......

...... and here is the BUT...... 

...........If this change might bring us greater happiness, better security, more time with our families, closer to our values or more in tune with ourselves (and someone to look after the lizard or Auntie Flo) don't we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to do due diligence? 

Don't we need to research, learn, ask, discuss, talk and map out what taking this risk really involves?

What I know for sure, is that if we just sit on our ideas and dreams then our failure is guaranteed.

And so ..... If I knew I could not fail, what would I reach for right now?

Well, I would find myself a blogging/ writing mentor, to take me to the next step. I would knock  on the ultimate blogger, Jon Morrow's door and ask him to guide me to 10,000 email subscribers not just listen to his webinars and think "How on earth can I do that?"  

I would  truly believe I could get 10,000 subscribers and grow my blog without fear or anxiety. I would build relationships with professional bloggers and take the risk of asking them for a guest blogging opportunity or interview and  a link to my site.

Yes these are all things I would do if I knew I could not fail.           ( Indeed I know it's what I must do next. I'll keep you posted on my progress.)

And my husband Jonny ...what would he do if he knew he could not fail? He would be a current affairs chat show host on prime time TV! ( any agents out there??)

Now it's your turn. Please tell me below what YOU would do, if you knew you could not fail? 

Dream big and let's help each other.

Happy Chanukah to those of you celebrating. Have a happy week.

Gilly

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