{"id":1215,"date":"2020-11-26T14:20:54","date_gmt":"2020-11-26T14:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lyndahoffman.com\/en-us\/?p=1215"},"modified":"2026-10-13T18:16:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T22:16:04","slug":"take-a-risk-achieve-your-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lyndahoffman.com\/en-us\/take-a-risk-achieve-your-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a Risk, Achieve Your Goals"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we think of risk takers, we think of business innovators: Nikola Tesla, Jeff Bezos or Arianna Huffington. They were ready to take smart risks to create what mattered to them. Are you ready to take a risk to become who you were meant to be? Smart risks are as essential to great personal growth as they are to innovative business development. In fact, great business and professional growth depend on personal development.<\/p>\n

A survey conducted by a contributor toForbes<\/a> magazine in 2017 showed that 66% of CEOs enjoy taking risks. In other words, there is a definite link between risk and achievement.<\/p>\n

The key to making great headway on your goals will be in your willingness to take a calculated risk.<\/p>\n

How can you know you are actually taking calculated risks? You can start by reflecting on the following:<\/p>\n

Your Past Choices<\/h2>\n

Did you opt for the safe route? Did you turn down opportunities to speak publicly despite your goal to broaden your professional contacts? Did you pass on a social event even though your goal was to nurture your relationships?<\/p>\n

Whatever the circumstances, notice when you made decisions that work against your goals.<\/p>\n

Sometimes they are hard to spot. Check in with your body. Your head may tell you that you are making the wisest decision, but your body knows better. Are you feeling energized? Light? Butterflies in your stomach? Great. These are the signs that you are growing and stretching. But if you feel tension in the back of your neck and a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, your body may be telling you that you\u2019re letting yourself down.<\/p>\n

What Were You Trying to Avoid?<\/h2>\n

Sometimes avoidance is a resistance to change. This is human and natural and something we all need to work with. Don\u2019t avoid it. Pay attention. What is it telling you? Is it saying that you would be humiliated if you shared your ideas at work? That you can\u2019t afford to take the time you need to recover from burnout?<\/p>\n

While these are powerful enough, can you go a little deeper?<\/p>\n

Look for another layer. What do you believe? That you will never have enough money? You will never have a job to go back to \u2013 ever? That you will die of shame if you share your ideas? These are examples of limiting beliefs.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Let Fear Be in Charge\"\"<\/h2>\n

Fear is necessary. It keeps us safe. The key is to tell the difference between the fear that protects you and the fear that holds you back. The dire consequences we fear are usually not realistic. Total destitution is not likely if you take time off work to heal from an illness. It is also unlikely that you will never have friends again if you embarrass yourself at a party.<\/p>\n

Identify the Smart Risks for Your New Goals<\/h2>\n

A smart risk is a calculated one. First, identify the risk that would bring you closest to reaching your goal. Taking risks randomly will not have the focused result you are looking for. For example, if you want to streamline your productivity at work but then take on a major project without the structures to support it, the risk was in the wrong place. You were focused on taking on new work, not on the goal to increase efficiency. The best risk may have been to say \u201cno\u201d to the project until your resources were in place.<\/p>\n