Your Pathway to Courage, Risks and Reward
Learning How to Take Chances to Change Your Life

Welcome to Module #3 of the Common Thread Success Academy coaching course, “Your Pathway to Courage, Risks and Reward,” where you are continuing your exploration of what it means to have courage, take risks and reap the rewards.

As you discovered in Module #2, taking chances often has a negative connotation because it implies danger, anxiety, worry, and possible loss. But taking chances also has a positive side because often the reward is greater than the risk. Most of us are pretty good at not taking dumb risks, but many times we also miss the smart risks that come our way.

In this module you will explore the idea of risk, the second element of the “Courage, Risk, Rewards” approach to taking chances. You will look at why you avoid it, and how you can feel empowered to take more chances in the future.

There are 5 key reasons why people avoid taking risks. They are:

1) Failure – I might not get what I’m aiming for.
2) Exposure – If it doesn’t work out, everyone will know and it will reflect negatively on me.
3) Embarrassment – If I push for something, and it doesn’t work out, I could be judged by others.
4) Rejection – If the risk fails, I could be rejected by others.
5) Loss – If I try something new or different, I might have to give up what’s familiar.

Despite the powerful and often debilitating obstacles that prevent people from going after their dreams, there are even more empowering and inspiring perspectives that can motivate you to take risks. They are:

• Take the Plunge
  • Taking action towards achieving what you want is not really a risk. Action, no matter how small, will create positive movement forward. It always gives you more experience and wisdom for the next time.
• Say ‘Yes’ to Life
  • Life isn’t about obligations, commitments and to-do lists; it’s about being able to say ‘no’ to the distractions and ‘yes’ to the things that matter most.
  • Life passes far too quickly, and before we know it, we look back and realize we didn’t say ‘yes’ enough.
• Go Out on a Limb
  • The view will be much better from there, and you are bound to find some fruit.
  • Climb with care, look around, and enjoy the rewards of your efforts. Then climb higher. Step-by-step you will get there.
• Swing for the Fences
  • If you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.
  • Most people spend too much time pondering what won’t work and as a result justify why it’s best to ‘play it safe.’
• Roll the Dice
  • Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.
  • If you’re going to do it, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
  • Our life is full of failures we don’t even think about. But it’s also full of successes too. When we realize our failures are not catastrophic, we become more willing to take risks.
  • Build your failure and success ‘muscle’ by taking smaller risks, then building up to larger ones.
• Believe in Yourself
  • At the end of the day, success (and therefore risk taking) is about belief in yourself – belief that you have what it takes and you can do it.
  • If you are crippled with self-doubt you will not take action.

Complete Module #3 by answering the questions below.

• Which of the 5 reasons that people avoid risk resonated with you most?
• What are some other reasons you avoid risk?
• What is your reaction to the perspectives that support, empower and inspire people to take more risks?
• Which perspective(s) would inspire you to take a chance? Why?

Continue to Module 4