Playing It “Safe” Is Cancelled
Reading Time: 3 minutes
All too often, I encounter women who have settled in the realm of "safe." This doesn't come as a surprise since our whole life we are taught to put safety first - buckle up when you hit the road, wear a helmet while riding your bike, and don't run with scissors, etc. It all makes perfect sense!
The issue is that we automatically make "safe" the solution when it comes to any risk. In the examples above, playing it safe makes sense because the perceived risks are completely devastating, and there is little to no perceived reward. But what about the cases where the perceived risk is small while the perceived reward is huge? In these instances, playing it safe becomes the dangerous option!
We often hear warnings about taking big risks, but we rarely hear warnings about playing it safe. Because the effects aren't typically super immediate or obvious, people don't often connect the dots. Instead, before they know it, they end up with a life of regret and "what ifs."
And this, ladies, is why I became a career advancement strategist!
My goal is to help women change their career narrative. There are too many women settling for far less than they deserve because they fear failure or fear the unknown.
If you find yourself playing it safe, here are some tips to level up:
Begin with the end in mind. Don't just take risks for the sake of taking risks. Set goals, identify the associated risks and rewards, then evaluate the potential outcomes.
Start with small risks. The more comfortable you get with risk-taking, the less fear will cripple you.
Understand that failure is not final. The truth is, at some point, we'll all fail - just research your favorite icon! It's all about how you learn from your experience that will determine your fate.
And always remember: it's never "too late" to make a bold career decision! Cheers to major wins in 2022!
