People talk of adventure, then regret. The point is it’s all talk. Everyone has dreams, but why do many of us choose not to follow them? When did bitterness replace fear of failure as an acceptable emotion?
The most bitter folks I know are the ones who’ve lived their life on the sidelines. Critical of everything because they’ve done nothing of their own. Some even make good money, but they have no spark left in the soul. Unfortunately, leaving this world full of regret… Safe or not, bitter bites! There is no soft-pedaling that one. But, let’s tackle fear:
Fear of failure is usually the biggest obstacle that keeps us down and in-check with the rest of the sideliners. But, most successful people will tell you that it was their failures that made them better. The Catch-22 is the ‘idea of fear’ is the real villain in your life story, not the outcome of taking the field. It’s the the idea of failure that makes humans cower. The reality is fear and failure are actually good things.
Let that soak-in for a moment…
Embracing our fears head-on makes us better, sharper — more focused. (Think WWII or every bootstrapped startup that made it big.) In business and life, fear of failure channeled correctly actually strengthens our sense of purpose.
Take Pixar’s UP, and incredible new film about a man who finally decides to make good on a lifelong dream. When we first meet the now elderly Mr. Frederickson, he’s become embittered with the cards life has dealt him — a sharp contrast to the boy adventurer we met in the first reel. Without spoiling the plot, his decision to follow his lifelong dream brings life back to the one he’s living. And the great thing is the outcome is neither what he dreamed nor planned — it’s better!
The lesson of UP is beautifully simple. Life is an adventure. We get what we give, and happiness requires participation. The same truth can be applied to any dream you have, big or small.
So stop talking about adventure, and go take one!
Tags: entrepreneurs, MyLifeUp, startups
