I admit it, I am risk averse, at least with my finances. Those who know me would say the opposite in most other aspects of my list. I have jumped out of a plane (proof in photo!), swam with sharks and entrepreneurship is certainly risky.
How do you know when this risk is smart? My answer, when you are clear on why you are doing it. Some risks are worth taking. Risk begets reward, enables progress and also put us outside of our comfort zone.
I usually listen to my gut when deciding about risk. That may be the intuitor in me according to the MBTI. And my Spidey sense was going off when I was on my way to meet Adam Conners. Here’s the story…
I received an email that made me think, “Is this legit?” We get so much spam mail nowadays we are prone to read with skepticism. That was how I felt about the first email I ever received from Adam Conners, a podcaster I had never met or heard of before. He reached out to me, out of nowhere, and asked if I would be a guest on his show. Normal enough until I read on to learn that the recording would take place in his home.
You get my hesitation.
Being the Connector I am, I spoke with him on the phone. Still not 100% sure, I decided to meet him at a diner near his home and then could bail easily if things felt off. As I was driving to meet him I was thinking, “Is this a good idea?” I made sure to tell my husband where I would be, just in case.
I arrived at the restaurant to meet Adam who towered above me at over 6 feet tall. His smile was contagious. He knew everyone in the restaurant. He was obviously a regular and I wasn’t the first meeting he had held at that booth.
He was so disarming that I told him all my fears in our earlier exchange and walked to his in home studio to record the podcast. I felt so silly when we arrived and we were greeted by his wife.
The podcast was a blast and I came back to do it again with the new book. I believe in calculated risk. Make safe and smart decision while also taking the chance to do something new or different.
You can check out the videocast of my interview on Networkwise podcast called Networking As A Connector.
Risks are an important part of how we do business. Be cautiously optimistic. Don’t take unnecessary risk, find a safe way to jump out of the plane!
This article was originally published on Michelle Tillis Lederman’s website and is reproduced here with the permission of the author.
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- GUEST POST: The Upside to Risk - March 11, 2020
