“For many years, ‘safety first’ has been the saying of the human race, but it has never been the motto of leaders. A leader must face danger. He must take the risk, the blame and face the brunt of the storm” (Herbert Casson). If you want to be successful, you must either have a chance or take one. You can’t get your head above water if you never stick your neck out.
Listen to Conrad Hilton: “I encourage boldness because the danger of seniority and pension plans tempt a young man to settle in a rut named security rather than find his own rainbow.” Chuck Yeager remarked, “You don’t concentrate on risk. You concentrate on results. No risk is too great to prevent the necessary job from getting done.”
A dream that does not include risk is not really worthy of being called a dream. Halifax said, “The man who leaves nothing to chance will do few things badly, but he will do very few things.” If you never take risks, you’ll never accomplish great things. Everybody dies, but not everyone has lived.
Elizabeth Kenny reflected, “It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.” If you dare for nothing, you might as well hope for nothing. If you don’t risk anything, you risk even more. John Newman wrote, “Calculation never made a hero.” I agree with Lois Platford when she said, “You have all eternity to be cautious and then you’re dead.” Being destined for greatness requires you to take risks and confront great hazards.
It is an irrefutable fact that you will always miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take. Morris West said, “If you spend your whole life inside waiting for the storms, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.” No one reaches the top without daring.
Whenever you see a successful person, I guarantee that person took risks and made courageous decisions. Become known for doing what people said couldn’t be done. Success always favors the gallant. David Mahoney said, “Refuse to join the cautious crowd that plays not to lose. Play to win.”
Metastaisio observed, “Every noble acquisition is attended with its risk; he who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other.” If you have found yourself throughout life never scared, embarrassed, disappointed or hurt, it means you have never taken any risks.
You have an opportunity to improve yourself. If you want your life to get better, you’ll have to take risks. There is simply no way you can grow without taking chances.
Excerpt permission granted by Insight Publishing
John Mason is an international bestselling author, minister, publisher, executive author coach, and noted speaker. He’s the founder and president of Insight International and Insight Publishing Group. Both organizations are dedicated to helping people reach their dreams and fulfill their God-given destinies.
He has authored thirty-two books including An Enemy Called Average, You’re Born An Original—Don’t Die A Copy, Let Go of Whatever Makes You Stop, and Know Your Limits Then Ignore Them which have sold over 2 million copies and are translated into 40 different languages throughout the world. His books are widely regarded as a source of godly wisdom, scriptural motivation, and practical principles. His writings have been published twice in Reader’s Digest along with numerous other national and international publications. Seven of his books have reached number one on Amazon bestseller lists.
He’s been the president of two Christian publishing companies. He’s also a former Vice President and Publisher for Thomas Nelson Publishers (Harper Collins), the 6th largest book publisher in the world and largest Christian publisher.
He’s an internationally recognized executive author coach, helping numerous prominent authors with their books for more than thirty years. Politicians, NBA, NFL, PGA, MLB, an Olympic gold medalist and other professional athletes, billionaires, businesspeople, pastors, ministers, New York Times bestselling authors, a Fortune 500 CEO, Navy SEALs, Top Gun pilots, and a Texas governor have all benefitted from his knowledge.
Known for his quick wit, powerful thoughts, and insightful ideas, he is a popular speaker across the US and around the world.