Jump Off a Cliff

Vera Wang. Sylvester Stallone. Bill Gates. What do they all have in common? They all took a risk.

Some risks are more risky than others. Generally, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. That said, when you take a risk, you have to consider what happens if you fail and mitigate that at all costs.

Small risk - Trying a task you’ve never done before. This can pay off because you’re learning a new skill, but there’s a chance you’ll deliver poorly because it’s new. In order to mitigate the risk, you’ll want to learn as much as you can as quickly as possible to try to be successful.

Medium risk - Quitting your job with another job lined up. This can vary in risk level based on how many people you know at the new company, how familiar you are with the work you’ll be doing, and the performance of the organization itself. Mitigating the risk would need to be done during the interview process. Ensure questions are asked to understand the expectations of you and the goals of the company. Ask peers the best and work part of their job to gauge if they’re happy.

Day 1, tell yourself they’re all going to love you. Get yourself some new clothes and start building relationships. If you don’t know who to talk to, ask for a list of people it would be helpful for you to know and then schedule time with them 1:1.

High risk - Not having a job. Look for the bright side. You now have the freedom to do whatever you didn’t have time for previously. Find your true passions. It’s okay to be scared in this situation, but you can’t let the fear control you. Mitigating this risk would have needed a lot of preparation and saving. This is a time where you’ll leverage your network, but don’t sell yourself short. You are amazing and whether you want to start something on your own or find another full time position, it will work as long as you believe in yourself.

Why is it risky to do nothing? Your competition will outpace you. Especially in the technology space, there is always a new tool or functionality. Without innovating, you are behind. Without continuous learning, you are behind. In HR Technology, I recommend following Josh Bersin. For Leadership, I recommend reading Stephen Covey books.

You are the only person that can tell you how risk averse you are. Some situations might force you to take a risk so it’s better to be prepared. If you want help preparing, schedule a call.