Bet on Yourself

Here’s a reminder to bet on yourself. Take the risk. Go out on the limb. Insert additional metaphors about taking risks here. I think a lot of the time, we’re waiting (hoping?) for someone to see the potential in us and validate that potential by taking a risk on us. That’s wonderful when it happens, but I’m challenging you to see your own potential, and act accordingly.

I have some ideas for how you could bet on yourself, if you’re wondering how. Here are some thoughts:

Develop a new skill that compliments something you already do well. Maybe you’re a singer, so you take an acting class to learn better stage presence as a performer, or how to expand your performance into theatre. Chances are, if there’s something you do really well, you have an idea of something that you can learn to do that will enhance your opportunities to use that skill. One way to bet on yourself is by expanding your horizons.

Attempt to do something that you’ve only dreamed about. Instead of waiting for someone to hand you your dream, what if you validated its possibility by taking the chance to achieve it? Maybe your dream is to write a book, and you start outlining the book you want to write, or take a writing class as the first step. You don’t have to have a 7-step plan to achieving your dream, but if you stay ready for things to happen, you won’t have to get ready when the opportunity comes around. Or perhaps, you have to create your own opportunity!

Drill down to focusing on one thing that that you are great at. This speaks to what is your “zone of genius” (per Gay Talbert’s The Big Leap). Sometimes we play it safe by trying to do everything that we are good at, without taking the risk to truly excel at one specific thing. What would happen if you took some time to focus on a single thing instead, even if it’s for a specific time period?