How Risk Motivates
One of the key factors in how risk motivates you, is how it creates fear. It’s a really useful tool for getting yourself into action – because if you can generate enough fear about not doing something, you’ll be able to easily go through the hardship of doing the thing! Especially if the risk inspires you to generate more fear than you have for doing the thing in the first place! That’s a no-brainer! Like osmosis, water flows to the higher concentrated side to balance things out… your action will automatically move you towards a balance.
So risk motivates us because it creates fear?
Yes… and what is more… if we don’t have risk motivating us in our lives, another force is at work – motivating us in the other direction! If the fear of doing something is much greater than if we don’t do it, then our motivation is to stay the same and as a result, we take actions that mean we will stay the same. Yes, you heard that correctly, we will take actions to stay the same…
The reason we don’t change is because we forget that risk motivates us to change. Now if you apply this to confidence… what does it mean?
Risk motivates you to improve your confidence
So without risk, we are motivated to stay the same. That’s why, if you are looking to build your confidence in order to do public speaking, you need to have some risk in place to help you forwards. The risk challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and get on with it. So go and generate some risk in your life (you need to take sensible precautions and get advice before you take any risk) and see how it could help propel you forward. Some examples:
- Public Speaking – the best way to improve your confidence here is to practice, so book yourself to speak somewhere
- Speaking up in meetings – make a goal to say one thing every time you have a meeting and have a consequence if you don’t
- Talking with potential partners – change the mindset to having a good conversation (doesn’t have to result in a date) and then make sure you have a good conversation every day with someone you like the look of
Related Article: Why Fear is Your Friend (lifehack.org)
Great post Dan. I have a saying: “Desire must be greater than fear.”
All entrepreneurs and people that make progress take risks, it’s just a question of making sure the risks are calculated. I’m a big lover of public speaking, and if someone wants to become an accomplished public speaker of course they need to take a calculated risk. They won’t automatically be asked to speak in Parliament. For example: an entrepreneur could offer to speak at a local business seminar. This may only be in front of 10 other people, but they’ve taken a calculated risk and they’re getting experience from it. As you said on my post, it’s easier to steer when moving than when standing still
Hi Robert, that’s a great saying! I’d recommend anyone reading check out your post and your site.
Dan,
I’ve been pondering this idea for a long time. I made a resolution in 2011, that i would go out of my way to find ways to be more adventurous while staying practical. i.e. take more risks that make me feel uncomfortable, or feel shy to propel me forward on to bigger things. Or atleast that’s the hope.
i did an experiment and did something totally out of character last week which i’ll write about on Monday. But it was fantastic feeling to accomplish something that made me really uncomfortable .. I’ve been looking around and i’m loving your articles. great advice on confidence building.
One question, how do i book a speaking gig? LOL. I did toast master but public speaking has been on my bucket list for a while….
Hi Annie,
Great to see you here again! I’m currently re-reading “how to win friends and influence people” and the third chapter is subtitled, “arouse in the other person an eager want”. I’d suggest you look at your core strengths and values and how they might align with organisations and communities. For example, an obvious place to start would be a women in business group or organisation – then find a way to arouse the eager want in them! (Selling yourself!) Obviously, it’s not about what you want to talk about, it’s what they need and what help you can provide people based on your own experience! Maybe you could start with a how to take risks seminar?
In the beginning, it feels like you haven’t got a clue and you don’t have the resources etc. To be honest, if you can start with a curiosity to see how good you can become at public speaking, you’ll go a long way! As a final point, it’s great to speak about things you feel you are still learning about – there’s nothing like it for putting yourself on the spot and making sure you’re pushing yourself in your own life in that area!
wow Nice post! actually i’m trying to hold a webinar but I really don’t feel that I’m confidence in doing this!
I must say that I should get into a risk and hold a webiner soon lol^^
thanks a lot.
Hi Faissal,
Thanks for your comment! It’s probably not a great idea to tell people who might be interested in joining your webinar that you don’t feel confident doing it!!!!
Seriously though, just do it – don’t even think about it, book it and get it done.
i love to be in risk environment, my instincts work good when i am at risk and i feel more confident and calm in the situation. when i am at the surrounding where no risk involves i feel less confidence like in meeting general discussions etc…..is it bad?
Depends on how you look at it! If you’d rather be somewhere else, then it’s probably just your way of telling yourself that. If it’s something where you want to be active and involved, then best to take a look at it more deeply.
You won’t be able to reach the top if you won’t take the risk of taking one step towards it. You will be stuck wherever you are if you are always fearful. Thanks for this post!
Hi Ann, fear is a wonderful excuse not to do things! It’s perfect for totally getting in the way of what you want.
Dan,
You shared some great insights here my friend. I totally agree fear is a great tool for getting ourselves into talking action. Taking risks acts as a motivator if one is willing to use the fear created into talking action.
I really like the way you pointed out that without risks we would not be motivated to change. Makes perfect sense to me bother.
Keep it coming…(O:
Hey Adam, thanks for your comment.
Awesome post Dan, fear can be a great motivational tool … and the lasting results can be life changing.
Vitaly Tennant recently posted..The Nature of Soul
Hi Vitaly, it’s true!
Hello Dan
How are you?
I can identify with risk stirring up motivation within me as a result of the fear of what would/wont happen.
although it isnt as easy as it seems, but once i accept what the worst case scenario might be, it’s the whole nine yards.
i also agree it definitely increases ones level of confidence and i daresay it creates a form of enlightenment and one may be introduced to whole new revolution as a result of changes which occur through the process of taking certain risks.
thanks for sharing.
take care and enjoy the rest of the day.
Hi Ayo,
Thanks for your comment!
Hi, Dan.
You are quite right. Risk is a great motivator. The unknown makes us do things we don’t normally do because it is what lies beyond the unknown that we wish to go after. Without risk, without the unknown, perhaps we wouldn’t have the motivation to try new things or effect some change that has been forthcoming. We wouldn’t reach out to people whom we don’t know because we would be too afraid of rejection.
Great post, Dan.
Enjoy your week!
Kim
Hi Kim,
Thanks for your comment – there’s definitely a double edged sword to risk! It either stops you dead and prevents you from acting, or it compels you to act!
I do agree with this article. Risk motivates someone because of fear. Without taking the risk, you will not gain the confidence you need in order to improve and enhance whatever skills or knowledge you possess. It’s better to take the risk and fail than without taking the risk at all.
Thanks for your comment – I agree! Risk is better, whether or not you say you fail.
Hi Dan,
Taking risk is good , however it does not come naturally to people . Often people fail to take calculated risk and then do something like investing in rolling stock market which hurts them eventually. Some people behave like Deer in front of headlights, stuck there. They don’t know what to do .
But I think risk is a fundamental aspect of living and everyday we take small calculated risks. I think the best idea to push the boundaries a little and start taking more risks than before. I think we can find success at some point.
Thanks for sharing your ideas
Ashvini recently posted..Dealing with competion: lessons from Guitar shop on Entrepreneurship
Hi Ashvini,
It’s really interesting that you bring that up about taking more rash risks. Whenever people enter into something in secret – like gambling (possibly investing in stock markets is a similar thing for some people) or even having an affair – they are much more likely to make decisions that they would never dream of taking in their normal (non-secret) life. There’s something seductive about it that enables you to separate your decisions and justify some really unbelievable things in your secret life.
If you’re going to take risks, make sure you don’t do it in secret or you’ll make some really poor decisions and extra risks that will do you no good.
Whether it’s personal or professional, the greatest changes I’ve made have been causes by risk. Even if I failed whiling taking the risk I’ve walked away smarter and stronger. I’ve had to learn to take risks though, I become complacent standing still
Hi Erica, Thanks for our comment – complacency always involves standing still!
I totally agree with you because if you take risks and you succeed while taking those risks you get a very good feeling and become more confident. Thanks and keep on the good work!
Thanks Linda