Most people go through their lives trying to avoid failures. And, I believe that is the main reason so few people reach their full potential. If you want to become great – let alone successful – you have to live dangerously. Let me show you how, so you don’t end up losing at the game of life.
How to Live Dangerously EVERY DAY
I know the phrase, “live dangerously” sounds like something out of a James Bond flick. Despite that, I am not saying to go buy an Aston Martin or get a license to kill; however, there are a few moves from 007’s playbook you should take.
To start with, our planet is a perilous place – it is impossible to go through life without experiencing some form of danger. And on top of that, there is a very good reason to open yourself up to risks. It is simple …
Without fear or doubt, there is no growth. So what do you say? Let’s get dangerous!
Without fear or doubt, there is no growth. So what do you say? Let’s get dangerous!
Leave Your Comfort Zone – and Keep Moving
The No. 1 tip for starting to live dangerously is: You can’t be the biggest fish in a small pond. Depending on where you are in life, this could mean a variety of things, including:
- Leaving your hometown,
- Asking for a job position with more responsibility, or
- Changing your career path.
Whatever it is, you need to do it – and do it often. This is especially true if you get to a point where you can no longer advance or start to get complacent. But changing your environment won’t get you anywhere if you keep to yourself.
Talk to Strangers
Second, I want you to introduce yourself to and network with people you don’t know. And, it’s even better if they intimidate you. In fact, I encourage my daughters to talk to strangers and it has resulted in me raising two confident kids! Yet, I know adults who won’t even say, “Hello,” to people passing them on the street.
I have said it in the past and I will say it again: strangers have everything you need. Strangers have all the money you will ever earn. They have every opportunity you will ever get. Most importantly, every person you’ll ever love starts as a stranger. So, live dangerously and mingle with unfamiliar people. Then, you can position yourself to implement the next strategy.
Always Be Ready to Strike
Unfortunately, this is the step in which even the most dangerous fall short – myself included.
They stop doing things that give them a competitive edge. I’ll use myself as an example.
Fifteen years ago, I had long abandoned my credo to live dangerously. I had achieved moderate financial success, bought a nice house in Los Angeles and was playing long golf games several times a week. Then, the housing market crashed in 2008 and my wife and I almost lost everything.
From that, I learned a very important lesson. You have to keep the same momentum even when you reach a big goal, then keep hustling toward the next. Otherwise, you are putting yourself at real risk.
So don’t go soft on me! That being said, sometimes this means you gotta ruffle some feathers.
Stop Trying to Be Popular
Want to really show you have guts? Be willing to be unpopular. This doesn’t mean for you to be rude or mean-spirited, by the way. We just talked about connecting with new people, after all.
Nevertheless, there are times when you are going to have to do the right thing whether others like it or not. In today’s world, that could result in you being “canceled” – but remember this: For that reason, you have to be crystal clear on who you are and what you stand for. Otherwise, you will fail to do whatever it takes to succeed and live the same way the rest of the average do. And who wants that?
Go ALL-IN to Truly Live Dangerously
Let’s refer back to our boy, Bond, in “Casino Royale.” To save the world, Old James has to win a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament. He plays conservatively for hours – and he’s losing. It is only after he goes all-in that he can take out the bad guy’s capital for evil.
That is the plot in broad strokes, but I think you get my point.
Small risks = small rewards and little progress.
With that in mind, I encourage you to put all your time, energy and resources into one venture you truly believe in. If this makes you nervous, good. That just means you’ll give 100% to make it work. But if you’re still on the fence about whether or not to live dangerously, let’s talk about what it’s costing you.
The REAL Cost of Playing it Safe
As I mentioned earlier, you are putting everything on the line when you don’t live dangerously. Think about it. When has playing it safe paid off for you in a significant way? I’m willing to bet that it has never happened.
Look, there is plenty of success in the world for everyone. You just have to be courageous enough to go after it.
