As modern day human becomings, we value safety and security. Maybe too much…In this post I want to expose the dangers of playing it safe, and how that can lead you to becoming a voluntary slave of your organization.
Think for a moment about your current state. When it comes to your work, do you manage from a perspective of playing not to lose? When a controversial issue comes up, do you speak up or keep silent? Do you prefer to agree with your boss…even when you know he/or she is wrong? Truth will be the acid test here. I’ll assume that you’re being honest with yourself and want to get better.
The following are some moves you can make to get out of the business of playing it safe:
- Start taking some risks. Make these risks small at first, then gradually make them bigger as you go along. For example, maybe all your life you believed that investing in the stock market was foolish. How about doing some research (historic in nature) to see where you could invest a little. Remember, risk rarely causes great loss, but stupidity does often.
- Give up control. This may be the hardest thing you’ll ever attempt to do. I’m not advocating a "what the hell" attitude. I’m advocating that you stop thinking you can control the outcome of things you know are out of your hands. When you give up control, you’ll begin to see life as dynamic versus static.
- Stop seeking comfort. One my concerns for America is our obsession with comfort and ease. A false belief that we’re special and deserve all of the fruit God has provided. If all you pursue and want is comfort, it is a certainty that your growth has stopped.
People who play it safe will invariably become voluntary slaves of the organization they work for. Something in them always convinces that to move away from the safety of the shore is foolish. They hear the voices that question giving up a 401k, a pension, health benefits, and without a doubt money. These are the tried and true techniques of a corporate slave-owner
All of us struggle with playing it safe, but the greatest road we can chart is the one filled with risk and loss. That’s where we find our Destiny, and that’s where we lead others to a better future.