photo credit: woodleywonderworks via photopin cc
I know what you're thinking. You took a look at the headline and thought that I'm daring you to take risks. In a sense I am, but those risks should be calculated. With the business climate rapidly changing, you need to stand out in the crowd. You need to do something different. Like the Steve Jobs' Apple, you need to Think Different. How are you going to stand out in that crowd and get your voice heard? Well, simply put, you need to be bold, innovative, and risky.
Let's take a look at these three ideals a little closer and see how you can apply them to you or your business.
Bold
Being bold doesn't mean taking risks just for the sake of taking risks. No, bold means you stand for something. Bold means you're willing to try things others may not want to try. Bold means you're standing by your beliefs and are willing to defend them. Bold means you're calculating and are willing to push the envelope. Bold means you're not shy.
Innovative
Innovation is the main component that fuels the world's economy. Especially here in the U.S., companies are falling over themselves trying to out innovate the other.
You've no doubt seen the battles between Microsoft, Apple, Google, Samsung, and others. Innovation means pushing the boundaries of imagination. Doing something that's different. Creating a product or service that changes people's lives. Being creative in how you promote yourself. Being able to take a step back and look at the bigger picture and how innovation can play a role in that bigger picture.
When Apple first introduced the iPad, there were a lot of people who weren't impressed. It's since gone on to be the world's best-selling tablet, a tablet Apple's competitors are trying to replicate. The tablet idea wasn't a new one, but how Apple executed it was what made it innovative.
Risky
Starting a business is risky. Turning down a job offer in this economy is risky. Not following the rules is risky. Thinking outside the box and trying something new is risky. Heck, some days even driving a car is risky. Being bold and/or trying something innovative involves risk. Unless you're able to see the future, you really don't know how things are going to turn out. And there's a good likelihood that you're going to fail. Not that that's a bad thing.
You look at the world's entrepreneurs and they all have something in common: they take risks. Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Warren Buffet, Gary Vaynerchuk, Martha Stewart, The Donald, and countless others took risks that helped them create the businesses they have now. And they've all failed at some point or another too. But the risks they take are calculated. They expect success, but factor in the possibility of failure. Yes, successful entrepreneurs also plan for failure.
Conclusion
The road to success doesn't happen overnight, unless you happen to be holding the winning PowerBall ticket. Even then, the road is winding with lots of challenges along the way. But if you're willing to be bold, innovative, and take calculated risks you too can find success.
I think Steve Jobs said it best:
“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs
The time is now. Time to be bold, innovative, and risky.
