Mark Twain once said:
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you DIDN’T DO than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines! Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. DISCOVER!
Nido Qubein was quoted as saying:
The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret.
Truer words were never spoken. All too often we hold back. Don’t take the risk. Avoid things that we fear. Procrastinate on projects because we are outside of our Comfort Zone. Don’t dream big enough. Avoid addressing tough issues. Buy into the lie that we’re not bright enough / capable enough / experienced enough. Personally, I hate the feeling of “shoulda, coulda, woulda” when I let opportunities pass me by.
The contrarian that I am compels me to challenge my fear by asking, “What’s the worst thing that can happen to me?” I could be fired! (Been there, done that; it was a phenomenal growth experience!) I could be yelled at! (Well, if I assumed complete accountability for the project, I have the option of creating praise or criticism. My choice.)
Embrace your fears, large and small. Do the hardest things first. Attack procrastination. Learn from it. Revel in the learning. Visualize success.
If you do – no regrets.
