As my daughter flew off to explore new adventures for her semester abroad program, I was reminded of my own experience many years ago. I ventured across the pond to London with a good high school and college friend, ready to set the world on fire. It was my first time truly on my own and my first time outside the United States. And the incredible memories of freedom and adventure remain vivid to this day!
We made new friends, re-connected with old ones, and planned side trips (on a budget!) throughout the UK and Europe. And along the way, we managed to hit every local pub in the Swinging City! Oh, and did I mention, we studied really hard! But after all the travel and revelry, I started to run low on funds. Back in those days, it wasn’t as easy to transfer money overseas, so I had to squeeze every dollar (er, pound!) to make it last!
But even on a major budget, the money drained away like sand through an hourglass. I scaled back to one meal a day, consisting of a Guinness and an apple, and curtailed all travel and other activities. But even with emergency precautions, I was down to my last pound (literally!) with ten days left until our flight back home. I needed to take action. Sitting back and doing nothing was not going to solve this crisis.
There was a sports betting franchise, appropriately named Ladbrokes, just down the street from our apartment. Back then, gambling wasn’t nearly as accessible, and the novelty and possibility for salvation intrigued me. Without hesitation, I marched into the shop, placed my very last pound coin on a 3-team NFL bet, and said a little prayer. That night, all three bets hit and I walked away with fifteen British pounds burning a hole in my pocket! Do you believe in miracles? Yes!
That single bet provided enough Guinness and apples to carry me through to my glorious return back home. I was in a tough spot. It was a risky move. But if I didn’t act, defeat was a certainty. And couldn’t we all benefit by taking action and calculated risks in our own lives?
We Have to Take Control
In our work lives, we can drift into a comfortable malaise. Perhaps we have been passed over for a promotion. Perhaps our voice no longer carries as much weight. Perhaps our sales have stagnated or our faith in management has been shaken. Perhaps we feel as though we are just holding on for survival and trying not to upset the status quo. We know things can’t go on like this forever, but we are reluctant to take action and take matters into our own hands. We think something or someone will come along to save us. But each day we passively ponder our future is a wasted opportunity. Our situation doesn’t change and that sand continues to slip toward the bottom of the glass.
We can’t leave our fate to someone else. We can’t just accept defeat and idly wait for the inevitable collapse. We need to take action! And if that means taking a risk and placing a bet on ourselves, then that is what we have to do! Perhaps we branch out and develop new skill sets. Perhaps we tap into a completely different network of advisors. Perhaps we explore an alternative job or new industry that will better appreciate our skills. It won’t be easy. Change and risk are difficult. And the longer we have been set in our ways, the more challenging it is. But we have to fight the pull of inescapable destiny. We have control over our future. We have the ability to change our fate. We just need to take action!
It’s Never Too Late
It won’t always go our way. Sometimes, the bets don’t pay off. Not every risk turns into a reward. We will make more mistakes than masterful chess moves. But what is the alternative? Wouldn’t you rather go down swinging than never get up to bat? Passively waiting around for a magical solution is not the answer. Allowing someone else to pass judgment on us without a fight is not an option. Accepting anything less than greatness is not acceptable.
The losses will come. We can’t avoid them and they will only make us stronger. But without an active plan and calculated risk, there is no hope for a win. It’s never too late to live the life we were destined to lead. It’s never too late to make a bold move. It’s never too late to keep fighting for what we deserve. There are good times ahead. But we will have to take some risks. And we have to be willing to place that winning bet.