What's your relationship with uncertainty? This year I seem to have found myself doing so many things without a safety net, setting up a brand new partnership (www.edgethinking.co.uk), taking on far bigger projects and challenges, and often not knowing how any of this is going to turn out. My old response to not knowing would have been to go to bed and not come out, or to have the odd nervous breakdown, but I'm starting to trust that things have a way of working themselves out.
The thing that made the difference for me was making sure I was clear on the worst possible consequence of every decision. When I realised that the unlikely event of the utter devastation of my business and livelihood might at worst lead to me having to get a job in a bar, or rent out my flat and that I was okay with that possibility, I was able to take the bigger risks in confidence. I managed to find a level of risk that I was comfortable with, and was able to break the deadlock.
The other thing I've learnt very clearly is that challenges make you more creative. When I stick with what feels comfortable, I get bored and unresponsive, and my business suffers as a result. A new challenge forces me to look for new solutions, and being in the place of not knowing can be uncomfortable but pretty fertile imagination-wise. Its often about saying yes to a new project before you have the chance to consider the how's and why's, then having to find a solution to whatever presents itself. At times there's an adrenalin high but the more I do this, the calmer I get, and the better my ability to brainstorm effectively and quickly and get to that solution.
The more important question I'm asking is does this project fit with my values and goals for the business? Is it something really exciting and creatively challenging for me? Do I have enough time to do it really well? If the answers to those questions are yes, then the thing is worth doing.
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