A Leap into the Unknown
Welcome to the ninety-fourth edition of “In-Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.
Story of the Week: "A Leap into the Unknown"
It all began with a surprise WhatsApp message from my mentor, the one and only Jeffrey Gitomer, inviting me to jump on a call to introduce his new GitomerSales AI service. There was just one small problem with accepting – I was on holiday with my 3-year-old twins. If you’re a parent, you can imagine the chaos that comes with such an adventure! So, instead of talking to Jeffrey on the phone, I decided to record a video to show him what life was like in the Virardi household at that moment.
As I switched on the video, my son Hector was standing on the back of the couch, singing loudly, and preparing to take a leap onto the cushions. Seeing what he was about to do, I quickly stopped the recording while he was in mid-flight! I sent the resulting video to Jeffrey, expecting a laugh from him, but he responded with a typically witty and wise comment:
"They’re all willing to jump into the unknown until they get their business cards printed. Then all of a sudden, they lose their courage."
Those words by the celebrated ‘global king of sales’ got me thinking. How often do we, as professionals or entrepreneurs, start out with boundless energy and the courage required to take a leap into the unknown, only to find that, once we've ‘arrived,’ we tend to hold back?
Imagine (or remember) your first day in a new job or role. Everything is new and exciting; you’re so eager to prove yourself that you’re willing to seize every opportunity, including those that may push you outside your comfort zone. But after a few months, when you've settled into a pleasant routine, it’s easier to stick with what is familiar. You’ve now found your rhythm and the initial thrill of taking on new challenges no longer seems so inviting. That original drive to impress has turned into a desire to avoid mistakes and, before you know it, you’re playing it safe.
Richard Branson famously said, "If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you're not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!" He never let the weight of his empire stop him from taking risks. Another great example is Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, who wasn’t afraid to jump into the unknown, even when she had no prior experience of the fashion industry. Her willingness to take risks, even after establishing her brand, propelled her to billionaire status.
Whether launching a new project, exploring a different market or simply adopting a fresh perspective, don’t let the comfort of your "business card" stop you from taking that next big step. It does not have to be a reckless jump – that’s for children like my fearless son, Hector – but we all need to be daring enough to keep our courage alive, embrace the unknown and keep growing, both personally and professionally.
So, embrace your fears, believe in yourself and take that next jump into the unknown!
Words of Wisdom
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks” Mark Zuckerberg
A Question to Ponder, dear friend.
What’s the “leap” you have been avoiding? Are you holding back because you’ve grown too comfortable in your current position?