R is for Risk

by Hugh Culver Categories: Hughs Blog 4 Comments

I already knew this, but this past week was a great reminder: I need a bit of risk in my life. Let me explain what happened.

I have become more aware in recent years how hard it is to succeed in my industry – this peculiar business of selling your expertise. Having a talent for speaking, leading seminars, coaching and writing is one thing—making money at it is a completely different deal that doesn’t always come easy. So I decided to share what I have learnt over the last 18 years with others.

Last week I launched the Team Coach program to help speakers, seminar leaders, authors, coaches and consultants to grow their business. In a nutshell, it is a one year commitment where I will host retreats, coach, orchestrate webinars and facilitate team coaching to help educate, motivate and prod entrepreneurs to financial success. And here’s where the risk comes in.

I know that by saying ‘I can help you’ I am risking that I can’t. And while that might eventually turn out to be true (I certainly hope not) I won’t know until I take the risk to say I’m open to try.

When Branson sold the record store, Jobs came back to Apple, Conley bought his first motel and Beddoe stopped building houses and started buying airplanes they took a risk. In fact, they did what many had thought about, but didn’t dare to try. Scary, out-there, committed and often stumbling, but they took a risk. Through risk they built their success.

Intelligent risk (I’m not against cliff diving, but it’s not what this is about) wakens our nervous system, sharpens our focus and forces us to choose. I think this is the space between stimulus and response that Frankl talked about and the moment that Goethe enthused about seizing. It’s where the juice is in the fruit of life.

Two things happened for me this past week. First, I noticed that I felt completely at home talking about how to grow a business – good thing! I clearly empathize with anyone who has a talent and also wants to attract a decent pay cheque for their efforts.

Secondly, I could feel that hint of tension as I interviewed applicants. It was the feeling of knowing that what I said was true and, at the same time, knowing that this will take a lot of work and dedication. I like that feeling.

What are you doing today that’s risky?

It could be the risky conversation that is long overdue, but you know would move the relationship forward.

It could be that call to ask for the sale or demand the refund.

It could be to register for the course that your soul is calling you to.

Or it could just be to pick up that book tonight and savor the simple act of reading instead of the hundreds of other things that occupy your time.

In the words of a wise woman (my Mom) “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

PS Here are the directions to the program.

PPS If this sparked a thought or two – drop me a line below – I’ll write back.

PPSS AND here is the link to the new program (I’ve already had requests from this post, so here it is)

About Hugh Culver

Hugh Culver co-created the world’s most expensive tours (to the South Pole), started five companies, and consults to Telus, Shoppers Drug Mart, Red Cross, and Bell. His keynotes, courses, and events teach and inspire leaders to do what matters, make a difference, and to fully show up. He is the author of Give Me a Break – the art of making time work for you.

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