Do you feel “stuck” in life somehow… but you feel you’re in no position to make any big life changes at the moment?
Let me tell you a story about the first time I tried to “unstuck” myself…
After spending a few frustrating years going in and out of the corporate world, I finally decided to start my own business in my early 20’s. I was a single dad, I had little money, I had zero business experience… but I took the risk anyway because I was tired of being stuck in life.
You know what happened?
I failed, of course. I went bankrupt within months. I lost almost all my savings. I put myself and my son in dire financial straits.
I was “stuck” again… only this time, I was stuck AND broke.
But you know what?
I’m wealthy and successful today. I run several businesses. I’ve written several books. My son is receiving a good education, is healthy, and is safe.
I look back at that disaster of a business venture and wonder: Would I be where I am now if I didn’t take that risk?
Then I smile. I know my answer: “Not a chance.”
The Importance of Risk in a Man’s Life
Success in any area of life involves some measure of risk. Risk is basically taking calculated leaps of faith into uncharted territory, in hopes of reaping rewards reserved only for risk-takers like you.
Unfortunately, few men these days actually take the risks they need to become successful. They get too caught up in the daily grind or their comfort zones that they end up getting “stuck.” They soon realize that they’re getting older, but their lives aren’t getting any better.
If that sounds like you, then make no mistake: Your life won’t get unstuck by itself.
The Right and Wrong Ways to Get Unstuck
Back when I started that doomed first business of mine, I thought I had everything I needed to finally get “unstuck” in life. I had the capital, I had the manpower, and I had a trusted partner. Yet within a few months, I went bankrupt and was forced to close down.
Looking back, I realized that while I wanted to get “unstuck,” I simply wasn’t prepared for the flood of challenges that came with taking big risks in life.
The right way to get “unstuck” in life, I learned, is simply to be prepared.
For what?
For anything.
Even when you’re not getting any opportunities to get “unstuck” in your life, you’ll need to prepare for when they DO come. Here are some of the lessons in preparation that first failure taught me:
• Set your priorities in stone
• Build multiple sources of income
• Keep learning new skills that will be useful for the kind of life you want
• Give up all your bad habits, one by one
• Learn to not take failure personally (Hint: It’s NEVER personal)
• Think less about your reputation, and more about your results
• Always have contingency plans in place when things go wrong
• And when things get tough, pray
If you’re feeling stuck in life, then this is probably the single most important piece of advice I can give you: Prepare yourself to take a big risk in the near future.
Sooner or later, you’ll have to. We don’t know what the risk will entail or when the opportunity will come… so in the meantime, get yourself ready. It’ll be worth it – I promise.
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Photo: Getty Images