Don't be afraid to take that leap, even if you fail you will learn and be ready for your next attempt.
As the old proverb says, “Fortune favors the bold.”
If you’re going to make your mark in the world, in the field of business or any other industry for that matter, you are likely going to need a bit of boldness about you. That said, if being bold were as simple as wishing it so, more people would do it – and boldness wouldn’t be so rarefied and prized in the first place. Being bold is as much a skill as it is a personality trait. Here, then, are a few ways by which you can sway fortune your way with bold strokes.
"To be a great hitter in baseball, you obviously need to get good at hitting all kinds of pitches."
Boldness versus Recklessness
For as long as we’ve been praising and valuing boldness, there have been those who have taken this virtue too far. The Ancient Greeks knew this well, and the hubris of excess boldness-turned-recklessness fill their poems and plays. Aristotle himself in The Nicomachean Ethics drew a distinction between bravery and rashness, and that same point between boldness and recklessness holds true today.
Discernment is a big factor here.
It’s one thing to take a chance. It’s another to take every chance that comes your way, no matter how outlandish it is or whether the long-term benefits seem poised to outweigh the risks.
To be a great hitter in baseball, you obviously need to get good at hitting all kinds of pitches. That said, if you swing at everything they throw your way, you’ll strike out time and again – and you won’t be sent to the majors, but the showers.
Embrace Long-Term Thinking
One of the greatest impediments to being bold is worrying about the bottom line in the short term. Yes, the bottom line is important, but mild short-term losses can be worth it if they’re due to investments in or pursuit of new technologies, products, personnel, or goals which can pay off big in the long term. On the other hand, you obviously don’t want to lapse back into recklessness and disregard your finances altogether. Again, it takes a light touch and an eye towards balance.
Developing a Great Company Culture
No one, no matter how bold they may be, makes it to the top alone. You need to make sure that your company mirrors your bold spirit, which means fostering great company culture. Be sure to encourage loyalty, trust, supportiveness, and a climate in which people are unafraid and even eager to share their ideas – and your bold vision of the future.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to boldly go where only the great business success stories have gone before.
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