Going all in. That’s what it takes, at one point or another, to win it all.
So you have to ask yourself, are you all in? Have you taken the leap to do what you’ve always wanted to do? I think most of us don’t leap so much as we hop, trying to hedge our bets and not put ourselves at too much risk.
Why do we do this? There are many reasons, some better than others. Fear is probably the worst reason of all. It’s nothing more than this built up idea in your head that is holding you back.
Is it good to be afraid? Absolutely. Should you let it control your decisions? No. Fear is often related to the possibility that we might fail, but if we truly think this through, it’s not as bad as we think.
Ask yourself, what’s the worst that could happen? Perhaps you’d have to live a little more frugally. Perhaps you’d have to get a real job again. Perhaps you’d get an average of one star rating on your reviews. Perhaps no one would notice.
None of these are so terrible that you shouldn’t at least try.
At the same time, being all in doesn’t have to be some grand gesture. After all, many of us have responsibilities and families that we need to prioritize. Quitting your job may not be the right decision when you have a mortgage and student loans and a family, but then that doesn’t have to be the decision.
There are clear levels of commitment that are enough in any situation. If you need that job, are you at least dedicating hours every evening to your work or are you streaming Netflix? How you spend your time is what defines if you’re all in.
Working haphazardly on your so-called passion is what we call hopping. Burning the midnight oil, weeks at a time, is what we call leaping.
Be all in or get out, there is no halfway.
Despite all the talk, going all in is no easy decision. It comes with a number of struggles and challenges along the way and you have no idea how it’ll all turn out. These are just a few of the things you’ll face.
1. You will fail
No matter what you’re doing, you’ll face failure along the way. That’s simply how it goes when you’re creating anything.
The key is to take things one step at a time. Keep making progress towards your goals, despite any setbacks or failures. These are normal, but you can overcome them.
2. You will face uncertainty
No matter how hard you work or how perfectly you execute, in the end you have to accept it’s not in your control. There is nothing certain about going for the win.
There are many factors at play that could make or break you, but all you can do is worry about your role in the process. Do good work and see how things play out.
3. You have to keep trying
When you go all in, you need to be prepared to do so, over and over, if you truly want to succeed.
Sure, some get lucky on the first bet, but others are re-buying into the game and chasing their goals. Be ready for this and hope you’re lucky the first time around.
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.Thomas Edison
Going all in can sound scary, but it’s just as much a way of life. You have to be ready to put yourself out there and do so again, in spite of failure.
That is the mindset that will make all of this work.
Keep trying, keep working, and go all in.