Something To Lose

The solitary guy who sets up shop in his garage or carves out a space at the local cafe to use as an office has nothing to lose. He can tell his friends that he’s following his passion, that it might not work but he’s giving it a go anyway. Not so easy to be blasé when he has something to lose. When his little garage venture becomes a success and he can now afford an office in town.

The trick once you start succeeding (even a little) is to convince yourself that you still have nothing to lose and to build that mindset into your strategy for growth.

Because once you start thinking you’ve got something to lose. You’re killing the strategy that made you successful while no one was watching.

Image by Sanjay Parekh.

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  • Ancuta

    This fear of losing what they have drives most people to their 9 to 5 jobs. The solitary guy you’re talking about used to be one of them.
    What I can see today is that more and more ‘solitary guys’ are changing the job ‘safety’ for the safety of not having what to lose…
    I think it is a good sign.

    • http://thestoryoftelling.com/ Bernadette Jiwa

      I agree Ancuta, I’m seeing it more and more too. I think the events of 2008 have created a shift in mindset… at least if you fail on your own terms you understand why.

      Thanks as always for your insightful comment.

  • http://madbaker.com/ Mark Dyck

    Yes, yes, yes! It’s the fear that gets you.

    Now I’ve got to make payroll, I’ve got a loan to pay, so I should wait to invest, or wait to try something new, or maybe I should go to the day job part time to be safe.

    You’ve got to push, push, push to break out of the gravitational field of the ‘old safe’ so you can have the space to create the ‘new safe’.

    • http://thestoryoftelling.com/ Bernadette Jiwa

      I know right where you’re at Mark. Just remember how crazy people must have thought you were at the start and how you’ve proved them wrong!

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