Risk / Reward
The more we learn and experience in life, the more we know that things are not always what they are sold to be… We learn that being pragmatic may be smarter than reaching for the fences. The longer we live, the more we are told by others, “that idea won’t work” or “that will never happen” or worse yet “people just smile but don’t even speak their mind.” If you are an entreprenuer and truly trying to innovate, you know exactly what I am speaking to… The mindset of the folks that are set in their ways, experienced, have seen the world go around a few times… They have seen the ups and downs, for sure. They also are not correct in thinking that innovation won’t occur just becuase it did not work out for them on the last go around. It is a paradox in life to give everything we have for a dream. Something we are reaching, stretching, grasping to obtain, and all the while, we have a pragmatist in ourselves or another saying “that is not reality base.” This is a paradox that all driven, visionary, risk taking, mavericks must grapple with day to day in their lives. We can stay on the porch and let the big “dawgs” run, but we want to be creating, driving, changing – for that is what was placed within us. The paradox that must be weighed is a balance among the left and right brain tenancies we possess. I enjoy this paradox. The edge of challenge and innovation measured with the pragmatism of “will the model produce real results.” Neither are wrong, both are needed. Understand this paradox and challenge yourself on a daily basis to push the envelope and create value where none existed, but understand the value is in the eye of the beholder. Sooner or later, every idea must produce value to a set of stakeholders that can truly be measured. Balance this paradox and Go get it!
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