The gutsiness of youth
By
When I was 19 and living in France, I was asked by a friend to help lead a group of school children on the ski slopes. And so it was that I became a skiing instructor for a season, having never been on skis before in my life. I remember just enjoying the experience, being a natural leader and having no fear.
I fell over as much as the children did and I got back up and carried on without a care. It was an incredible experience and I learned quickly from my mistakes. It never occured to me to pass up the opportunity. I never considered that I was taking a risk.
After 15 years working in a large corporation, I’ve learned to toe the line a lot more. I’m much more likely to conform to what I believe is expected of me and much less likely to take risks. When I hold myself back like this, I stifle my natural creativity and restrain the “gutsiness” of my teenage years.
Most of us play it too safe. We can be much bolder. Perhaps when we look back to the gutsiness of our youth, therein lies the creativity and innovation that business needs so desperately right now.
Where are you holding back?
Where can you be more bold?
Putting it into practice:
Do something bold every day for the next week. Do things that you would normally convince yourself that you can’t do. What do you notice?
What is possible when you are gutsy?
With love,
Jude. x
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