“We need to take risks. We need to go broke. We need to prove them wrong, simply by not giving up.” — Awkwafina
Have you ever felt like the chips were stacked against you? Like people were doubting your dreams-or worse-you doubt yourself? In those moments, it’s very tempting to play it safe, to shrink back into the comfort of what’s familiar. But Awkwafina, an actress, comedian, and rapper who went from struggling artist to global star, got some bold advice: “We need to take risks. We need to go broke. We need to prove them wrong, simply by not giving up.”
It is not just pursuing success, but embracing failure, betting on oneself, and showing the world what one is made of. But where do you even begin to take risks when fear, doubt, and uncertainty feel like they’re breathing down your neck?
The Problem: Fear of Failure Keeps Us Playing Small
The majority of us, when instability is thrown in, get a little panicky. We do not want to “go broke,” both literally and figuratively. We would shy away from risk because the mere idea of failure, losing it all, or having the naysayers say they told us so is actually paralyzing. Thus, we hold on dearly to safe jobs, predictable paths, and often times settle for less because its alternative is putting it all on the line.
