Roll’em

Ethan Crowell
Nov 8 · 2 min read

We must be willing to roll the dice and lose. Be prepared at the end of the day, for none of it to work. -Ryan Holiday

Progress is only made when the status quo is challenged. This is a globally applicable statement. Most of human history has been a matter of small incremental change with punctuated points of massive, almost sudden change. The list of risks taken is well documented; the moon landing and invention of the internet come to mind for example.

When you take a risk, when you do something new, you are taking a risk. It may be a small one. It’s not like you’re inventing manned flight, or discovering radioactive elements. However, there is risk inherent in doing new things. If you are not willing to lose you aren’t fully risking all the way. If you’re not risking all the way, then you’re not 100% committed.

This doesn’t mean you aren’t fearful of failing, of falling flat. No risk is fear free. It is the acceptance of the worst possible outcome that frees you to truly put your all into that project, that trip, going back to school, that new relationship, or that public performance, or doing something new at work.

See the risks you take for what they are, have faith in what you bring to the table, and realize you may fail and that’s why it’s called a risk.

Ethan Crowell

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Be Kind, Be Grateful, Be Present

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