“I’m not afraid to fall; it means i climbed up high
to fall is not to fail; you fail when you don’t try”

~ Superchick “Get Up”

 In the middle of a long text message conversation on my way home on BART I made the comment, “Half the stuff I’m working on now I’ve never ever done. I picked it because I’m most likely to fail at it!”

I blurted that out but was instantly reminded of something @MitchellBaker said (and I’m paraphrasing) ~ “If it makes you feel uncomfortable, you should probably do it.”

Stepping out

Over the past year I’ve spent a lot of time stepping outside my comfort zone. Way outside.

Each time is a total gamble.  Each time I risk failure, disgrace, embarrassment.

Because not doing so is absolute failure.

I fell. It hurt.

I understand that failure itself isn’t Failure.  “Failure is required” as @cookflix said.

It’s really no different than a child learning to walk.  You fall. You get up. You take a step and you fall again. You get up.  You keep at it, you keep at that which is important.

As a leader

Over the past year I’ve found myself developing my leadership style, my brand, my way of leading.  I’m honing in on who I am.  Who @mrz is.

I try very hard to empower others, to encourage, to aim to surround myself with people who can do a better job than I can.  People who can stand on my shoulders and do more than I could possibly do. In many ways, I try to delegate as much as I can, to hand off as much as I can.

And I’m more comfortable taking gambles. I know what matters to me (mission, empowerment). I know who matters to me (friends). And within those contexts I feel safe.

I take risks.  I put myself out there.  I iterate.  In the words of @msurman, “Fuck it, ship it.”

You should too.

“Something comes from nothing if you’re willing to believe.”

~ Pillar, “Everything”