Whenever Michael Jordan gets on the golf course and his friends ask the stakes of the game–how much money they’re betting against one another–rumor has it that his stock response is: “Whatever makes you nervous.”
That’s what you should bet on yourself, every time. Not what makes you comfortable, but what makes you nervous.
Your muscles get stronger by running, jumping, lifting weights, by stressing them out, by pushing them, not by sitting on the couch.
Mario Andretti said famously: “If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough”.
And the one-liners could go on and on… Point being that you’ve got to push your comfort level to grow. That goes for your photography, your filmmaking, your art, your vision, your business, your whatever.
You will not succeed if you do not take risks.
[thx for the flying shot martin gisborne!]
The anxious “oh hey, I’m about to make a really big risk” is my favorite feeling in the world. You know what I’m talking about, that constant volley of right and wrong, that fluttery, gutsy feeling. Thankfully so far I haven’t taken any risks that went the wrong way thus far.
This reminded me about that video you posted of the woman who was a glass blower and she talked about risk.
Really cool.
Thanks Chase!
I agree with your overall point but I think the real reason Jordan wanted to bet at the level of nervousness was because he wanted an edge. Especially in sports people fail all of the time when they hit the big stage. They think too much.
Very true. A few years ago I was taking photo classes and the thought of shooting portraits scared the bejesus out of me. But I knew that if I really wanted to go somewhere with my photography, I had to be able to do portraits. So I took a deep breath and took some portrait classes. If it weren’t for me pushing myself, overcoming that fear of photographing people, I wouldn’t be working at a portrait studio right now.
Crap! I didn’t want to hear this today! I guess I will have to take on this project I was hesitant over…..screw you Chase