Caution compounds over time

I've been drafting a presentation this week about "caution vs confidence" and it got me thinking.

Caution often feels like a sensible strategy. You tell yourself you are being shrewd, waiting until the timing is right to explore a new idea, start a new project or, 'polish' an existing piece of work (even though it was ready to share weeks ago!).

Caution compunds over time

A bit like the interest on a loan, caution compounds over time.

One “I'm not quite ready yet” quickly becomes two, which can lead to weeks of procrastination. The longer you delay, the more difficult it becomes to take the brave and brilliant action that would cause your business to thrive at the level it deserves.

Every pause creates space for missed opportunities:

• The idea that dies in a notebook

• The campaign that never launches

• The client who goes elsewhere

Caution is fear in disguise

The cost to your business is not just practical but also emotional. You start to believe your own story of caution, and fear becomes the default.

And fear is a misplaced energy. Fear is often borne out of historic beliefs, limitations we have grown up with but long since grown beyond (although we're usually the first to ignore that evidence of growth)...

Until we open our minds up to the proven capabilities that we already have, fear will carry too much sway in terms of holding us back from our true potential (this is where you and I ​might have a conversation​ about recalling, embracing and then celebrating the body of evidence that already exists in your story).

Three subtle shifts to move you from cautious to confident

1. Language Shift

• Catch yourself in those “I can’t until…” or “I’m not ready…” moments

• You’ll hear something this week and your initial reaction might be “I love it… but it’s a little beyond me right now…”

• Replace that thought with: “What’s the smallest, IMMEDIATE first step I can take?”

• Commit to taking that step, it doesn’t have to be perfect of fully-formed... remember nothing changes until you take action

2. Decision Shift – asking the question is one thing… DOING is everything

• Indecision is, itself, a decision (a great quote from my friend Ayo Olaseinde)

• If something piques your interest, decide within 24 hours (maximum) to act on it or let it go, simple as that

• Action is the enemy overthinking. So, act!

• And that is a little bit JFDI but, like I said, it doesn’t matter if it’s imperfect. Even a misstep creates momentum and gives you data (approach every action and outcome as a learning experience)

• Decide, act, learn, adjust as necessary, act again

  
  

3. Energy Shift

• I mentioned letting it go... This is my big thing

• As you know, I talk about clarity and bravery in business all the time. I constantly start every conversation I have with prospective clients with two questions (what do they really want [clarity] and why is that so important to them that they are prepared to do something about it [bravery])

• I invite you to write down the answers to those two questions… Not the polite answers. The real ones be as audacious, outlandish, ridiculous as you want but always measure that dream with ‘why’

• Write them down. Stick it on your screen. Come back to them every single day… (five why’s exercise in book)

• When caution speaks up, let your ‘Why’ speak louder

• If an idea does not serve your ‘why’ – even if it is tantalising… let it go

'Caution' is an attempt you keep you safe

Safe businesses rarely grow. Confident actions, even tiny, imperfect ones, build momentum. So, here’s your challenge for the next two weeks:

Where could you replace 'caution' with a small act of bravery? The free Business Bravery Quiz asks you just 16 questions to help discover which version of you is running your business: Start here