A step by step tool for top achievers

REASONS FOR FAILURE WHY WE DON'T ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE
Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.
--Charles Schultz
1. Unwillingness to Take Risks
Success involves taking calculated risks. Risk taking does not mean gambling foolishly
and behaving irresponsibly. People sometimes mistake irresponsible and rash behavior
as risk-taking. They end up with negative results and blame it on bad luck.
Risk-taking is relative. The concept of risk varies from person to person and can be a
result of training. To both a trained mountain climber and a novice, mountain climbing is
risky, but to the trained person it is not irresponsible risk-taking. Responsible risk-taking
is based on knowledge, training, careful study, confidence and competence which give a
person the courage to act while facing fear. The person who never does anything makes
no mistakes. However, he doesn't realize that not doing anything is his biggest mistake.
Many opportunities are lost because of indecision. It is habit-forming and contagious.
Take risks but don't gamble. Risk-takers go with their eyes open. Gamblers shoot in the
dark.
Once someone asked a farmer if he had planted wheat for the season. The farmer
replied, "No. I was afraid it wouldn't rain." Then the man asked, "Did you plant corn?" The
farmer said, "No. I was afraid of insects eating one corn. Then the man asked , " What
did you plant ? " The farmer said, "Nothing. I played it safe."
RISKS
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach outfox another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest
hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has
nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they
cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are slaves,

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they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.