7 Career Risks You Should Take
It’s the people who take the biggest risks who go on to reap the biggest rewards. After all, taking risks is a cornerstone of modern business, and the biggest risk of all is to do nothing. But at the same time, there’s no point taking risks just for the sake of it, and so the key is usually to know how to weigh up the risks against the potential payoff.
[Tweet “It’s the people who take the biggest risks who go on to reap the biggest rewards.”]This is easier said than done, and the truth is that it takes time and experience to learn how to make that call. But the good news is that there are also a few more ‘general’ risks that we can all learn from, and we’re going to share those with you today. Let’s go.
Asking for a pay rise
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” That’s particularly true when it comes to asking for a pay rise, because many companies will hold back on offering you one in the hope of saving some budget. But if you can prove that you’re worth the higher salary, by showing salary surveys, job listings and other indications that you’re worth more than you’re being paid, it’s going to be hard for your boss to turn you down.
Working or traveling abroad
One of the best things about the internet economy is that it’s changing the way we work. Many professionals find that they’re not anchored to a single place, which means they can travel the world as digital nomads while selling their skills as a freelancer.
Other people find themselves working at large multinationals with the opportunity to go and work from other offices. Still more people take a gap year to go traveling. However you do it, it’s always a good idea to see some more of the world if possible. It’ll broaden your mind and awaken you to all sorts of new possibilities.
Taking a job based on culture, not salary
Lynn Gregory, career advisor from Careers Booster says, “The single biggest mistake I see is when people blindly follow the money. They’re so focused on the immediate return in the form of a higher salary that they forget about career development and culture.
They sell their souls to the corporate machine instead of focusing on what they want to get out of life.” It’s a reminder to us all that there’s more to life than the size of our paychecks and that it’s vital for us to weigh up every aspect of a job before we take it.
Following your heart
We’re often taught that there’s no place for instinct in modern business. After all, we’re expected to meet KPIs and to deliver ROIs, and our overall performance is often reduced to a number that’s tracked over time. But the truth is that our professional lives and our personal lives are intrinsically interlinked, which means that we sometimes need to follow our heart and not our head.
If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably because deep down, we know it’s not the right decision. So if your head tells you to take a promotion but your heart says it’ll take you further away from what you actually want to be doing, listen to your heart!
Doing what you love
Life’s too short for you to spend it doing a job you dislike. That’s why they say that if you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Ultimately, if you’re not happy with what you’re doing then it’s time to change it, even if that means taking a pay cut or going through a period of uncertainty. Everybody should have a go at doing what they love at least once in their life.
After all, what’s the worst that can happen?
Severing relationships
The people that you spend time with determine your overall success in life, which is why you need to make sure that you’re spending time with the people who inspire you to achieve bigger and greater things. Consider severing ties with the people that drag you down and sap your energy, and if your partner falls into this category then consider re-evaluating your relationship.
It might seem like a risk at the time, but it’s riskier to allow yourself to be dragged down by other people.
Following your own path
Nobody else can decide how you spend your life. It’s up to you and you alone, so don’t let others decide your path for you. After all, just because your family expects you to become a doctor, it doesn’t mean you can’t become an author, a lawyer or a professional athlete if that’s what you want. The life you want is out there just waiting for you to take it. So what are you waiting for?
Conclusion
Ultimately, if you don’t take a few risks then you’ll always find yourself asking, “What if?” That doesn’t mean that you should take every risk that you’re presented with, but it does mean that it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of every opportunity and to make an informed decision on whether to take the risk or not.
If you don’t take risks then you can’t reap the rewards. Just be careful.
Identity Magazine is all about guiding women to discover their powers of Self-Acceptance, Appreciation, and Personal Achievement. We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written. In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.
To succeed in life I accept all challenges that come my way, no matter how big or small the challenge. They are all an opportunity for me to rise.
2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
I appreciate my ability to motivate and inspire others and the most important – I’m thankful for my loving family.
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not only what makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
I got married to the most amazing man in my life. Become a career coach.
4. Of course, we all have imperfections, or so we think. In truth, we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways? Likewise, what imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?
All your quirks and all your problems – even your depressions and your failures – that’s what makes you you.
5. “I Love My…” is an outlet for you to appreciate and express all the positive traits that make you…well…YOU! In fact, sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (We assure you!) Therefore, Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I love my life, my family, my work.
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