Are We Risking Enough?

I was struck by something Steven Spielberg said while receving the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes ceremony.

In talking about his very first movie (at 6, I think), he said he had a sense of "am I going to be able to get away with this?" And that feeling has followed him through every movie he's ever made. In fact, he said if the movie didn't make him wonder, "Am I going to be able to get away with this?" then he would pass on the project.

I'm grateful that I work for Group which has a culture of risk and innovation. And we've learned that when we do "play it safe" instead of pushing the envelope, we don't serve our customers as well.

I think greatness requires a big element of risk. Are you doing anything that makes you wonder "Am I going to get away with this?"

Comments

[Henry Zonio]

Ha! I completely agree with that sentiment. What a great way to approach ministry!

[Glen Woods]

What about those who are ministering in ecclesial settings which are risk-adverse? They risk up to a certain point and in certain ways, usually which feel familiar (I know, it's a misnomer to call it a risk). However, when an idea comes along which requires uncharted territory, the walls go up. I have my ideas in how I handle it, but are there any key insights to help risk-adverse decision-makers come to a point of decision without dismissing an idea out-of-hand?

[Lisa Burney]

A colleague whose ministry is growing by leaps and bounds told me to be sure to do one thing each day that totally terrifies me.

Sometimes smiling at the "yeah but" people, then moving ahead anyway is as terrifying as it gets!