Risk Everything

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken today?

If you didn’t try something that scared you to death – or at least pushed you beyond your comfort zone – maybe you didn’t risk enough.

That’s how Major Brian Shul approached life. The renowned American fighter pilot flew 212 combat missions in Vietnam and almost died in a catastrophic crash near the Cambodian border. After his rescue from the jungle, he spent a year in the hospital and was told he’d never fly again.

Brian decided that he would fly again. Despite overwhelming obstacles, he engaged in months of physical therapy so intense that he nearly didn’t survive. Not only did Brian fly again, but he went on to become one of a handful of men to pilot the SR-71 Blackbird, a spy plane that flew at 85,000 feet and over 2,000 miles per hour, higher and faster than any aircraft ever built.

Brian Shul believed every good thing in his life was because he embraced failure. He often said, “The greater harm than failure is not to have tried.”

Maybe you’re contemplating a career move. Or deciding whether to get married, to have a child, or to relocate to a new city. What will you do? Move forward? Or sit back? As you consider your decision, remember that courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s moving forward despite your fear.

So get out there. Act boldly. Take a risk.