It’s scary being unsure. It’s a lot different from being sure. Instead of the safety net of knowledge, there’s the daunting chasm of uncertainty. It’s not easy to step from the warmth of the old to the chill of the new.
The same goes for commitment.
It takes a lot to commit. Especially if you’re someone that needs certain guarantees before you make the leap. Otherwise the check book is staying in your pocket until the next discussion.
The problem is, while you’re being unsure of commitment because of the uncertainty over success, your competitors are enjoying success because of the certainty in their commitment.
A slight difference in wording but a big difference in results.
So what can you do?
Remember when you were learning to drive and you thought you’d never get the hang of it? You just couldn’t get used to clutch control, or reverse parking, or even the simple ten-to-two hand position? We all did it; and we all thought the same thing.
Then there was that one pivotal lesson where everything just fell into place and the next thing we knew, we were driving. Make your uncertainty your penultimate driving lesson.
- Accept that not knowing everything at a given moment in time is natural.
- Think of how many have been in the same position as you are now, but made it through.
- Believe that failure this time isn’t the end. No-one gets it right first time; great success is built from second chances.
Uncertainty is a natural emotion when we’re faced with something new. If familiarity breeds contempt, then fresh breeds caution.
There’s nothing wrong with caution; it keeps us alert and ready to make changes in direction if needed. It’s when we let uncertainty and caution combine that stops us from moving in the first place.
It’s this combination that can lead to the fear of commitment. But if you need success before commitment, you’ll never have either.
What choice will you make?
image: woodleywonderworks
