putting it on the line: open doer policy

Why is it that some people are perpetually out and about, causing things to happen, initiating contacts and contracts, and for whom a day without learning or achievement is a wasted day?

On the other side of the door, why is it that some people go through life passively, causing few things to happen, showing little initiative, and for whom a day without television or lots of time at the kitchen table is a wasted day?

There’s a reason why a certain sneaker and apparel company’s catch phrase has become part of the national lexicon—so very simple and yet for some, ever elusive. Given the choice (and most of us are in fact given it), which course would you choose, or have already chosen? Where is the utility in going through life apathetically? If you’re held back by fear, reticence or a host of other possible barriers, ask a deceptively simple question: “What do I have to lose?”

“Failure is not an option” is a pithy refrain and sometimes self-fulfilling prophecy, but it does happen. Often. OK, so then what? Every single day, in every state and region, in most countries, it’s the second entrepreneurial attempt that resonates with the marketplace, the second novel that gets published, the second marriage that leads to a lifetime of personal fulfillment. Or the third or fourth tries. Here's how a once-struggling software company handled what looked like imminent failure.

Take heed of the benefits of becoming a doer; be prepared for what may be multiple attempts to break out. Note the humility and gratitude—the wisdom—that accompany failure. Seek the help of others; abundant resources are as close as the computer, the phone, the hallways and elevators, the roads.

Be transparent and open in all your endeavors. Reap the clear benefits of putting it on the line. Bury the hesitations and don’t look back. Just do it (as it were...).