There are moments in life, both as a person and as an organization, that require major decisions that can define the next portion of the journey. The decisions are often not easy, maybe frightening, but are necessary. What can make the decision more difficult is the fear we face in the midst of the possible outcomes of the decision. A fear of failure can paralyze the decision making process. This fear can result in a decision being safe and secure that carries no rick as opposed to the decision that could bring about change.
Marty Sklar, in his book Dream It! Do It! My Half-Century Creating Disney's Magic Kingdom, talks about a blank sheet of paper in the following way:
There are two ways to look at a blank piece of paper. One way is it's the most frightening thing in the world because you have to make the first mark on it. The way we taught the Imagineers to think about that blank page is it's the greatest opportunity in the world. Because you GET to make the first mark on that page and let your imagination fly. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us, and the greatest influence in my career.
This is the same way that individuals and organizations often look at the large decisions, either in fear or in expectation. It is fear that often holds back individuals and organizations to make changes, to be innovators, or, in the words of Apple, be difference makers. The view of failure as bad leads to the fear that people have with making the "wrong" decisions.
But how do change makers, innovators, difference makers emerge? Most people and organizations want to be categorized as one of these, but they do not want to do the hard, or more importantly change their environment. It is the change makers, the innovators, and the difference makers that operate in an environment that embraces opportunity, innovations, and failure that leads to greater discoveries. It is not an environment that promotes fear of failure, which leads to apathy.
What does this all mean? It means, as an individual or organization, there is a need to review how you look at the blank page, and your decision making. This does not mean you make decisions based on ignorance, or poor data and information. It might mean that you look at the decision from other points of view, maybe your partner's, or your customer's, or you ask questions that might not seem obvious to everyone else. It is not letting fear influence your decision but your desire for improvement that is the driving force.
Decide today, how do you want to look at the next blank page that is put in front of you? Are you ready to take a opportunity that might fail but can lead to something better, or are you too scared to even make a mark?
