I have a friend whose 10-year-old son plays Little League baseball. Because the boys do the pitching, and because it’s hard for them to find the strike zone, there are probably 10 times more walks than base hits. But one of the coaches my friend’s team plays against told his boys not to swing when they go to bat. At anything. He thinks that by doing nothing, eventually enough boys will get walked and they’ll score. It’s frustrating to watch and embarrassing for the boys. They aren’t learning how to hit. And their opponents aren’t learning how to field because there are no hits. It isn’t fun.
Fear of failure is part of human nature. Business owners feel it. Designers feel it. And those who can’t overcome their fears aren’t likely to succeed. Because doing nothing isn’t playing it safe. It’s risking everything.
So when it’s your turn at bat, do something. Keep in mind how you’ve practiced for this moment. Wait for your pitch, keep your eye on the ball and swing with all your might.
If you really want to win.
