Worth the Rrisk?


For quite some time now, I have been thinking about leaving my current employer. I’m not as motivated about my work as I used to be. I’ve been doing research on owning a business, but haven’t decided what that business will be. Would it be wise for me to take this risk? –Anonymous, Via the Internet

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to pursue your passion, but first you have to find it. Identifying where your interests do not lie is a great start. It takes confidence to admit that the work you are doing no longer inspires you. And it takes courage to want to do something about it, such as leaving.

Weigh the pros and cons, but do not allow the risks to deter you. At the 2nd annual Women of Power Summit this past February, one of the sessions focused specifically on risk-taking. Among the panelists was Amy DuBois Barnett, who left a career with a national magazine to pursue other endeavors, eventually becoming a successful author. “Pushing your boundaries and taking yourself out of your comfort zone and accepting fear and taking risks really is a sign of personal and professional growth,” says Barnett. Read “Rules of Reinvention” (January 2007), Life Changes: Using the Power of Change to Transform Your Life by Jennifer Lewis-Hall (The Journey Productions; $14.95) and Barnett’s book, Get Yours! The Girlfriend’s Guide to Having Everything You Ever Dreamed of and More (Broadway; $22.95).

Mail your motivational questions to Pep Talk, BLACK ENTERPRISE
130 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011 or send an e-mail to robinsont@blackenterprise.com.


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