Risk Contagion
One day, I'd like to take a big risk on a dream. Throw myself into it and give it a go. Seize an opportunity to forge a project together that fuzes my passion with my career. My dream is inspiring and hopeful and would make the world a better place. But my dream is a tough one to pull off. It's big enough that I know it could quickly fail.
I love my idea, but I also worry about it. I'm often working through questions like,
What happens if no one shows up?
What if no one appreciates what I create?
What if no one wants to support my dream?
This is what Jordan’s dream looks like!
Taking a risk on a dream, in a lot of ways, is like sending a child off to school. You hope your child will be treated well; you hope he's accepted and makes many friends. What if my dream ends up being ignored by everyone? There are days when I'd like to shield my dreams from the risk of rejection. We all know what rejection feels like, and it's normal if you want to avoid it. I have yet to plunge into the cold waters of risk, but I know others have. A big part of finding my own courage is seeing it in others who have ventured out and created something new.
Anytime you visit the booth at a farmer's market, walk into an independent cafe, or buy a ticket to your local independent performance venue, you are entering into the space of someone who's taking that risk. Someone left a well-paying job to roast coffee for customers. That singer-songwriter pouring her heart into that performance is doing so with little to no financial reward. They offer their craft, knowing that the possibility of serving an audience of none is legit. Consumers don't like to take risks, especially when cash is tight. It's human nature to conserve and invest only in the known, established, and comfortable. A good new idea is always going to struggle at first to gain any kind of mainstream acceptance.
When you or I choose to do our Christmas shopping in a traditional brick-and-mortar store or buy a ticket to see a local musicians' concert, we're creating examples of humans being at their best, sharing, supporting, and celebrating others. There is something powerful in supporting people in your neighborhood. With all due respect to Jeff Bezos, I can confirm that I've never received a handshake, a thank you, or a hug when I've made an Amazon purchase. I have received all of those from the people I've supported as they live out their small business dreams. Most will agree we've all done enough to make Amazon financially immortal. While I've never met Jeff, I don't know that he loses sleep if he has to lay off 100 people. Small business owners cry if they have let one person go. It takes guts to start a business because starting a business leaves you vulnerable.
Those of us who believe in dreams share a responsibility to water the seeds of possibility present in the efforts of others. One of the great qualities of living in Edmonton is that if you put yourself out there, our community will do its best to give you that chance to do what you want to do with your life. The strength of this quality isn't a given. It requires consistent care, attention, and I'll add here, intention. When you choose to spend money on someone's small business, you're investing in a dreamer who decided to do what they're passionate about in your community. They pay taxes to the same city, send their kids to the same school, and probably cheer for the Oilers.
A community that supports and lifts these small business risk-takers is a community that cultivates courage. The more we support them, the more we'll find their contagious courage inspiring our own dreams.
Friend, in the last two months of the year, may you find many opportunities to support the dreamers and risk-takers in your neighborhood intentionally. May their courage rub off on you!