What taking smart risks today unlocks tomorrow’s breakthroughs

Notice how you hesitate before dialing that new client or speaking up about a fresh idea. You hover at the edge of the cliff, unsure if the wind will catch your wings. That moment is the adjacent possible—right between where you are and where you could be.

When Elisha Otis invited an axman to nearly kill him in front of a crowd, he turned risk into proof of safety. His bold stunt didn’t just scare people—it convinced them his brake really worked. He used risk as the spark that lit the next big market: skyscrapers.

Your “skyscraper” might be a cross-departmental collaboration, a passion project, or a new certification. You don’t have to bet the farm—just place a conviction-sized bet. As long as it aligns with your values and you’ve done a quick cost-benefit check, cut the rope and see what divine provision follows.

Behavioral science tells us that people overestimate risks and underestimate benefits. By taking one calculated step outside your comfort zone, you retrain your brain to balance those scales. You broaden your horizon, unlocking doors you didn’t know existed.

Pick one risk you’ve been circling—you know it’s time. Sketch worst-case loss and best-case prize in concrete terms. Then declare it publicly with a peer or online community. That public commitment turns a vague intention into a licensed action. Before you know it, you’ll widen your circle of opportunity and set your future in motion. Give yourself permission to risk wisely today.