The Limits

Business opportunities are missed.     Careers are not brought to full fruition.   Companies falter.   Often the root cause is that we are too confounded by what we have convinced ourselves are our limitations.  The embodiments of these can take many forms:

• "This is the way I've always conducted my business - and I'm successful - so I'm not going to alter anything now."
• "I'm too afraid to step out."
• "The unknown is too dangerous."
• "I don't want to stick my neck out."
• "I just want to do things my way."

While there may be seeds of rational thought in each of these arguments, often the arguments end up being one dimensional and hence, irrational - and those are extremely limiting characteristics.

The key is to be willing to be both interrogative of one's self and one's intentions - and to engage in inquiry of the world at large:

• "Is the way I've always conducted my business going to keep me current - or ahead of the curve?"
• "What exactly am I afraid of ?  Is it a fear that is  rooted in fact or fantasy?
• "If it is the unknown that I'm afraid of - how do I get more information so that I am  knowledgeable and sure-footed?"
• "Why is it is that I don't want to stick my neck out?    What are the stakes?"
• "Why do I have to do things my way?    Why am I stubborn?  Maybe things would be better if I took options from many directions?"

These, and similar questions, are designed not only to confront our own limitations - but to open ourselves to the reality of the many dimensions of the world surrounding us.    It is an environment of more possibilities which then enable us to grab hold of opportunities, have fulfilling careers and be successful.

There are legitimate boundaries:   ethics, integrity, loyalty.  These are honest and true.   Other limiting factors, like ruts, fears and stubbornness are often not legitimate.  Challenging these opens up a world of possibilities.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.