FortheambitiousLatinosoutthere,weallknowtakingrisksisinourroots. Facinganuncertainsituation?That’snoproblem;weFigureitOut!Taking calculatedriskscanbethedifferencebetweenanordinaryandextraordinary life.AssomeonebornandraisedintheRioGrandeValley,Texas,Iknow firsthandthedifference328feetmakesintermsofopportunityoneitherside oftheUSAandtheMexicanborder.However,ourrisksshouldn’tstopwith immigration–embracing“calculated”riskwillalsomakeadifferencebetween mediocreandextraordinarycareers.
Calculated Risks
InourLCA™research,weidentifiedthebehaviorsthatpredictcareersuccess. Nearthetopofthelististhebehavioroftakingcalculatedrisks.Riskis inherentinprogressinginanyaspectofone’slife–embracingtheunknownof amove,anewrelationship,oranewjob/careerisneededforprogression. However,itisnotriskthatpropels;itis“calculated”riskthatisnecessary.
Ispeakfromexperience.Themostsignificantleapsinmycareerinvolvedrisk. Forexample,Ispentthefirst10yearsofmycareerineducation.Ilovedmany aspectsofmyrolesandthepotentialforimpactonstudentsandthe community.However,Ibecameincreasinglyfrustratedwithmanypartsofthe educationtrack,includingthebureaucracyanddemandsthatseemedto detractfromourmissionofeducatingthechildren.Aftersomeassessment andreflection,IrealizedthatIneededtotakealeapoutoftheeducationtrack if Iwantedtofindfuturecareerengagementandsuccess.
Icouldhavestayedineducationandgonethroughthemotionsfor20more yearsbeforeretiring.Thatwaswhatmanypeopledid.Instead,Ididsome researchandpursuedaverydifferentsetofopportunities.WhenIfinallyleft myjobineducation,itwasarisk,butitwasbaseduponself-insightanda thoughtfulapproachtomynextcareermove.Itwasariskworthtaking, propellingmycareerinwaysIcouldneverhaveimagined.
Yes,itistruetakingaleapoffaithinyourcareercanbedaunting,butthe upsidepotentialisworthconsidering.Withcarefulplanningandrisk assessment,youdon’thavetosacrificeyourvaluesorpeaceofmindwhen makingthoseboldmoves.Infact,thegreaterdangeristhatyouwon’t embracetheriskneededforcareerengagementandsuccess thatshouldbe whatkeepsyouupatnight.
Changerequiresrisk.Beplanful,thenleanin!
Latinos Taking Calculated Risks
WehaveagrowingnumberofLatinosblazingtrailsintheworkforceand takingchargeoftheircareerprogression!AgreatexampleisTonyJimenez, andasZachBalivastatedinhisarticleTonyJimenezFindsSuccessthrough CalculatedRisks,“TonyJimenezisfearless.Heleadsahalf-billion-dollartech integratorthatservesthebiggestgovernmentagenciesandthetopnamesin internationalbusiness.ButlongbeforetherewasMicroTech,Jimenezwasjust aNavybratfromCaliforniawhohadtolearnhowtonavigatethetechworld asaLatino.”
Despiteallthehurdlestheyface,individualsfromourcommunityareshowing howpowerfulcalculatedriskscanbetobringvisibility,growth,andasenseof accomplishment–creatinganewpathforfuturegenerations.
So why is taking calculated risks important for Latino Career Progression?
AsLatinosintheworkforce,wemaynotalwayshaveaccesstothesame resourcesorpathwaysasourpeers,maybewe’renotattherightlevelto qualifyforcompany-sponsoredprograms,ormaybethere’sself-doubtholding usback,butthatdoesn’tmeanweshouldsettleforstayingstuck.Risksmight feelintimidatingatfirst,butthey’reworthitifwewanttoreachnew heights theyshowcommitmentanddedicationtowardourprofessional growthwhilegivingusmorereal-lifeexperiencesunderourbelt.So,leaninto discomfort.Takesmartchancestodaywithconfidence.
How to take a calculated risk in your career?
Ittakescouragetotakechargeandchallengeyourself,butitalsoprovidesan opportunitytogrowandexpandprofessionally.Considerwhatriskscould helpexpandoradvanceyourprofessionalskills,besurethepotential consequencesareworthit,thenjumpinwithbothfeet.Youneverknow wherethisbravedecisionmighttakeyou.
Sohowdowegoaboutmakingthesecalculatedrisks?
Herearesometipsthatmighthelpyouonyourcareerjourney–asMomsaid, “Aquienmadruga,Diosloayuda”(Theearlybird,Godhelps).
1. Know the Skills You Have
Unlockyourpotentialbygettingtoknowyourselfbetter!Takingthetimeand efforttoreviewyourstrengthsandweaknessesisessentialbeforetakingany risks.Doingsowillhelpyoumakeinformeddecisions,aswellasgiveyoua senseofsecuritywhenfacingunchartedwaters–knowingthatwhatevermay come,youhavewhatittakesinsideofyourselftosucceed.Aspartofthisselfreflection:
• Askafewpeopleyoutrustforfeedbackonwhatyoudowell.
• Thinkabouttherolesyouenjoymost–considerwhatwascommon amongalloftheroles.
• Takeafewpreferenceassessmentsthathighlightyourprofile,including theLatinoCareerAssessment™.
2. Remember, Mistakes Are Good
Whentakingrisks,itisimportanttounderstandthatmakingmistakesispart oftheprocess.Don’tbeafraidoffailure–instead,useitasalearning experienceandviewitasanopportunitytogrowandbecomebetterprepared forfuturechallenges.Makingmistakesdoesn’tmeanyou’renotgoodenough; itjustmeansthere’sroomforimprovementandgrowthincertainareas.Use mistakesasfuelforsuccess!
3. Faith Over Fear
It’snaturaltofeelfearwhentakingrisks,butdon’tletfearholdyoubackfrom achievingyourgoals!Instead,focusonthesuccessesthatcouldcomefrom takingcalculatedrisksandusethosesuccessesasmotivationtokeepgoing evenwhenthingsgettough.
Personally,theonlythingI’mafraidofisfailingtotry.Byunderstandingthat mistakesarepartoftheprocessandstayingfocusedonsuccessoverfear, Latinoscanfindthemselveswell-equippedtotakecalculatedriskstolead extraordinarycareers.
Soembraceuncertaintyandunpredictabilitybecausetakingcalculatedrisksis akeycareerpredictorofsuccess!
Howdoyoumeasuretakingcalculatedrisks?TaketheLatinoCareer Assessment™andfindout.