Today I’ll cover one of my most liberating allegories. I don’t remember where I heard it.

Some karate students asked their teacher how he always kept his balance no matter what happened.

He said, “On the contrary, I’m always losing my balance. But I’m always regaining it too.”

Since I learned that lesson, I stopped trying to avoid making mistakes. I say and do what I feel is right or best. If it turns out I messed up, I recover. The result is greater freedom. People see me not falling, so they think I never lost my balance and I don’t correct them.

Read my weekly newsletter

On initiative, leadership, the environment, and burpees

Success! Please check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

First Name

Email Address

We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer.

I'd like to receive the free email course. Subscribe We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

• ← Does greatness require letting go of your safety net?
• Hopeless or worth it? When should you give up on a project going nowhere? →