Ten years ago, my boss was reorganizing his division and offered me a factory to run.

I hesitated.
I hemmed and hawed.
I told him I will think about it.

Deep inside, I wanted to beg off. See, I graduated college as a chemical engineer but my career was dominated by industrial sales and marketing. I lacked the confidence of leading fifty workers, hitting production KPIs, and managing a lean operation.

A few days later, my boss had waited long enough and challenged me, “Nelson, I can’t think of a better person to take over this factory. I need you there.”

How can I say no to that?

A decade later, as I sit on my office chair writing this post, I am grateful that I accepted the role. I was given a second factory to run and now I lead over 200 people.

And I wonder why I was so reluctant in the first place.

But that’s the thing: the upcoming new year may bring you new career opportunities. They may come upon you by surprise. The question is whether or not you will have the boldness to seize those opportunities.

Let me share two insights about being bold. Each insight comes with the wrong kind of boldness and the right kind.

First, don’t think vague boldness. Think intentional boldness.

Many will vow “I will take more chances in 2023.” But what does that even mean? It will just be another one of those new year’s resolutions that will fizzle out by February.

We need intentional boldness. We have to be specific on what we will be bold about.

Here’s an exercise. The cliché in motivational circles is to ask “what would you do if you weren’t scared?”

Let’s flip that. “What do you want to do, but are not doing it because you are scared?” Then do them.

Second, don’t think impulsive boldness. Think calculated boldness.

I came across several posts that “inspire” people to accept career opportunities they are underqualified for.  Say yes first, then figure out how to pull it off later.

Well, yes and no. I understand we should not play it safe. Yet, I can’t help but to think of the logical absurdity: if I am invited to perform brain surgery on someone – and I am an accountant – that doesn’t mean that I go it.

When an opportunity presents itself, think “calculated boldness.” Take a sober inventory of your skills, temperament, network and other resources.

Then gauge if you will have a good chance of succeeding. As Jesus once said, “”Suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” (Luke 14:31).

So there you go.
Don’t harbor vague boldness; think intentional boldness.
Don’t be swayed by impulsive boldness; think calculated boldness.

When you do, you will increase your daring and open new vistas for yourself in 2023. May it be so and have an amazing year ahead!

#newyear #boldness #careeradvice