I know I'm ready for something more than my 9-to-5, but quitting my job to start a business feels like a reckless gamble. How can I manage that risk? 

The goal is to turn a reckless gamble into a calculated risk. You don't have to just wake up and quit; first, register your business, dedicate time to building it, and as things start progressing, then you make the decision to leave your current role. The difference lies in whether you've done enough research to have backup plan upon backup plan.

I've been in my job for a few years and I can practically do it in my sleep. Is this comfort a good thing or is it secretly holding me back from bigger opportunities? 

The comfort zone is where stagnation begins. When you're coasting, that lack of challenge is actually the risk you're taking with your career. You are setting yourself up to be blindsided later, like the people who got laid off from a "secure" job and realized their resume was dusty. Always be making yourself indispensable by learning new things within your company, like taking on other projects that people aren't volunteering for.

I feel like my desired lifestyle is outpacing my current salary, which is making me restless. Was it a specific realization that forced you to finally take a risk for more money? 

Yes, that realization is a powerful catalyst. I was comfortable until I wanted to move from living in the hood to a nicer apartment and got a new car. I suddenly realized: I don't think I could live like this on this salary. That feeling is the challenge you need to grow.

What if I try to start my business or take on a big project and I fail completely? How do I get past the fear of losing everything? 

You need to reframe your perspective: failure is not final, my guy. Look at failure as feedback. If you fail, walk yourself through the "and then what?" process. By preparing for the worst-case scenario, you’re no longer scared of it, and you can focus on the fact that you only need to get it right one time.

Watch the full episode athttps://youtu.be/fL45BsCpFa4
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