This moment was worth every moment of "what ifs". Still is.
At a barbecue the other night, I asked one of our friends, "What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?" I think he is either afraid of me because I'm so tall and obnoxious, or maybe he thought I was mocking him tossing around the idea of a career change. I certainly wasn't. Or it could have been the hummus I was eating, but he didn't oblige my question with any answer. And I pushy and didn't let it drop. He didn't budge. He never answered. Granted, we were at a serious rockstar party. We had a giant bouncy house in the back and kids were running all over, the men needed another beer diapers needed to be changed. People were going in and out. Whew! ROCK. STAR. So, he never had time to answer me, even the pause to think about an answer was interrupted.
Maybe it was the hummus. I mean, it was really good. And I had a bunch of it.
So, in the event that it was the hummus, let's just take that hummus out of the equation. Everyone put down their chip and listen.
Let's do a little experiment.
Just stop and think for a minute.
What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?
Anything. Let's hear it. Please, leave a comment and tell us what would you do.
I really want to know.
That's how you roll.
Song of the day: Defying Gravity from the Wicked Soundtrack
Fear (of failure or success) is usually what paralyzes most people. I don't think there is a wrong answer to that question. My answer would be:
If I knew I wouldn't fail, I'd certainly put one foot forward, and the next, and the next.
Maybe that person thought it was a "Trick Question".
Hi Anonymous, what would you REALLY do. Although putting one foot forward is a noble cause, we do it every day. What would you do if you could live any dream out and not fail?
Had I that kind of (or any) confidence, say at 20? I definitely would have gone to college, taken the reins, worked professionally towards being able to afford a good sized plot of land, say, in a nice large valley by a river, or in the mountains on a lake, and a house of my own design. In retrospect, I would have had both of my (same) beautiful daughters at the same time, and raised them to take the helm at whatever made them happy. I would teach them that if they can imagine it, it can be. Be the **"master of my fate and the captain of my soul." I'd retire early, write, publish, create, create, create! The sky would have NO limits; and carrying a very large hammer, would not have stopped at any glass ceiling......and NEVER would I stop learning.
** INVICTUS
by William Ernest Henley; 1849-1903
I would be a doctor. I have a fascination with medicine and helping people. I grew up in a "one horse town" and the only thing I cared about was succeeding at sports. Wish someone had told me less than 1% of people make a career out of that!
I would move to an area that I could be totally self sufficiant. I would have a garden and can (not freeze) produce for the fall, winter, and spring. I would have a wind generator for minimal electric needs and use wood for heat. I would hunt and fish to supplement the meat from the livestock, chickens, and turkeys I would raise. I'm still working out the grain issue for the animals. You know I can be bad at isolating so I would need my peeps to keep me in the real world.
1. Finish my book.
2. Try stand-up.
3. Front a rock band.
What I'd do right now is clean out this entire house and move west.
I would be a movie star. A real live actress. I would use my celebrity for good like a superhero with a cape. And I would be nice to all of the people who helped me get to the top. I would have to commute out of Omaha though because I like it here! I would also like to go and visit Paula S and her self sustaining life!
Hard question...honestly. I would either open my own consulting business or be a singer in a dinner club. Or possibly write a book...got a million little ideas. Oh the possibilities when failure is not an option!
Having no fear of failure, I would buy a large and beautiful remote piece of land and build a totally self contained community. Invite all my friends and family to come live there.
As corny as this sounds, I'd do what I'm doing as of last fall -- starting my own writing and photography biz to be home more with my kids. Took me YEARS to build up that courage.
Oh, and I thought I was the only crazy who loved the "Wicked" soundtrack. Have the whole thing memorized. Love. It.
I would take my children on an educational/fun year long journey around the world. I know other people have done it and write about it, but I just dream about it. A journey and an education that will take us all so far in life and that can never be learned in the classroom. I say this now because school is not out yet and that time with my children sounds appealing right now. :)
The second thing I would do is totally pursue a career as a Rock Star. Serious, hard core rock star.
I'd get to the beach, any beach, build or buy a house and have all my kids and their kids come forever. I'd trade stocks and bonds part time and support my lifestylt!!!
I would move to Hollywood and become a screenwriter and have fabulous parties where people like Ron Howard, Steven Speilberg and Tom Hanks would come. And then John Cusack would fall in love with me. And we'd have homes in New York, Chicago and LA. :)
I thought long and hard about this (something I try to avoid too much of in the summer) and decided if I could do just one thing and be guaranteed no failure I would find a cure for cancer. Now if I can choose many things the list is long....
How about you Mom on the Rocks?
Also - LOVE your song of the day!
Well, I have a list already! And I'm still adding to it. So I would: write a best-seller, tell Carrie's story, travel all over the world, rent a summer beach house, and then I've just added one, I'd like to buy a brand new car with cash. That sounds really fun to me. There's more, ofcourse. I'm working on it.
My point with this post and in reading each of your comments is first of all, thank you for sharing, and inspiring me. And also, I hope each of you sees it in print that you CAN do it! You can do all of it!
First off, where the hell do you come up with this stuff?? lol. That hummus must really be good....hmmmmm, to answer that question honestly, I have to take two differing perspectives, which of course will cause two differing answers, but you said honesty. On one hand, I think that if I knew that I couldn't fail at anything, I would do nothing. I would be lazy because life is a series of challenges via way of free will or choice, therefore, I could not challenge me to do anything by way of accomplishment so I would not attempt to achieve anything.
One the other hand, I would either win a filthy, exorbiant amount of money from playing the lottery or have a career that I actually ENJOY that provides a six figure income or at least enough to pay the bills, put my girlfriends kids thru college, allow me to have an active participation in our relationship that will further cement how much I love and adore and appreciate how special she is to me. I just want to be able to be financially comfortable in my happiness.
Make sense?