Five ways to risk failure and improve your career

Don’t let it sting.
If you try something new and difficult such as applying for a “reach job” and then you miss the mark or get rejected, don’t think of it as stoppage. As my mother used to say, “Failure is just a perception.” Pat yourself on the back for taking the risk, and move on.

Find a problem.
If your job feels unfulfilling, find a difficulty at work that needs solving. Then work on finding the solution. This is also a basic recipe for identifying new business ideas. If you don’t succeed, figure out why and try again.

Get unstuck.
If you hate what you’re doing, fix it. Take on new tasks at work, for example, or learn a new things. The worst thing that can happen is you’ll fail. More likely, though, you’ll figure you why you’re stuck.

Surprise yourself.
Do something completely out of character. Apply for a job in a foreign country. Sit in on a meeting in a different department. Open your mind to new career possibilities by taking a chance at something unknown.

Easy does it.
Many people get all worked up trying to come up with ways to forward their careers. Great ideas often come when you stop trying so hard. Pay attention to your daydreams and the things you read or see on TV that truly interest you. There might be a future career or business idea there.