Letting Go Of The Brakes

Why settling into "safe" will cost you everything

Listen here.

I was flying down a hill at 50 miles per hour on two one-inch tires. A semi pulling a 53-foot trailer roared past, maybe five feet to my left. One puncture, one wobble, one wrong move, and you’re not reading this blog today. You know what I felt? Alive. For the first time in years.

Me in my cycling heyday

This was in my 30s and completely out of character for the play-it-safe guy I'd always been. My job had become Groundhog Day. Same meetings. Same green bar reports to review and summarize. Same conversations day after day after day….

The only time my heart actually beat with purpose was on that bike.

Here's what nobody tells you about playing it safe: it's exhausting. You spend so much energy protecting what you have that you never get to discover what you could become.

I get it. You've got bills. Kids who need braces. A family that's counting on that direct deposit hitting every two weeks. You tell yourself this is what responsible adults do. They stay. They endure. They show up and shut up.

But let me ask you something. When you're 90 years old, sitting in that recliner, what's going to hurt more? The risk you took that didn't pan out? Or the chance you never took because you were too scared to try?

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." You might still be breathing, showing up to work, and scrolling through X during meetings. But without a vision for who you're meant to become, are you really alive?

Two years ago, I almost didn't start this blog. I'd written some pieces for my team at work, but that was different. Some read my stuff because I was their boss. Publishing for the world? That was terrifying. What if nobody cared? What if I got ridiculed? What if my wife was my only subscriber?

Taylor (my coach) changed the game for me. She helped me define what success would look like with this blog. Not going viral or becoming the next big thing. Just this: showing up consistently and sharing what was on my heart with the intent of adding value to people. That’s it.

Last week, I got this text from a friend out of the blue:

"Your post about not waiting for 'later' motivated me to finally build that web app I've been dreaming about. I'd been pushing it off because I thought it would be too expensive. Your words made me realize the real cost was in not starting. Just wanted you to know the positive impact your words are having."

Wow. I almost let fear rob me of that moment. The impact I had on this friend would have never happened.

You know what really keeps us stuck? We tell ourselves it's about the money. Or the timing. Or the economy. But honestly? It's fear dressed up in fancy clothes, pretending to be wisdom. It's comfort dressed up as contentment.

That job that makes you dread Sunday nights? You stay because at least you know what Monday looks like. That business idea you've been refining in your head for five years? You haven't started because you might fail. (Not doing it is failure guaranteed)

Here's what I've learned: God didn't wire you to play it safe. He created you with specific gifts, specific talents, and a specific purpose. Not using them isn't being humble. It's being selfish. Someone out there needs exactly what you have to offer.

So here's your homework — Three Questions for Breaking Free:

1. What would I attempt if I knew I couldn't fail? Write it down. Be specific. Not "be happy" but "start that food truck" or "finally get my real estate license" or "teach yoga even though I'm not a size 2."

2. What's the actual worst-case scenario? Not the Hollywood disaster movie version. The real one. You try and fail? You can probably get another job. People might laugh? They're too busy worrying about their own stuff to remember yours.

3. What's the cost of staying where you are? This is the one we avoid. Another year of feeling that ache that says you were meant for more. Another decade of "someday." Another lifetime of being the person who almost did something great.

Pick one thing. Just one. Take one small action this week. Update that resume. Take the online course. Sign up for that class. Send that email. Ask that person to grab a cup of coffee with you.

You know that feeling when you're riding a bike down a steep hill and you finally let go of the brakes? That split second of terror followed by pure exhilaration? That's what starting something new feels like. Scary? Absolutely. Worth it? Every single time.

The clock's ticking. Your 90-year-old self is watching. Your family is watching. Most importantly, the person you were meant to become is waiting.

What are you waiting for?

You can do this. Today's the day. It's your time.

---

John Maxwell’s teachings have had a huge impact on my journey from just chasing success to pursuing significance. I'm hosting a group in the coming weeks called “Beyond Success.” These Zoom calls include short videos from John as well as group discussions. There's no cost. My goal is to help others start pursuing significance. There are only a few slots, so if you’re interested, you can click this link to learn more: Beyond Success