One of my greatest joys is helping people see their true “dreams” and supporting them in stepping into making them a reality.

I know how uncomfortable this can be for many people.  I had dreams for a long time that I refused to honor. I just stuck it out, went from day to day, saying “It’s not so bad. Others have it worse.” My friends and family supported this eagerly, happily. Why? They didn’t want to see me change, try the unknown, go for the gold. They were afraid I’d fail. They were afraid I’d lose everything. They were afraid to acknowledge my dreams  much less go after their own dreams.

I am one of the fortunate ones who made a decision. I put a stake in the sand and said I am going for it no matter what. I don’t want to trade hours for dollars. I am committed to leading  a life filled with passion and creativity and a really big desire to make a difference with others. I am not willing to play small in life – there’s just too much to offer, too much to experience, too many people for whom I want to make a difference.

Why do people play small? The media doesn’t help. They are the fear-mongering masters of the world. And we certainly can make a case for living a life where it’s smarter to play it safe rather than sorry.  This is why I love to watch Jim Cramer – because he’s not only smart but he stands for being savvy, not just playing safe. He wants people to succeed by not falling prey to small thinking and playing small

But how safe is it really to play small? Does having a job keep you safe in this economic climate? How safe do people with JOB’s feel today? Does staying with the same old same old in your business protect it? It’s a recipe for disaster –  the competition can and will  eat you alive if you don’t evolve, don’t  innovate, don’t keep your enterprise edge.

And here’s the biggest reason that playing small doesn’t really work: By playing small you teach your clients,your staff, your children to play small too. It encourages them to resist growing, resist innovating, resist investing in themselves, in you, in your business, and going for more in life.

I have never regretted getting on the court and playing full out.  Have I felt the fear about trying new things, investing in myself, and putting bigger and bigger goals in place? Absolutely.  But I am not willing to let my fear win because the payoff for playing small is a life of less.

Ask yourself honestly: Are you playing small? What has it been costing you?