We often hear the phrase, "life is trial and error", but how many of us take the time to understand what it really means?
I presented this challenge to myself and it caused me to reflect on many choices that I have made in my life. I'm not saying that I've always made the best choices but they were my choices. Then I began to reflect... I thought about my decision to study abroad alone in Ghana and Nigeria after my second year of college. Then, I thought about my decision to take an unpaid summer internship in New York, to learn more about an industry I yearned to be a part of since my childhood. Next, I remembered how I even surprised myself by boldly approaching a stranger who would later become my employer and mentor.
My mind suddenly flashed to my most recent encounter with trial and error and I instantly became convicted about my decision to move to Atlanta. I moved to Atlanta with no job and virtually no contacts, just hope and belief that the dots would all connect and it would eventually make sense. Although that may sound absolutely crazy and uncharacteristic for me as an attorney -- one who is often viewed to be risk adverse and a detailed planner -- I acted in the moment and decided that I would deal with the consequences later.
In retrospect, I realized in my life of trial and error, I often acted so boldly and confidently because of a nudge on the inside that left me restless until I fulfilled the specific mission at hand. I'm no adrenaline junkie but I do know a thing or two about taking chances. It was through my ability to take chances that I learned to adopt spontaneity and disregard how others may view me and draw conclusions about decisions that may appear to be an impromptu move on my part.
Life is really what you make it... That's why I choose not to exist in a life that is one dimensional. I wear many different hats in my life, so my career and personality should also reflect that I am multifaceted. If my previous choices do not serve as effective indicators of my versatility, then please allow my most recent business ventures to serve as examples of my all-encompassing ambitions. In the last two years, I have co-founded an event planning company, started my own law practice, and recently began co-managing a celebrity make-up artist. I can look back and honestly say that none of the previously mentioned opportunities were remotely in my life plan-- even months before they occurred.
As human beings, we are confronted with the task of constantly reinventing ourselves. So today, I implore you to make your own definition of trial and error and dare yourself to take a chance without thinking about the consequences. My decision to adopt a life of trial and error has brought me so much peace and has strengthened my faith in God because there were many times when literally only God knew the path I would take. While my decisions have not always been a fan favorite, I've learned that I am willing to take the road less traveled if the end result is my peace of mind.
Dare to live and not simply exist... Dare to take a chance... Don't allow failure or fear to creep in and steal your dreams. Always remember it only takes one yes for you to catapult into success and I guarantee you all of the rejections during your journey will not matter. Because you never know, that one thing that seems impossible may be within your reach. As the saying goes, if you want something you've never had, you must do something you've never done before. What have you not done before that you are willing to do to change your life? I challenge you to not think about it, just do it...