About two years ago my now fifteen-year-old daughter, Chelsea, and I saw a magnet in a museum gift shop -- “everything is sweetened by risk” (Alexander Smith 1830-1867). Although neither of us knew why, the magnet had a strong attraction (pun intended) so I bought it. It has hung on our refrigerator ever since. About nine months ago I received an offer to sell my eleven-year-old regulatory compliance consulting practice. After realizing that I was ready to do something new, I agreed to sell the practice even though I had no idea what I would do next in my career. Within two months of the sale of the practice, my husband of twenty years, Jack, and I realized that we were both making each other unhappy instead of happy so we mutually agreed to a trial separation. Now, six months later, I feel at peace and happier, both personally and professionally, than I’ve felt for years.

Why? I think it’s because I took risks. With no idea of what I hoped to accomplish next, I sold my business, which I had grown accustomed to for the last eleven years. Afraid to be alone after twenty years of marriage, I knew the only real chance to be happy together was to find ourselves as individuals again. I took risks by pulling myself out of a rut that I had allowed to deepen over time. Now I know what the poem on the magnet means: Everything is sweetened by risk.

It’s true for NAWBO, too. The only way we’ll grow as a chapter and as an association is by trying new things and taking risks. For instance:

Voicing our opinions during visits to the White House and to
our representatives in Congressmen at Public Policy Days in
Washington, DC in February.

Unveiling the new National high-tech NAWBO Web site on March
1st.

Our NAWBO Chapter slogo is “NAWBO Creates Connections” and my President’s theme for this year is “Create Connections to Make a Difference”. Sometimes we have to take a risk to create a connection and, often, we have to take a risk to make a difference. And, I have found that, the longer I avoid risk, trying to protect what I have, the harder it gets to take the risk. But, my experience has shown me -- do it anyway -- it’s the only way to grow -- to allow life to get sweeter.

What about you -- have you taken any risks lately? They don’t have to be big ones -- it can just be trying something new that you have never done before -- like chairing a NAWBO Committee. But it has to feel uncomfortable or it’s not a risk. It has to get you out of a rut that you’ve allowed yourself to get into. You have to stop protecting what you have and give yourself the space to grow and try new things. Try it and I think you, too, will find -- everything is sweetened by risk.

Diane McCartney, President, NAWBO Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter