"Worst Case Scenario"

Man on Fire

You have an idea, something you want to do, a goal to be achieved.

You ponder on the thought, "wow, that would be amazing.. BUT.."

BUT - then we plummet into a world of "worst case scenario". Your mind runs wild on the things that could go wrong. "I could lose my job", "I won't have any income", "what if they won't talk to me again".

Before long, sometimes in just a few moments - we have convinced ourselves that we are "better off not doing it".

Pareto's Principle

You will often find me going on about Pareto's Principle (commonly referred to as the 80/20 rule). Why? It's everywhere.

Including here.

The "worst case scenario" can happen, sure. But how often? The truth is - hardly ever. So we optimise for the majority. If 80% of the time "worst case scenario" doesn't happen - think about all the opportunity you are missing out on!

"Plan B"

Whenever I am doing something big and bold - I always have a "plan B". This is often not a definitive action, but more a direction to start moving if the situation starts to turn. I tend not to think of it as "Plan B", but more of an "Flanking Manoeuvre". One implies you want to get out, the other implies you are doing your best to get in.

If you keep things as black-and-white as "if X happens I get the hell out", then you will often find yourself running away from situations long before "worst case scenario" is actually on the horizon.

For example - when I decided to up-sticks and move to London, I was nervous. I was leaving my hometown (where I have been all my life) and moving somewhere big, busy - and expensive. A lot could go wrong. Worst case scenario? I end up on the streets of London with all my stuff, getting robbed and stabbed (as several people said I would when I informed them of my decision to move). Likelihood? Not much.

So, my "plan B" was to make it easy as possible for me seek shelter. This was neatly aligned with my minimalism goals, since that wanted me able to live out of a backpack. Therefore, if things really started going south, then I would just grab my backpack and have everything I need. I then ask a friend to let me sofa-surf or something.

Your situation(s) will definitely differ, but the point is this you wanted this "thing" for a reason - so stop running and start doing. We humans are a lot better at survival than we give ourselves credit for.

The REAL "Worst Case Scenario"

I find this helps. Rather than think about "worst case scenario" on a situation-by-situation basis, think about all the opportunities you may miss if you keep preventing yourself from going for what you want.

Our time here on this earth is limited. Don't find yourself at the end of the race thinking "I wish I..."

The truth is, if "worst case scenario" was to rear it's ugly head - your flanking manoeuvres will probably take care of 80% of the problem anyway..

  • Make your goals.
  • Plan some flanking manoeuvres.
  • Ignore "worst case scenario".
  • Get it done.
  • Rinse and repeat.
  • Have FUN!