In the movies, to find our hero at the end of a cliff or one step away from falling off the roof of a skyscraper is scary. You never quite know in advance how they will survive and come back to safety.
In life, the edge is that place where things are new. This could be either personal or professional. Good or bad. Where we don’t know where the next step will take us. There are a lot of interesting things that happen when we get to this edge.
First, little that we are doing or involved with today will help us at the edge. The edge will most likely require some different thinking and new skills. So we do a little research and pick something to learn in the direction of where we want to go and then see what happens. We need to acquire new knowledge, new skills, and/or new habits to breakthrough at this level.
Second, we are never sure what is important or what will work at the edge. So here we have to try many things. Some will work, some won’t. It will probably take some time after being at the edge to see what is of value and is important. So there is definitely a factor of time in trying to explore things at the edge. Nothing will happen in a minute.
Third, we have no idea if we have the talent to master and execute the things that will be needed to succeed when we get to the edge. Where you want to go may be of value. Whether you can pull it off is the question. Before you can delegate or outsource you need to try yourself to learn more about this edge you are exploring so that you gain some perspective on what needs to be done. What tools should be used.
About the only thing you need to be certain when you decide to get close to the edge is where you want to be down the road. What will success look like if you successfully expand your skills, choices, awareness, and horizon? This is vitally important to determine if you are sinking, treading water, or moving ahead as you spend more and more time at the edge.
Deciding to explore the edge is critical if we want to grow. Either as a person or an organization. Understanding that things won’t be easy at first is important so that we continue to try even after we first get discouraged.