Young people are better to make decisions on their own?

A ship is always safe at the shore, but that is not what it was built for. That pushing one away from the shore and into uncharted waters will make all the difference in his life. Analyzing risks, suggesting methods and making decisions are the main processes dealing with tasks; you may ask instructors for advice, find materials in library, and collect data on the Internet, ultimately what decision to make is up to yourself. Thus, independence regarding on this issue is obvious a key role.

Increasing evidences from academia show that grit and its parallel traits of guts, resilience, and tenacity are significant for achieving goals. No one is born with grit, but each of us can obtain it over time. Especially in today’s turbulent environment with rapid economy growth and technology changes, competition become fiercer than ever before. Multi-talented employees are preferred, but positions are limitless; the face of knowledge and information update at each second, relying old style method may not work.   The career journey of Robin Koval, CEO and president of Legacy, has been shaped by three key risks taken at various points, and all these decisions made by her display excellent benefits to the whole life.  They allowed her to become her own first responder – identifying worst-case scenarios ahead of time, and always having a plan B.

When graduated with a degree in design, she found it is tough to get a relevant job to save life. Then she chose to become an administrative assistant dealing with various chores in an advertisement business, from which she discovered true passions: strategy, client management, and business development.

Then, she made her second risky decision, quit her job – a credible position, and became an entrepreneur of an ad agency. She said that “I trusted my gut, gave up my hard-won and secure position at a well-known cooperation, and went for it. This was totally not in my background or DNA.” Eventually this start-up becomes into a billion dollar billing agency.

Finally, she resigned the position of CEO and decided to become a member of an anti-tobacco organization focusing saving lives. So once again she pushed off shore, made a significant decision by herself, and has never looked back.

Although it would be easier to plug our decisions into parents’ or teachers’ list and just do it according to priority, there is no substitute for summoning your gut by taking risk and making decision yourself. That no instructor who holds your hand toward right direction can replace your intelligence on momentous life or career decisions. In an evolving world, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail are standing on the shore and taking no risks at all.

Quote from the article"here is why  the CEO does not fear failure" by Robin Koval.