Max de Pree Quotes

Everyone has a 'risk muscle.' You keep it in shape by trying new things. If you don't, it atrophies. Make a point of using it at least once a day.

Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potentiality and a contribution of some kind to one's world.

If your life is ever going to get better, you'll have to take risks. There is simply no way you can grow without taking chances.

I don't want to completely self-sabotage everything that I've got and alienate everyone. But I definitely want to take some chances as I always have.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

With each book, I'm trying to do something that terrifies me.

You do have to challenge yourself. I think scared is a good thing.

The world is full of people who want to play it safe, people who have tremendous potential but never use it. Somewhere deep inside them, they know that they could do more in life, be more, and have more -- if only they were willing to take a few risks.

The great fear I've had to overcome is the fear of failure. It can be safer to stay in a comfort zone that's not stretching yourself.

Comfort kills! If your goal in life is to be comfortable, I guarantee two things. First, you will never be rich. Second, you will never be happy. Happiness doesn't come from living a lukewarm life, always wondering what could have been. Happiness comes as a result of being in our natural state of growth and living up to our fullest potential.

When you attempt something new, there's always fear. A couple of helpful slogans to me are "follow the fear" or "fear is a sign of growth."

No worthwhile life can be lived without risks, despite current American superstitions to the contrary.

If you want to write the next great novel, but you think, No, this won't work because no one will buy it or it won't be any good, then you talk yourself out of taking a risk.

I have never sung a whole song on my own before and I am not the best dancer in the world, but I would rather try and fall than not not try at all.

What all my years in improvisation taught is that - if you're going to grow as a performer - you have to try some new things. You've got to be willing to take a few risks.

It's only when you risk failure that you discover things. When you play it safe, you're not expressing the utmost of your human experience.

I fear the boredom that comes with not learning and not taking chances.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

I like new challenges and new experiences.

A lot of people simply don't realize their potential because they're just so risk adverse. They just don't want to take the risk.

It seems like the more I live, the more I realize that saying 'yes' is almost never a mistake. If you say no, it might feel safe, but then you end up going nowhere.

I'm continually trying to make choices that put me against my own comfort zone. As long as you're uncomfortable, it means you're growing.

I've arrived at the place if I'm not taking a career risk, I'm not happy. If I'm scared, then I know I'm being challenged.

When you go through life, when you go through different things, you take risks, you question yourself. I think everybody does, at some point in their life, question themselves.

No matter what your profession is, it's good to scare yourself a little from time to time! It's crucial to keep challenging yourself and to learn from people who are more accomplished than you are.