Can two gutsy senior high school students teach us a little somethin’ about how to get ahead in our career?

One is a blond and brawny 17-year-old boy standing about 5’4”. He’s a 3-point shooter with decent hops. (I’ve learned that teen boys call the ability to jump hops.) His classmate is a 6’5” lanky and not-quite-filled-out boy who lumbers about in size 14 shoes and has no hops. Both have never played high school basketball. Both are trying out as seniors for the varsity basketball team.

These two young men are as different as they come; they have also been friends since they were 3 years old. And when they inadvertently ran into each other at tryouts, their competitive spirits kicked into high gear.

Does it bother them that they are the only two who have not played on a freshman, sophomore, or JV basketball team? No. Do they worry about NOT making the team? Sure. Does fear dissuade them from trying out? Never.

They feel no fear of failure because they believe they’ll succeed.

And what does this have to do with your career? First you have to answer this question: What would you do if you were not worried about failing? Would you go for that promotion? Would you stick your neck out and propose a better process to get things done in your area of expertise? Would you take a telecom class that is totally unrelated to your current position?

Whatever the answer, I bet it has nothing to do with the status quo. That same ol’ same ol’ approach is what we do when we fear failure and act as jaded adults. And then, shockingly, we complain that things never change.

Is there a better way? Of course there is. You already know that. (And if we’re honest, we know those two teen boys just schooled us in Career Development 101.) Now, you’re left with only one thing to do: Act on what you know.

What’s your take on this subject? Leave a comment and get the conversation going.