What if it doesn’t work out?
That single question has stopped more ideas, dreams, and opportunities than failure ever has. People often hesitate and choose safety because the risk of things going wrong feels too great.
However, there is another side. Every “what if it doesn’t work” has a twin question right beside it: what if it does? This is the “What If” experience, and learning to approach it differently can create possibilities we rarely consider.
Two Sides of “What If”
The “what if” question always has two directions:
- The fear side: Doubt makes us believe that failure is the only outcome, so we avoid trying altogether.
- The success side: “What if it works out?” This version invites us to take a chance, regardless of the result.
Many people focus more on the fear side. If that sounds familiar, there is a simple experiment that can help shift perspective.
How to Run the Experiment
- Pick one decision. Choose something you are currently hesitating over.
- Write both outcomes. One for what might go wrong and one for what might go right.
- For the negative outcome, ask: What would actually happen? How difficult would it be to handle?
- For the positive outcome, write down the practical benefits and what might change.
- Estimate the odds. People often assume failure is more likely than it is. Using terms such as likely, possible, or unlikely makes the comparison clearer.
- Learn in the process. Send a brief email, ask one person for feedback, complete a section of an application, or test a short prototype. The goal is not to succeed or fail, but to learn something.
- Record the result. Compare what actually happened with your earlier guess. Over time, this process converts uncertainty into actionable information.
Why It Works
This approach matters for several reasons:
- It reduces fear. Once risks are written down, they are easier to understand and measure.
- It encourages progress. Taking small, low-risk steps creates real feedback instead of endless guessing.
- It builds trust in yourself. Repeating the process teaches the mind to weigh risks and outcomes more calmly.
Furthermore, it reveals how often fear, rather than reason, has been the main barrier standing in the way of growth.
Applying the Experiment
Consider the example of applying for a role. Doubt often gives people reasons not to try. The “What If” experiment provides a clearer way to think about it.
- If it doesn’t work out, the person still gains practice, a better sense of what employers want, and experience they can use in future applications.
- If it does work out, they gain a career opportunity with a team that values their skills. What once felt uncertain becomes progress in their professional life.
As a result, when both sides are written out and small steps are taken, the choice becomes less stressful. Instead of letting fear decide, the person gives themselves a chance to act.
Conclusion
Next time you find yourself asking “what if,” try this experiment. In conclusion, let’s look at a few key takeaways:
- Treat “what if” as a test, not a verdict.
- Use hesitation as information.
- Write down both possible outcomes.
- Take small, low-risk steps to gather facts.
- Record what happens and adjust as you go.
More often than not, the chances avoided because of fear are the very ones that could have led to progress.
That said, have you ever considered applying for one of our opportunities but decided not to move forward because you thought you might not succeed?
But what if you do?
Explore our latest opportunities today, apply, give it your all, and take the chance. We wish you the best of luck with your application!
