Chutzpah: You Had It as A Kid. So, What Happened?
Mason Harris
Inspiring Growth Through Connection and Chutzpah | Sales, Development, Fundraising Leader | Performance Improves When Success Behaviors and Attitude Meet Boundaries That Need Stretching
Chutzpah: You Had It as A Kid. So, What Happened?
Do you remember the first time you pushed yourself? Did you take a risk? Fail? Give up? Persevere? And then succeed?
You were undoubtedly a kid.
Family life may have been easy, with loving parents, manageable homework, food, and a warm bed. Or, you may have grown up on "the other side of the tracks." Poor schools, economically disadvantaged, and a less-than-ideal family environment.
Either way, you used your chutzpah and developed skills you still have.
Wait, chutzpah? Really? As a child?
Yes, because chutzpah is about stretching boundaries. Kids, adults, trailblazers, leaders, and especially teenagers, all test limits.
As a child, taking the training wheels off your bike and learning to ride was a big event.
All the older kids rode without training wheels; it was a sign of accomplishment. And when it came time for you, there most likely was some fear, along with your excitement.
"What if I fall and get hurt? I don't want to be teased by others!"
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I fell a few times when those training wheels came off, and you most likely did as well.
And after drying our tears (I mean not me...okay, maybe a little, and again when the bandage came off my knee), we got back on that bike. And perhaps even fell again. And again.
But eventually, we learned how to ride a bicycle safely. And we experienced a new freedom, a new chapter in our progression from a little kid to a bigger and cooler kid.
We were only balanced on a 1.5-inch round piece of rubber, and we knew falling on concrete or asphalt would still hurt, but we never stopped riding.
That was chutzpah, kid style.
So what happened? Where is your "chutzpah" today?
What boundaries have you stretched lately?
Are you still willing to fail? To push beyond your comfort zone?
If you're hesitating, it's time to find a new "bike."
Eight key behaviors and characteristics. Combined, they create a decided edge for the user, called "The Chutzpah Advantage." Learn it, use it, and stretch boundaries for success.