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On my journey as a serial entrepreneur I have had to take a leap of faith, many a time, not knowing how things would shape out. I believe there is a difference between taking a decision based on incomplete information and just hoping for the best and a leap of faith. The difference is subtle on the surface, but when truly identified, shows the difference in situations quite clearly. For example in a business partnership, you could meet a potential partner at a cocktail session, and decide then and there to start a new business together, since it seems that both of you have complementary skill sets and it also feels right. I believe that is not a leap of faith, rather, it is a gamble on both parts. A leap of faith is when two would-be partners get to know each other, identify ways to work together, identify correct business opportunities and then make a decision to go forward and start something together. The difference between these two options is “knowledge”.
A counter argument could be that given that both individuals know each other well, how is that a leap of faith? The truth of the matter is that we usually know very little about each other initially. It takes time and effort to actually get to know an individual. However, the relationship changes completely when both individuals have something vested in the relationship, be it business, marriage or religion. In truth taking that initial step or commitment into the unknown, is as scary as jumping into a situation with a complete stranger.The difference however between these situations is that when we make a true leap of faith, we do it after studying and judging the situation at hand, rather than just taking a random shot.
When I started my initial business I also had an offer to go into the corporate world at that time. After analyzing the situation, I chose to venture out on my own and I am extremely happy with that choice. It was not an easy decision, even though on the surface it seemed a profitable business to go into. A leap of faith I believe represents a decision based on much more than just something done on the spur of the moment. It requires making a decision based on research,logic and a gut feel which is truly exciting. The next time someone asks you to take a leap of faith and do something, think about the situation at hand….is it really a leap of faith or just another shot in the dark.
I would really like to hear what you think about taking a leap of faith? Is it something that one just does, or does it actually require a lot of thought? Do you think too much thought restrains you from actually making that leap? Look forward to your comments and suggestions.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I partly agree with you, that taking a “leap of faith” requires knowledge.
Some people may point out that if one has the “knowledge” then it has nothing to do with faith (which I believe is what you said in another way as well)
Therein lies the quandary as to how one would define “faith”.
I believe that when a person gets that “gut feeling” and has faith and actually says to himself that “lets take a chance because it feels right”…that’s because unbeknown to him, he has subconscious knowledge that an XYZ thing will work.
But then at times, there’s that feeling in the pit of your stomach which says “don’t do it!”…and yet you just go ahead and do it because of the rush it gives you…..”what the hell, lets give it a shot!” you say, with the knowledge then, that you may even fail.
Thanks for the great comment Faizan.
“Therein lies the quandary as to how one would define “faith”.” I think this is statement that has been debated about since the beginning of time. Everyone of us has our own personal views on the matter and that is what makes us all unique.
However the last point that you made of just going ahead with it even though your gut tells you otherwise is where I disagree. I have done this many times and most of the time it has turned out to be more of an emotional decision rather than a logical one. We need to be able to balance the two. It is when these two factors are unbalanced that we tend to make our largest mistakes.
I agree with your disagreement, if that makes sense.
That is exactly the reason why I stated “with the knowledge then, that you may even fail.”
Point here was that even though we have the knowledge, as you had said we needed, this time the same knowledge was there, only telling is there is a larger probability of failure.
One may say that if you know you’ll probably fail, it’d be stupid to even try.
At times for me that “probably” isn’t enough. Maybe for me it takes actual FAILURE to happen first, to fail.
If it is something which isn’t too much of a risk or too much of a waste, I’d rather go through the experience, gain richer insight into it, come back and do it right the next time.
No harm in failure.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.