Two Words Changed The Direction Of My Life — They Can Change Yours, Too

Ask this question when you find yourself heading a little too far outside your comfort zone

The big question

My life has been defined by mustering the courage to take crazy opportunities when they fell in my lap.

And through it all, I developed a simple guiding principle to help me find that courage. It began with a single question:

What if?

“What if” is a good place to start. If you can’t imagine it, how can you achieve it?

Ask this question when you are at a crossroads.

If you have an amazing opportunity that will take you a little too far out of your comfort zone, ask What if?

The vision

About 20 years ago, my life was falling apart around me. I had just gotten out of a 3 year relationship, and it felt like the whole world was passing me by. Friends were deserting me because they were too caught up in their own lives, and I was just sitting there, standing still.

At the exact perfect moment, I took my first trip to Hawaii for my friend’s wedding. Something happened to me while I was there. I fell in love with the place. Hard. Everything was just right.

I was absolutely consumed with something. Between the perfect weather and the gorgeous landscape — I was in awe such a place could actually exist. It seemed whatever was troubling me in my life back home just didn’t matter. This existed!

I wondered — what if I lived here? What would my life be like?

I fell in love with that idea. It lit a fire in me. I had to come back. I wouldn’t be happy until I did. I needed to move there. I needed to live this every day.

Suddenly, I wasn’t afraid of taking chances — of just going for it. And if the opportunity ever came up, I knew what I would do. If it was out there, I’d find it.

The leap

While I waited for my opportunity to arrive, back home I made a massive decision when I bought my first condo. I put it all on the line for this place. I didn’t have very much money, and I didn’t know what I would do if I failed. But what if I succeeded? What would happen to my life?

What if guided my decision. The payout was worth the risk.

I ended up making a lot of money on that condo, and that single decision would start my real estate investment business. All because I jumped at a crazy opportunity.

Even more importantly, I got a roommate in that condo who ended up making a massive impact in my life. He became my best friend, and guided me through the biggest “what if” situations.

Watching how he navigated his social life inspired me. Seeing him walk into a room and own the room, watching him bring half the club back home for an after party every single night, I saw with my own eyes what was possible. I let this reality clash with my own reality, and what if won easily.

I saw what life could be, and I fell in love with the idea. What if I could do this in my own life?

Within six months, I went from being too shy to talk to anyone, to being able to get any girl’s phone number in three minutes.

Because what if?

My roommate was Craig Clemens. He ended up becoming one of the worlds greatest sales copywriters. Being a part of his circle for the past 20 years introduced me to some of the most amazing people I could ever meet — friends who saw in me things I couldn’t even see in myself, and they helped me recognize and develop my writing ability.

What if?

The opportunity

A few years after I bought the condo, my work posted a job opportunity. Our Hawaii rep was leaving, and they needed someone to take that spot. My dream just got greenlit.

I was scared for a moment. I was facing what I always wanted, and I didn’t know what to do now that it was right in front of me. I’d have to leave everyone and everything I ever knew.

But what if?

I talked it over with my girlfriend and we decided we had to do this. Life is too short to stay in our comfort zone.

We moved to Hawaii. I took the leap. The new life was greater than I could possibly have imagined. It all went right.

I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t taken these opportunities. I can’t picture what would have happened if I stayed in my hometown, too scared to make a single leap into the unknown.

That leap guided me to make other leaps. I married my girlfriend. The idea terrified me. But I had found the one, and I knew it. So what if?

We lived in Hawaii for 6 years. I lived my dream. I surfed a lot. My life was complete.

But my thoughts eventually turned to other parts of the world. We visited Paris on a late honeymoon trip. I became awestruck, and I wondered what it would be like to live in Europe.

Every little detail stuck in my mind. The leaves were falling on that crisp autumn day, and I remember seeing a group of school children returning to class. I imagined raising kids in that life. What would their lives look like?

I returned back to Hawaii and felt sad. I couldn’t get the dream out of my head.

A couple years later, a job opportunity opened in Stuttgart. This time I didn’t even hesitate. We uprooted our lives and brought our two year old into a whole new world.

I spent the 5 best years of my life in Germany living every dream I could imagine, and many I never thought about. The experiences were richer than I can describe with words. We’re all the better for having gone through it.

The call to action

I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t taken these opportunities. I can’t picture what would have happened if I stayed in my hometown, too scared to make a single leap into the unknown.

I can’t unsee what I’ve seen, and no amount of fear or anxiety could possibly hold up to the life awaiting me on the other side of fear.

What if is the gateway.

When you are faced with an incredible opportunity which could severely impact your life, spend some time envisioning what life could be if you took that leap.

If you fall in love with that vision, you’ll know what you have to do.

Shoutout to Kristina God who partially inspired this article with these words:

This may sound crazy, but the most logical thing to do is often to actually take the leap of faith, paddle out, and surf the waves.

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