We bought a house on the other side of the country without ever setting foot inside. A few years ago, my family made the decision to move from Georgia to California—a move we hadn’t planned but felt was necessary. The catch? We had only seen pictures and videos of the house we were moving into. Was it risky? Absolutely. But here’s what I learned from that experience about taking calculated risks, in life as well as in business: Moving forward (despite uncertainty) is sometimes the only way to make progress. We didn’t have all the answers, and there was plenty of fear of being wrong. But we knew the timing was right, and sometimes, you just have to trust your instincts and move ahead with your best guess. This principle applies whether you're making a career change, investing in a new opportunity, or making a big life decision. The key is pushing through the fear of uncertainty to move forward at the right time. While we hadn't seen the house in person, my wife, who’s a savant with Zillow, had done extensive research. She had analyzed hundreds of homes, understood the market, and carefully considered every factor that could impact our decision. It helped that she had once lived in this neighborhood as well. We had gathered enough information to feel confident that we were getting a great house at a reasonable price. In business, we often don’t have all the information we’d like, but making informed decisions is crucial to taking the right risks. Finally, this move was about more than just the house—it was about building the right support system for our family. Because I travel for work, my wife wanted to be near her family to have that available support. In Georgia, I was closer to my team at work and didn’t have to travel as much to see them, and my parents were nearby, but both work full-time. In California, I would have to flex more often with work hours (pacific time zone) and travel a bit more to see my team, but with my wife’s parents retired and able to help with the kids, we saw an opportunity to have more consistent support when we needed it. Similarly, when we take calculated risks in business, it's often about balancing both. As we continue to build leadership sessions on the importance of calculated risk at Signature Leaders, we’re exploring how to analyze uncertainty, make informed decisions, and take action—even when the path ahead isn't fully clear. In business, as in life, calculated risks can lead to the most meaningful rewards. #leadership #growth #businessstrategy
Dan Drugan
1w
Well put Rob 👍
Executive HR Leader | Director of Human Resources | 16yrs of HR Leadership Exp
1wGood for you all! We also bought our house sight unseen with the help of a great technology and a thorough realtor. It thankfully worked out great!