10 Ways to Run a Risky Business

1. Take a chance. The riskiest decision you make can be the most rewarding and gratifying.
2. There's no crystal ball. Take big leaps to learn about yourself as an entrepreneur and a decision-maker.
3. Once you make a decision, be confident with it and move forward. Don't look back.
4. Stop worrying. You can't take risks confidently if you're constantly worrying about the outcome or the future.
   
   
5. Remember that there are no mistakes. If you fail after taking a risk, the lessons learned are invaluable.
6. Ask yourself, what's the worst that can happen?
7. Keep stepping out of your comfort zone. The more success you experience through your risk-taking, the more you'll allow yourself to branch out.
8. Don't let perfectionism get in the way of taking risks. Accept that as an entrepreneur, learning is never-ending.
9. Evaluate what you're really risking. It might not be as scary as you originally thought.
10. Don't stress about coming up with that "big idea." Big ideas don't come easily--a small idea may actually be the big prize.

This article was originally published in the February 2009 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: 10 Ways to Run a Risky Business.