About this quote

Risk rarely hands you a neat answer. Sometimes your choice changes nothing, sometimes it hurts, and sometimes it turns into something that actually lifts you. You can't control which of those will happen, but you can choose what small steps to take next and how quickly to learn from them. Try one manageable test this week and use the result to plan your next move. What will you try tomorrow to see whether you fall or fly?

When to use it

• After my app demo crashed during a pitch, I told my cofounder the line to remind us to iterate the product and try again next week.
• When I failed my midterm and wondered whether to drop the course, I remembered it and signed up for tutoring instead of quitting.
• After collapsing near the finish line in practice, my coach quoted it to push me to adjust my pace plan and train smarter.
• When I decided to move cities without a job, I kept the line in mind and booked a one-way ticket to test if the risk would open new doors.