That is the line, that we have had built into our heads since the very start. “What could go wrong?”, is what our ancestors asked themselves every day.
When they went into the woods to gather berries or find the next animal to kill, that was the one premise they went out with. That is what they accounted for, so that no predator could attack them or do them any harm.
In the most literal sense, the line “what could go wrong?”, deeply ingrained into our ancient lizard brain is what saved our ass.
In fact, I would go even further, “What could go wrong?”, is the one line that brought us to where we are today. It is the one sentence that helped us to outsmart any enemy, as we could pre-empt their attacks, built caves with better protection and make sure our children and theirs will make it through many summers.
It does seem quite ironic then, that in today’s world “What could go wrong?” has completely turned her back on us. The ones that keep thinking “What could go wrong?” are the ones who are plentiful, and the ones that bring very little value to the table:
“There will always be a surplus of people eager to criticize, nitpick or recommend caution.” ~ Seth Godin
In today’s world, “What could go wrong?” has little to no use. The ones that succeed are others. It is the people who dare. Who dare greatly. It is the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Elon Musks, Barack Obamas, Jack Dorsey’s, Mark Zuckerberg’s and Larry and Sergey’s.
At first, it almost seems, that mother nature has turned her back on us. The one ingrained understanding of caution we are all born with is that one that will no longer see us through to arrive safely in the next generation. The one ingrained understanding that you, who are reading this carry within yourself burnt into your synapses. The one that I, as I write this, carry with myself.
Maybe though, so I think, it isn’t all wrong. Maybe it is just that we are continuing our course of evolution, where, after many years of good use, the tool “What could go wrong?”, finally needs to be put to (a well deserved) rest.
On behalf of “Yes!” and on behalf of daring, it is my sincere belief that thinking “What could go wrong?” can’t bring us any good (anymore).
Instead, I think it is of the highest importance to learn (and learning this I think we must, as none of us are born with it) to start asking ourselves and everyone else “What could go right today?”. And then, go do that right thing.