Never Play It Safe

every day, people make choices shaped by societal expectations, routines, and fears. it’s easy to play it safe and stick to the familiar comfort of routine, but this often leads to stagnation and dissatisfaction. creating a fulfilling life isn’t about avoiding mistakes or waiting for external validation. it’s about understanding the tools within you and leveraging them to build a life you love – boldly and intentionally.

all of us have levers we can use: small, focused actions or mental shifts that can create outsized impacts in your life. like the principle of leverage in physics, these tools allow you to move seemingly immovable obstacles and unlock your full potential. the trick isn’t in having limitless resources but in applying the right efforts in the right places.

in this chapter, you’ll learn about seven levers: attention, time, intuition, constraints, play, failure, and practice. these concepts, when applied, will help you focus on what truly matters, overcome fear and limitations, and take meaningful steps toward a life of growth and creativity.

every day, the average person checks their phone 144 times, their attention fractured by notifications, emails, and endless scrolling. in a world where your focus is constantly under attack, the ability to direct your attention has become a rare and valuable skill. but what if, instead of trying to capture attention, you learned to control and protect it? this is where the power of attention – the first of our seven levers – comes into play.

attention determines how you experience the world and shapes the quality of your life. by training it, you can shift from a reactive existence to an intentional one, choosing where to focus instead of being pulled in every direction. 

studies and historical examples highlight this principle. psychologist mihaly csikszentmihalyi, while imprisoned in an italian work camp during world war ii, immersed himself in the strategy and challenge of chess. through this, he was able to escape the surrounding atrocities, channeling his attention inward and creating a state of intense focus and growth. his ability to direct attention transformed his reality.

to take control of your focus, start with simple practices like meditation or journaling. meditation strengthens awareness by guiding your mind back to a single point of focus, while journaling helps clarify thoughts and intentions. you can also audit your relationships and environment by choosing positive influences and creating clean, inspiring spaces to nurture your goals.

protecting your attention from distractions, both external and internal, is equally important. social media, endless news cycles, and task-switching deplete your focus, but so can constant worry and self-doubt. acknowledge distractions without judgment, and redirect your attention to the present moment.

with practice, attention becomes a superpower, fueling creativity, growth, and a life you truly design.

time isn’t as rigid as it seems. during life-or-death moments or deep flow states, time slows dramatically, stretching milliseconds into what feels like minutes. this elasticity isn’t limited to extreme situations – it happens in daily life, too. hours drag during boring tasks, but they fly when you’re absorbed in meaningful work or spending time with loved ones.

time is the second of our seven levers. by understanding and shaping your experience of it, you can unlock a more intentional and fulfilling life.

reframing your relationship with time begins with rejecting the idea that life is “too short.” treating time as both abundant and precious allows you to explore, fail, and reinvent yourself without the pressure of meeting rigid timelines. life isn’t about racing to predetermined milestones; it’s about following your curiosity and designing your unique path.

that’s why traditional time management doesn’t actually work. packing your schedule with activities only leads to busyness, not productivity. instead, time should be approached with presence and purpose. digital media manager brent underwood transformed his life by purchasing cerro gordo, a long-abandoned mining town in california. after committing to restoring cerro gordo, he redirected his time and energy into a singular, meaningful purpose. this focus replaced the anxiety of "what's next" with a sense of clarity and presence, allowing him to fully engage in the process of rebuilding the town, fostering community, and pursuing long-term goals. by embracing this mission, underwood reshaped his relationship with time, moving from a reactive, overfilled schedule to a life aligned with purpose and expansive vision.

the past is unchangeable, and the future hasn’t arrived – all you truly have is the now. and you can cultivate this awareness through mindfulness or flow states that let you make the most of each moment. start by noticing what’s happening during mundane moments, like waiting in line. instead of “killing time,” use it to anchor yourself in the present. after all, how you spend your time is how you shape your life.

on january 15, 2009, captain chesley “sully” sullenberger made a decision that saved 155 lives. after both engines of his plane failed mid-flight, sully had mere seconds to act. conventional protocols urged a return to the airport, but his intuition said otherwise. drawing on decades of experience, he trusted his gut and executed a water landing on the hudson river – a move that defied the rulebook yet became one of aviation’s greatest success stories. sully’s decision shows us the importance of intuition, the third of our seven levers for success. 

intuition is a subconscious process that draws on past experiences and environmental cues to guide decisions. unlike rational analysis, which is slow and deliberate, intuition works quickly, often bypassing conscious thought. it’s a skill everyone has, though many overlook it, conditioned by society to prioritize logic over gut feelings.

intuition isn’t just for life-or-death scenarios. it can guide your daily life, helping you identify the right path even when external advice feels misaligned. listening to your internal compass can lead to extraordinary outcomes, especially when external pressures suggest otherwise.

to develop your intuition, start by paying attention to how your body responds to decisions. notice feelings of expansion or contraction, which signal alignment or misalignment. create stillness through mindfulness or time in nature to amplify this internal voice. trust your first impressions rather than overthinking.

acting on intuition often requires boldness. playing it safe might seem practical but often leads to missed opportunities and a sense of unfulfilled potential. instead, take small steps toward what feels right, trusting that each decision strengthens your ability to navigate life authentically.

when chris ballew of the ’90s rock band the presidents of the united states of america started breaking guitar strings too often, he didn’t let it stop him. instead, he chose to play with only two or three strings. that limitation solved his practical problem and led to a unique sound that helped his band sell millions of records. this is the power of constraints, the fourth of our seven levers for success.

constraints are limits, either self-imposed or external, that focus your energy and push you to think differently. without them, the brain tends to rely on familiar patterns and repeat what’s already been done. but when you introduce restrictions, you force your mind to explore new possibilities. studies even show that constraints sharpen creativity, improve problem-solving, and make decision-making more efficient.

some constraints are the ones you choose for yourself. these could be as simple as setting a tight deadline, reducing your tools to the bare minimum, or narrowing the scope of your project. take an artist deciding to paint only in shades of blue, or a writer committing to finish a draft every morning before breakfast. by limiting options, they unlock originality.

then there are constraints you can’t control – like a sudden illness, an accident, or external events. for many, these might feel like setbacks, but they can be opportunities to innovate. paralympic athlete oksana masters turned her severe physical challenges into fuel for becoming one of the most decorated athletes of all time.

constraints aren’t barriers – they’re tools. if you want to spark fresh ideas, try setting limits on time, resources, or methods. and if life imposes limits you didn’t ask for, look for the opportunity within them. embracing constraints is one of the fastest ways to break free from playing it safe and unlock your most creative self. so, what limit will you use to spark your next big idea?

in 2018, tennis legend novak djokovic almost walked away from the sport forever. after burnout and injuries dimmed his passion, he found himself on the verge of retirement. but during a family vacation, watching his wife and kids laughing and chasing tennis balls on the court, something shifted. 

by simply observing their joy, djokovic was reminded of the spark that first brought him to the game – not competition, but play. this realization led to his triumphant return, and he went on to win more grand slam titles than any other player in history. his story is a testament to the power of play, our fifth lever for creativity, resilience, and success.

as adults, we’re conditioned to see play as frivolous – a luxury reserved for childhood or rare moments of leisure. but this couldn’t be further from the truth. play is a natural human state, and its benefits extend far beyond relaxation. studies show that play improves brain plasticity, enhances problem-solving, and even strengthens social connections. it’s not just an escape from the seriousness of life; it’s a way to reframe tasks, find joy in the mundane, and approach challenges with fresh energy.

play isn’t always structured. it’s not about the rules or the outcome, but the process – exploring curiosity, finding novelty, and fully engaging in the moment. whether it’s rediscovering a childhood hobby, approaching chores with a sense of fun, or reframing work as a game, play can transform even the most mundane experiences into opportunities for growth and satisfaction.

so start playing today – your future self will thank you. 

in 2016, melissa arnot reid became the first american woman to summit mount everest without supplemental oxygen – on her fifth attempt. her journey was fraught with setbacks, self-doubt, and external criticism. yet it was her relationship with failure that propelled her to success. by reframing failure as a natural part of living, she demonstrated the transformative power of persistence and growth. 

melissa’s story shows us that failure isn’t a flaw; it’s a feature of progress. it’s also the sixth of our seven levers for success.

of course, failure is an inevitable part of life. it ranges from minor missteps, like forgetting an appointment, to significant challenges, such as business losses or personal setbacks. but while failure can feel deeply uncomfortable, it’s also a necessary ingredient for growth. research confirms this: success isn’t about avoiding failure but learning from it. management professor dashun wang’s studies reveal that those who analyze their failures systematically and adjust their approach are far more likely to succeed than those who blindly persist or make random changes.

the stigma around failure often comes from societal and biological pressures. we’re wired to seek belonging, which can make mistakes feel like a threat to our social standing. modern media, with its highlight reels of effortless success, amplifies this fear. but history and science tell a different story. failure is what leads to innovation, resilience, and meaningful progress.

to leverage failure effectively, treat life as a series of experiments. when things go wrong, take ownership of your role in the outcome. analyze what happened, adjust, and try again. ultimately, failure is unavoidable, but the way you handle it shapes your potential. so take a risk today and reframe any misstep as an opportunity to learn. by doing so, you’ll build the confidence and creativity to live a bigger, more fulfilling life.

stephen curry, known as the greatest three-point shooter in basketball history, didn’t rely solely on talent to reach the top. at 6’3”, he lacks the physical advantages typical of nba superstars. yet his relentless, precision-focused practice transformed him into a legend. every shot, drill, and session mirrors real game scenarios, executed with purposeful repetition. curry’s method exemplifies how deliberate, focused practice elevates performance beyond natural ability. and so we arrive to the last of our seven levers for success. 

practice – structured, intentional effort to improve skills – is essential for mastery. it’s not just repetition – it’s about how and why you refine your craft. this is true across disciplines, from sports to art to community outreach. take yasmeen lari, pakistan’s first female architect. her practice involves daily walks through lahore’s historic streets, where she engages with local residents, fostering dialogue and understanding. this deliberate connection sharpens her ability to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques, creating transformative, community-centered architecture.

the world’s top performers share three pillars of practice. first, they master fundamentals, dedicating disproportionate attention to the basics others overlook. second, they embrace the process of practice itself, finding joy in the act of repetition and improvement rather than focusing solely on outcomes. and finally, they align their identity with their goals, adopting habits and mindsets that reflect the person they aspire to become.

research confirms that expertise is less about time spent than it is about deliberate practice. this means setting clear goals, seeking feedback, and targeting weaknesses. success comes from intentional effort, not innate talent.

to harness the power of practice yourself, identify a skill you want to improve. focus on mastering the basics, enjoy the process, and align your identity with your goals. then, take one small, deliberate step today – because greatness is built one purposeful practice session at a time.

the main takeaway of this chapter to never play it safe by chase jarvis is that unlocking a bold, fulfilling life requires leveraging your inherent levers – attention, time, intuition, constraints, play, failure, and practice – intentionally and courageously. by focusing on growth, embracing discomfort, and trusting your inner compass, you can overcome fear and design a life that reflects your true potential. start today by taking one small, meaningful action toward the life you truly want – it’s within your reach.

okay, that’s it for this chapter. we hope you enjoyed it. if you can, please take the time to leave us a rating – we always appreciate your feedback. see you in the next chapter.