The original quote is attributed to televangelist Robert H. Schuller and brings to mind the pop-culture meme: “What would [name] do?” where “name” is commonly Jesus, Captain Kirk, Chuck Norris, or any number of other iconic figures. But underlying the pop-culture sensibility is a serious concept: “What WOULD I attempt if I actually knew I could not fail?” It is a question worth asking, and a conundrum worth passing along. 

I purchased the paperweight shown above at an art museum’s gift shop and intend to buy three more, one for each of my children as a gift upon their graduation from college. I have kept my paperweight on my desk for years and often ponder its ponderous question. It gets to the heart of finding your life’s desire without the encumbrances of perceived risk, fear or reality. It begs the antithethical question: “What haven’t I attempted because I knew I might fail?”

With only one go ’round on this big blue marble, I would rather have tried and failed, than not-tried and not-failed. But that’s just me. How about you? Please leave a comment below with your answer:

A. Would rather try (and possibly fail)
B. Would rather not-try (and avoid failure)