There is no better day than today, National Take a Chance Day on April 23, to stick your neck out and go for it! You’ve heard it said — “the biggest risk is not taking one.” Still, taking chances just doesn’t come naturally for many of us. If you fall in the category of risk-averse, today you may find some inspiration to finally take that leap and go for the dreams you’ve been hesitant to pursue. Read on for some ideas on how to take that first step in taking a chance.
History of National Take a Chance Day
It’s not clear who pioneered making today National Take a Chance Day but we can all appreciate their willingness to take a chance with their holiday idea. It seems to have caught on!Every single one of us has grappled with taking a chance on something. Be it starting that new business, asking someone to prom, or simply zip-lining off the platform. We face situations daily that could technically fall into the ‘taking a chance’ category. So why not be prepared for it?Today is an excellent day to understand why we sometimes get in our own way of pursuing our dreams and reaching our full potential. More often than not, the likelihood of failure is not as great as we anticipate it to be. Realizing this and putting failure in the right perspective is the best start to overcoming the fear of taking a chance.Dr. John C. Maxwell wrote, “Sometimes You Win – Sometimes You Learn”. The premise of his book is that our greatest lessons come from our greatest losses. You don’t experience loss if you are constantly playing it safe.So take a few chances in life! Let’s get started today!
National Take a Chance Day timeline
The first people to scale Mt. Everest are Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, a huge risk that paves the way for many thrill-seekers to follow.
The first man to enter space is Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, making a 108-minute orbital flight.
Sylvester Stallone writes the screenplay for “Rocky” in four days — presenting it to producers, he insists on starring as the lead character, which launches his career and rise to Hollywood fame.
Not many publishers buy into J.K. Rowling’s idea of “Harry Potter” but after years of rejection, someone takes a chance on what is now one of the best-selling book series ever.
National Take a Chance Day FAQs
What are the chances I’ll be audited by the IRS?
The general odds that you would be audited by the IRS, considering all filed tax returns, is 1 in 160. According to Forbes magazine, “If you earn less than $200,000 annually and don’t attach Schedules C or E to your tax return, statistically speaking, you have a better chance of being abducted by aliens or dating Taylor Swift than being audited.”
What are my chances of winning the lottery?
For a pick-6 lottery where there are 49 numbers, the odds of you selecting all six numbers in the winning order are 1 in 14,000,000. For the popular multi-state, Mega Millions lottery, your chances of winning are 1 in 176,000,000. So today is likely not the day but you can’t win if you don’t enter!
What are the odds I will live to 80?
If you are currently 65 years old, the odds of you living to 80 are over 3 in 5. Not too bad!
National Take a Chance Day Activities
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Place your bets
A fun way to celebrate National Take a Chance Day is to play the lottery, especially if you are not usually the type to indulge!
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Do something that scares you
Think of something you’ve wanted to do for some time but have feared the outcome. Today, set that fear aside and take the chance — maybe that is to ask someone out, pursue a new career, fly, or speak in public. Remember, FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.
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Don’t ask for permission
Some days you just need to ask for forgiveness instead of permission. If you’ve held onto an awesome idea thinking it would likely get shot down, today’s the day to go for it. Tell them your successful results instead of your plan.
5 Reasons Taking Chances Leads To Success
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It builds confidence
Once you’ve taken a few risks and succeeded, you realize you have what it takes!
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It’s a learning opportunity
Every time we step out of our comfort zone, we are in the space to learn.
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It diminishes fear
When we stare our fears down, they shrink and we are able to push through to success.
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It makes us figure things out
Once we’ve taken the leap, we’re forced to figure things out — resourcefulness and problem-solving often lead to success.
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It makes you stand out
Succeeding at taking calculated risks allows you to stand out from the crowd, which leads to even more success.
Why We Love National Take a Chance Day
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It encourages us to get out of our comfort zone
It wouldn’t be considered taking a risk if it weren’t, well, risky. Risky = out of our comfort zone, and that is where the magic happens — experiencing personal growth and learning that we can stretch our capabilities.
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It builds anticipation
The anticipation of taking the proverbial leap, jumping from the highest diving platform, stepping onto the roller coaster, or walking to the podium gives us that butterflies-in-our-stomach feeling. If you are going to celebrate today by trying one of the things on your bucket list, like skydiving or bungee jumping, you’ll likely feel this unique sensation!
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It elicits a rebellious spirit
Some risks we take are sparked out of a desire to be different, to go against the grain, to take the road less traveled, all of which possess that spirit of rebellion. We all know a rebel who doesn’t mind taking chances. Sometimes we wish we were more like them — today, you can be!
National Take a Chance Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 23 | Sunday |
| 2024 | April 23 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | April 23 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | April 23 | Thursday |
| 2027 | April 23 | Friday |
