Assume the 'fetal position' or embrace the unavoidable
Life is risqué
My upbringing was influenced by two contrasting forces.
There was my Dad, whose approach to life was “risk-aversion” at all costs.
His intention was noble: to shield me from potential harm, like the Robot protecting Will Robinson in Lost in Space.
On the other hand, my Mom, was the wild one. She navigated life with an optimistic blend of persistence and daring.
So, I grew to become a blend of cautious optimism and blind bravery.
Risk-Taking Gene Mutation
Among my three siblings, I’ve been crowned the title of “most crazy.”
A propensity for risk-taking seems to be woven into the fabric of my being.
And while the risks I've taken have sometimes led to losses, the act of stepping into the unknown has rewarded me in ways I never anticipated (like traveling to the “bush” of Botswana or fixing up dilapidated houses).
Passive or Active Risk
Whether through action or inaction, you “risk” your poker ante every day.
Risk is unavoidable.
Whether it’s asking someone out on a date, deciding to marry someone, starting a family, launching a business or investing your money.
Whether you like it or not you’re already in the ‘arena’--make the most of it. Might as well embrace the risk that encircles you.
Teddy Roosevelt captured this powerfully:
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...who spends himself in a worthy cause...so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
I've made decisions in my life that my Dad deemed reckless. Some have brought me success, others have led to setbacks.
I've lost money, been injured, and embarrassed myself. But, these experiences taught me that without risk, there's no room for serendipity.
Assume The ‘Fetal’ Position
Playing it safe may protect you from potential pitfalls, but it can also rob you of life's greatest rewards.
As Steve Jobs aptly put it:
"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."
Make the most of your daily poker-ante and embrace risk. Better to live 30 full, risk-embracing years than to spend 120 years avoiding the chance of failure.
