Life is full of risks.
Waking up in the morning – risky.
Crossing the street to go to work – risky.
Sitting in a bungalow by the sea – risky (speaking from experience).
Everything we do, everywhere we go involves risk to some level.
Of course, we do our best to limit our exposure to risk by doing any number of things such as wearing seat-belts or watching where we walk, but we can’t rule it out completely.
What’s ironic is that when we are in precarious situations we are often able to avoid incident simply because we are aware of our surroundings that much more. On the other hand, when we are relaxed we let our guard down and accidents happen. At least that’s my experience.
What does risk have to do with success? Everything.
Success is risky. Investing is risky. Marriage is risky. But the alternative to, these are just as risky, if not more so.
I know many people are adverse to risk which is why they choose to either put their money in the bank or ask a financial adviser to invest for them but what they fail to realize is they are both risky.
Just ask David Choe.
Two weeks ago I’d never heard of the guy.
Who is David Choe?
David Choe is a graffiti artist who chose Facebook stock instead of cash when he spray-painted the first Facebook offices back in 2005.
He was offered one of two choices – $60,000 or stock in the company.
He chose the later. A risk somewhat, considering that many new venture firms end up going out of business, but one that has paid off nicely.
Just how nicely? To the tune of half a billion dollars.
Now that’s what I call a good investment.
What about Colonel Sanders?
At age 60 he had to shut down his restaurant business because a new highway was being built where his restaurant was located.
Colonel Sanders decided to retire and lived off of $105 in the form of social security checks.
Not wanting to accept this as his fate, he decided to franchise his chicken at the young age of 65.
Risky, maybe…but thanks to his will and determination we can enjoy KFC all over the world.
What about the Chicago Bulls?
In the ’95-’96 season they decided to add Dennis Rodman to their roster of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Rodman, although a two-time champion himself, was considered a basket-case and many teams refused to sign him.
Jordan himself had been fouled hard countless times by Rodman back when he was with the Detroit Pistons.
But Jordan signed off on the deal because he knew what an asset Rodman and his rebounding skills would be for the team.
They went on to set the single season record, losing a mere 10 games all season and winning the championship that year.
Bringing Rodman on board was a risky move, but Jordan’s decision paid off, and together they went on to three-peat again.
Three big risks, three big payoffs.
Risks can pay off big, they can also end horribly. But remember this, all you need is one big success and all the risks will be worth it.
For the past three years I’ve devoted much of my time to iSucceed.
I wrote the book, worked on the website and am now ready to move on to my latest challenge – seminars and coaching.
Until now I have kept this as a purely free site designed to pass along information and ideas to you, the readers, in hopes of making a difference in your lives.
I’m taking a risk. But what the heck?
Do it, don’t do it. Either way it’s risky, might as well go for it.
Adrian Shepherd