Navigating Risk

art of encore living personal development tga Nov 02, 2022

If you're a difference-maker (and if you're reading this, you probably are or aspire to be), you're a risk-taker.

Difference-makers seek to make things better, and making things better requires coming up with creative, new solutions to persistent old problems.

For the difference-maker, navigating uncertainty is simply the gig.

AND navigating uncertainty is risky.

The thing about risk is that it has upside and downside

And because we're programmed to pursue more vs. closer (hello dopamine), we often blindly chase the upside without considering the downside.

Here's the thing, the downside of most risks is more significant than the upside.

What to do?

Well, you don't want to avoid risk altogether.

AND you probably should be selective about what risks you avoid and which you embrace.

But most of all, when you decide to take on a risk with a promising upside, you MUST hedge against the downside.

How?

The simplest way is to avoid over-investing in a risky proposition.

In other words, never risk more time, attention, money, or effort than you can afford to lose.

Small steps (or bets) into possibility pay large dividends over time.

And helps you avoid catastrophe (AKA "blowing up") when things don't break your way.

Where are the opportunities in developing and delivering the difference only you can make?

What are the risks involved?

Can you clearly identify the upside?

How are you "raising the floor" on the downside?


Scott Perry, Encore Life Coach at The Art of Encore Living

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