What Does Risk Mean To You?

This week’s message is a prompt to think about something as it relates to your life; Risk. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “risk”? There seems to be a split between those that immediately think reckless or scary and those that think brave or courageous. The reality might be somewhere in between, but it illustrates the point that risk is relative to each individual.

I had the opportunity to explore this topic with my fellow advisory board members at Colorado Thought Leader’s Forum this week. There were some that viewed themselves as risk averse and those that felt much more comfortable taking risks. Some acknowledged that as they have gotten older and feel the weight of more responsibility, they have reduced the amount of risk they are willing to take on, and others actually have become more comfortable taking risks over time. Some shared that business risk had taken the place of adrenaline-fueled risk that they enjoyed at a younger age. Some talked about emotional risk and the fear of asking someone out on a date, or speaking to groups, or who they chose to marry. Some talked about financial risk and leaving high paying corporate jobs to start their own company, and some talked about making the decision to uproot their lives and move to Colorado. The responses were all very personal and it was awesome to learn something new about everyone through the answers they shared.

A common thread through the whole conversation though, was confidence. Confidence is what paved the way for risks to be taken, but how that confidence was derived varied widely. Confidence derived through ignorance and not knowing how big of a risk it actually was. Confidence derived through calculations that assessed the probability of success. Confidence derived through the excitement of the potential opportunity and upside, and confidence derived through knowing one’s own abilities. It was also determined that if you know the outcome, then it’s not a risk. My friend Johnny Hyde said; “Risk is about analyzing where you are, the gap between where you want to go, and assessing if that gap is leap-able.”

I consider myself somewhere in the middle when it comes to risk. I need to be encouraged once in a while to take risks (I thank my wife, April, for that most times). But I’ve also pushed myself into the unknown many times, and most of the times I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone, it has been very rewarding. I’m not suggesting that we all need to go skydiving, but rather I believe pondering the topic makes us stronger leaders. So today I encourage you to take some time answering a few questions. What does risk mean to you? What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your life? Would you have done anything differently? What is one risk you didn’t take that now you wish you would have?

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” -William Faulkner