Linda Kay's Blog

The title says it all!  Safety, calculated risks, informed, exit strategies are all good advice. Thanks to Gary Woltal for giving us some pointers in the crazy, mixed-up world.  

So often I tell people in life you must risk to grow. Risk is a normal part of life whether learning to walk as a baby, choosing a significant other, starting a new career, expanding a business, or even climbing a tree or a mountain. It is all good but

Going Out On A Limb With Safety Requires Calculated Risk

I shouldn't have to tell you that learning to drive a motorcycle a helmet is a good idea, or that if you decide to smoke there are inherent risks later on for your health, or too much sun exposure is not good for your skin.

But how do we play it smart, play it safe with all this "risky business"?

First off why play it safe? Cause with risk adds the possibility of it all goes wrong. Who wants that? You are going even 30 mph on your motorcycle WITHOUT a helmet and go flying off. NOT GOOD for less rather than more injury to your body.

You want success with risk. A little baby learning to walk falling down on soft carpet time after time of trying. Learning to ride a bicycle with "training wheels" for awhile. Hiking the mountain with your back pack with all those "be prepared" scouting goodies inside not to get lost or frost bit along the way. You get the idea.

So in LIFE here are 5 steps to do a calculated risk with you going out on a limb:

• Look at the upside reward of doing your risk the right way and that reward is greater than or equal to the downside risk of the cost of it going bad
• Have mapped out an exit strategy or know a Plan B or a Fallback Plan or Escape route if things go south. Like a safety harness of the window washers on top of a building. Don't worry about the cat, they have nine lives (ha ha)
• Make an informed decision with much research up front BEFORE you make the decision to go forward
• Something quite backward from other areas of your life, make your decision with your HEAD and not emotion. This probably applies in all areas except the selection of your significant other which more should be made with listening to your heart. In risk decisions, gut feels should serve as a reinforcement to what your head says, but don't ignore your head as the first step
• Finally, look at OTHERS trying what you are doing. How many failed? How many succeeded and why? For example if you are opening a new restaurant, is a chain better than a Mom and Pop one in your area? Own it? A franchise? How long have they been in business? What locations were superb? Those answers are out there, and they don't lie

Don't ever be afraid to go out on a limb in life in meeting people socially, playing the lotto, doing something you've always dreamed of, meeting that special someone. But all life with growth is risk. Just be smart about it. It is not hard with thinking about "calculated risks."