#268 Risk Takers Take Risk: Smart Risk Takers Harvest The Wisdom

When we take a risk and things work out well, we have a tendency to trivialize that risk. Don't do that. That risk - it was a big deal. Many wouldn't have the guts.

Some of us have taken big risk and we remember this risk because it was painful when it didn't work out the way that we had planned. My own attempt at law school set me back both financially and emotionally. It took me some time to process that stuff.

We put a lot of energy into these big leaps. When they don't work out, they cost us financially and emotionally. We're changed as a result - they not only wound our pride but they cause us to question our capacity.  We wouldn't wish these experiences on our worst enemy. 

Unless we do the reframe - the wisdom that is possible from these experiences - you can't measure that. 

The people who are able to regroup and  move forward after one of these tragedies are those who have done the right work. The after action review - mining for the gold so to speak. Harvesting the wisdom of a failed attempt. Taking responsibility for your contribution. Understanding that others let you down and that you may not have been as well prepared as you thought you were. You hadn't mitigated the risk because you didn't appreciate the risk.

This review - the lesson that comes out of the test is often not done. People don't have the knowhow or resources to process what just happened. When this happens, you stop dead in your tracks and decide not to take risk again. I know this feeling. It's painful. You don't feel alive. Don't do this.

There's nothing finer than starting from wisdom. Let's get going again.

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 Photo by Julia Koblitz