By Victor Ochieng’
The veracity of the matter is that everything in life is risky. If you want to avoid all risks, then do not try to do any of the following: Somehow, do not ride in automobiles; they cause 20% of all fatal accidents. Do not travel by air, rail, or water; 16% of all accidents result from these activities. Do not strut in streets; 15% of all accidents occur there. Do not stay at home; 17% of all accidents happen there.
Ostensibly, to laugh is to risk appearing doltish. Weeping is risking appearing sentimental. Reaching out to a person is risking involvement. Exposure of feelings is risking rejection. Loving is risking missing love in return. Placing your dreams before the crowd is risking ridicule. Surging forward in the face of overwhelming odds is risking dismal failure.
In the whole scheme of things, we have to take risks because the greatest hazard in life is risking nothing. People that decide to risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing and become nothing. Such people may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they do not learn, feel, change, grow, or love. Chained by their certitudes, they remain jailbirds and slaves. For only those who take risks are free.
In life, there are no safe places or risk-free activities. Helen Keller, author, speaker, and advocate for people with special needs asserted, “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
Again, everything in life brings risk. It is true that you risk failure if you try something bold because you might miss it. Then, you also risk failure if you stand still and fear to try anything new. G.K. Chesterton wrote, “I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.”
The less you venture out, the greater your risk failure. Ironically, the more you risk failure — and actually fail — the greater your chances of success. Monikers of pioneers and daring adventurers ring throughout history — Columbus, Lewis, Armstrong, et cetera. The fuel that fanned and fired conquest of new territories was the ability to be bold in taking risks. Pioneer aviator Charles Lindbergh accentuated that point, “What kind of man would live where there is no daring? I do not believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished if we do not take any chances at all.”
Occasionally, you should do things that scare you to the core. Things that make cold chills run down your spine. Risk generates in us the probability to access success. For us to achieve any good goal, we must take some risks. Indeed, I love the story of the old farmer, ragged and barefooted, who sat on the steps of his tumbledown shack, chewing a stem of green grass. A passerby stopped and asked if he might have a drink of water. Wishing to be sociable, the stranger engaged the farmer in some candid conversation.
Shiv Khera in his heroic book titled You Can Win shares this engrossing story. Someone asked the farmer if he had planted wheat for the season. The farmer replied, “No. I was afraid it would not rain.” Then, the man asked, “Did you plant corn?” The farmer said, “No. I was afraid of insects eating one corn. Then, the man asked, “What did you plant?” The farmer said, “Nothing. I played it safe.”
Interestingly, plenty of people live by the philosophy of this farmer, and never risk upsetting the apple cart. They would prefer to ‘play it safe.’ These people will never know the thrill of victory, because to clinch victory, one must risk failure. C.T. Studd made a great statement about risk-taking, “Are gamblers for gold so many and gamblers for God so few?” This is the same great missionary who, when cautioned against returning to Africa because of the possibility of his martyrdom, replied, “Praise God, I have just been looking for a chance to die for Jesus.”
Finally, how could a man of that ilk fail and fall flat? He had every reason to win, and nothing to lose. He was possessed with the attitude (mindset plus belief) that Apostle Paul of Tarsus had when he penned in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Therefore, try to dream, dare, do. Do something that looks daring. Start that project. Start that business. You can achieve some things if in case you purpose to jump from the cliff expecting to develop wings on the way. Somewhat, you learn the ropes on the way.
The writer rolls out talks and training services. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
