I've come across some statements that surround the subject of risk. One of such statements implied that life itself is risky. It goes like “living is risky.” I try to understand why someone would say something like that. Their explanation for such a statement reflected that being alive, doing what the living do, hustling and making effort towards success is all a risk. That will be a discussion for another time. I'm yet to find a ground on it.
Essentially, it's important to understand that risk is very much involved in life. Many try to avoid it, we know this. That is why there is a thing as risk management; which is solely employed in the cases of finance, investments, projects and so on. But every day we live and we tend to engage in an endeavour, we take risks, somehow.
Haven't we heard of investments, businesses, projects embarked upon with a sufficient level of success expected－all the calculations were done and the risk rendered to an insignificant level and yet, somehow it failed? It didn't succeed or yield the expected and forecasted result. Now, that's something with risk in life that I've come to realise.
We can't take it away that risk is always employed somehow in our endeavours, but we can't also be nonchalant about it. The reason for some of the successes we see, even amidst the endangering level of risk involved in that venture was that risk was addressed. So, we shouldn't go into a thing without making a proper risk analysis.
Maybe I should have considered more of that analysis and assessment before I ventured into taking on one risky adventure. It wasn't about life and death but it did hurt me. As you might guess, it was around finance. This was some years back. My friends and I decided to put our hands into an online platform that would earn us some money and help our financial life.
It started and went well, but not until then we couldn't understand what was going on. It seemed reliable because the person who introduced us seemed to know much about it personally. But I guess his personal knowledge and connection to it shocked him too at the end. Now, that was the reason I played the risk game since I knew someone who had a close-up knowledge and “connection” to it.
The painful part, most painful actually was that the unexpected; but actually expected in a way, happened when I decided to put more force, effort and resources into it. Undeniably, I did enjoy some dividends of my investment but it still affected me. The worst part was that the money later put into it was meant for some future purpose. Why not multiply it rather than keep it? I thought. And then that was the outcome.
It will be important to mention that I've known of online Ponzi schemes but this one seemed different, adding to the fact that I had someone who had a connection to it. But risks will always be risks. That one did hit me. Taking risks wasn't really a new thing to me. I've had friends who are risk-takers. But we try to measure it deeply now before taking risks, since life is full of risks itself.
I did manage to recover and became wiser while doing so. That should be the lesson with every risky attempt that tends to get the better of us. When such a risky venture comes again, one shouldn't fall for it, not easily at least. Nevertheless, the risky adventures won't stop. I've learnt that great results and achievements come from those who are willing to take risks. With the right approach though. Sometimes, playing the risk is the way to the result.
Images are mine.
