Find the full Amazon blog series here: charleskunken.com/season2
Risk is another word for uncertainty. The more you know about something the less ‘risky’ it becomes.
In the mathematical sense risk is statistical, like rolling a six, or drawing an ace.
In careers we confuse fear for risk. We tell ourselves that things like speaking up in a meeting or taking on new responsibilities are ‘risky’ so we don’t do them. But in fact we are hiding behind fear.
Saying that something has risk implies that we are weighing the estimated likelihood of success. But you have to ask yourself - are you really analyzing the probability of success or are you avoiding these types of activities because your scared. Do you have a fear of failure? Or maybe a fear of judgement?
Regret Minimization
When Jeff Bezos started Amazon, he explained years later that he used a regret minimization framework – at the end of his life what would he regret more: trying and failing at starting an internet company or not trying at all?
When you’re in your golden years, god willing, surrounded by your grand kids the only thing that will matter is going to be the story you can tell them.
The people who you are intimidated by today or worried about their judgement won’t be anywhere in the picture, so don’t let them control your decisions now.
Don’t Put It On A Pedestal
You need to keep two competing thoughts in mind.
1. Your job is important. It is, it provides for you and your family. It gives you purpose, but also…
2. It’s not important at all.
Quick question – who was the 14th president of the United States of America?
Yea, I have no idea either.
See, think about it, this guy became PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and you’ve never heard of him. With that in mind, is what happens at work really that high stakes?
You get one shot on this rock. Don’t hold back and don’t let yourself off the hook by saying you’re just ‘risk averse’. Don’t hide behind fear by calling it something else.
The biggest risk in your career is playing it safe.
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*Btw, it’s Franklin Pierce (1853-1857). I had to look it up.
Have some thoughts? Feel free to drop a comment or hit me up: charlie@charleskunken.com
Other Posts In The Hollywood Heist Series
A good input metric is one that enables us to monitor and change our behavior. It should have the following characteristics: (1) Focus – it measures one thing; (2) Ownership –a specific person is accountable for its performance and accuracy of the measurement; (3) Benchmark – there is a target which informs whether or not performance is satisfactory.