How to Optimize Your Risk-Taking

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There is an art form to rolling the dice in order to increase the odds of a positive outcome.

Is it time to quit the job you hate, buy the house, start your business, propose to your dream partner, ask that elusive love interest out on a date? They are all scary goals. When you take risks, the objective is to optimize the outcome, minimizing loss or "failure". Growth and change offer no guarantees. How do you minimize risk and optimize the reward/success? Well, the short version is… you gonna have to take step out of your comfort zone. That can be scary. Below are 5 pillars to help you navigate that fear and optimize the outcome.

1. INTUITION: The seemingly lucky people in life connect with, and trust their intuition in conjunction with the element of planning and analyses. The greats just seem to have a knack of knowing when and how to risk and expand their horizons. Intuition is not a blind act built purely on belief, it is your truest sense of knowledge. Intuition and instinct are not synonymous. Instinct is immediate and purely driven by the reptilian brain. Intuition includes your moral compass (values), gut, experience and the subconscious mind combining with your heart to tell you what is best or what is a negative vibe or energy.

Your gut or heart simply know. Deep down inside you get a sense if the risk is the right one and at the right time. Modern research is showing that the heart sends more signals to the brain than the other way around. On a holistic level, the heart is connected to the source of universal knowledge. Police detectives refer to this as a hunch… something they not only trust, but obey. Design a more promising future by connecting to your intuition. Leverage its power. Be aware you have access to it. Meditation the practice of using it will help ou develop it.

2. REASONING/EVALUATION: Compare and weigh out your best/worst case scenarios. Clearly define and understand the situation and the consequences. Are you observing and translating the signs? Ask such questions as:

  • How influential will the value of that risk be and how will the result impact your life. What can you live with in terms of loss both on an emotional and financial level? Take the Blackjack player who takes all aspects into consideration before deciding to stick with what he's been dealt, or risk his hand by requesting an additional card. What are the odds that the next card is what is desired? 

  • How much money/humiliation is at stake and can your afford to lose what’s at stake?

  • What do the percentages suggest? If the odds are in your favor, take the risk… consult step 1 to increase the odds.

3. ALIENATION: In terms of pure business, have a pulse on what the market or environment is ready to embrace. If the change or risk you are contemplating is too drastic or dramatic, ask yourself if you will be supported in failure. Take into account how much conviction and resources you have up your sleeve to counter-act loss of friends/romantic interest or entrepreneurial venture. Are you equipped to navigate the storm of rejection, indifference or alienation?

4. ADAPTATION: Transformation is a progressive journey that demands strategic change and adaptation. The willingness to fail along that journey is a must... there is always a period of incubation and a learning curve to navigate during decision-making or when contemplating change or transformation. Risk and growth require patient nurturing while the new is sculpted. Most times the loss hurts. Can you live with that pain, learn, get up and go again? If so, definitely take the risk. Fingers crossed. Your institution has got this.

5. OPTIMIZATION:  The risk factor is ultimately based on what you can live with or what you are willing to die for? That is the boundary that confines or liberates you in regards to how far you are willing to elevate the ceiling and stretch your mind to the desired outcome. Put all these elements into place and enjoy the rewards of your risks and transformation.

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THINK LIKE AN ARTIST: leveraging your creativity to grow your wings

Sincerely.

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How can you know who to trust?

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There are predominantly two schools of thought when it comes to trusting people. Some are of the mindset that trust must be earned. Others trust as their default setting until proven wrong. Do you know which philosophy you subscribe to?

One thing most would agree with, is that years of trust can be destroyed within a second or a singular act. It’s really hard to rebuild once broken.

There are no guarantees when it comes to trust.

If you’ve been betrayed before when sharing too much or trusting somebody with something that is very personal, including your heart, read on. If you’ve not been betrayed read on so that you don’t get blind-sided.

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.”
— George MacDonald

Revealing too much can set you up for sabotage, hurt or humiliation. Vulnerability can, nonetheless, invite and initiate deep and meaningful relationships. It’s a delicate dance.

In reality, we only reveal too much if it’s with the wrong person. The right person will honor and protect your secrets, your insecurities and your wounds. The right person will protect your heart. The wrong person will use them as ammo to take advantage of you or make you a victim of their selfishness and lack of integrity. So how can you tell who to trust and how much to trust them?

Being aware of the following will help:

1. INTUITION: Obey your intuition. If you feel as much as the slightest inclination that you don’t trust a person, you’re probably right.

2. LISTEN: Really listen to what they say. People eventually tell you who they are if you listen carefully and long enough.

3. LISTEN: This is not a typo, but intentionally repeated with a slight difference. Pay as much attention to what wasn’t said. Read between the lines. There’s a lot of hidden info within the empty space and silence.

4. INTEGRITY: Pay close attention to their actions, in particular, if and when they are repeated. We all have habits and default settings that get revealed when under stress or pressure. Example; if they’re rude to the waiter (or to you for that fact) because they had a bad day, it could be a one-off situation. We all have those days where we lose our composure OR are put into a situation where are integrity is challenged or compromised; we may be cornered and feel the need to lie (in its multiple forms). However, if this bad behavior, lying or deceit repeats, chances are they have a character and honesty issue. Though we can sometimes understand a lie, it’s actually never okay, just like there is no validation to being rude and disrespectful even when the other person might have deserved it. (I’m preaching though I’m not a saint and have messed up in this department before FYI). Humans are always true to their character, in particular under pressure and when they can no longer maintain the facade.

5. APOLOGY: Can they even say sorry when they’ve lied, have been rude, disrespectful, disloyal, manipulative, abusive, inconsiderate and insensitive? If the answer is yes, that’s good news, HOWEVER! If they can’t own what they “f*&^ up in, they can’t be trusted. Note: There are 2 types of transgressions. 1: somebody independently owns up to a transgression because their conscience compels them to. 2: they fess up because they got busted. I personally judge this situation and this person differently.

There must be changed behavior if they lied or messed up. This is a great barometer to gauge earned trust levels. Sometimes people know they messed up but are too proud (or ashamed) to admit it. However, they always know if they’ve been honest or not; even the narcissist knows. If their conscience is in a good and trustworthy place (never with a narcissist), the bad behavior will slowly eat them alive and they will come clean. If they don’t ever achieve this, then don’t ever express vulnerability or trust them again… unless, they demonstrate enough effort over an extended period of time (which you will determine for yourself), with enough evidence to suggest they have changed. If this never happens, cut your losses and find a better friend, lover or boss, because your current one can’t and shouldn’t be trusted.

6. INTUITION: Same as 1. Sometimes your intuition will scream in desperation to save you that the person is not to be trusted; when meeting the cliche slimy and cheesy used car salesman, for example. You know you're gonna get taken-advantage of. Other times, the “not to be trusted vibes” are more subtle. Either way, intuition is always active and accessible. It’s something that can be developed, beginning with the awareness that you have it.

7. HISTORY/PAST: There is nothing worse than condemning somebody for their past behaviors. People do learn, grow, mature and change. However, somebody’s past shouldn’t be completely overlooked. It is potentially a red flag. Snakes shed their skins but remain snakes. If they are a narcissist, they will not change, so never be fooled by the great Oscar-award-winning acting skills. Then again, what was once an ugly lava can turn into the most beautiful butterfly. If you observe all other steps mentioned in this blog, then whether or not their past behaviors are a reason to trust of distrust them will be revealed.

IN CLOSING: Ultimately, the biggest trust red flag that you should never ignore is if and when somebody you trust violates somebody else’s trust. This means you witnessed them either lying to another person, cheating on another person, or stealing from another person… OR revealed another person’s secret to you. The odds they will do the same to you are so high that it’s best to simply not trust them! Walk away with your character and or wallet in tact.

If you have additional tips or lessons to add, if you agree or disagree, please share the value of your thoughts in the comments below.

Thank you,

Vital Germaine

President of ENGAGE Teams 360 / 6-time author / keynote speaker / mindset coach

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