It is a well-known fact that taking risks can result in two things: success of failure. Some people say that taking risks brings to new very important findings, for example, in sports or science; others argue that taking risks can cause failure or even death, for example in finance or everyday life.
Some say that taking risks is inherent in people, and other people claim it contradicts instinct of self-preservation. To my mind, taking risks is a bit of all mentioned above, but there is no doubt that for each person taking risks is not the same.
I think that taking risks is an important and inevitable part of our lives; we all take risks, major or minor. I agree that if people want to succeed and achieve more they have to risk, at least, from time to time, or as Schwalbe puts it – to try something new (Schwalbe). I assume that all the athletes take risks to establish their records; they are likely to “40-30-30 Rule”, where 30 is the degree of the risk (Schwalbe).
This risk rule really works in sport and science, since all the experiments are a kind of risk; scientists take risks and get their results. To my mind, Schwalbe is right pointing out that the most of people regret on what they haven’t done rather on that they did. So in terms of getting rid of one’s regret a person needs to follow own instincts.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to admit that sometimes taking risk may cause very negative results; therefore it is necessary to be reasonable. I am impressed with the example provided by Ropeik about the woman who was afraid to fly because of terrorist (Dreifus). This woman decided to drive several states, and she died in a car crash.
In this case the woman should have think about the degree and possibility of risk in cars and planes. Regarding the fact that planes are the safest means of travelling, and the fact that possibility of terroristic act repeating wasn’t big, this woman should have gone by plane. This proves that there are some cases where thoughtful reasoning is needed.
Here I should stress that thoughtfulness is necessary in medicine where people’s lives are concerned. Doctors should carefully consider all the consequences and then make decisions. Doctors are not the only people who should be concerned about health; people should mind their health themselves. Every risk here should be thought over thousands of times to make no harm to oneself or somebody else.
At this point I would like to return to my statement that each person has his/her notion of risk. Someone may think that it is very risky to ride a bicycle, someone may be afraid to take a risk and visit another country or even unfamiliar place. I am sure that a person who goes in for extreme sports, may be very conservative in food and will never “take a risk” to taste some exotic dainty (here I don’t some religious or health restrictions, of course).
To my mind these humble risks can be taken, and there is something that can inspire people to take such kind a risk, this is an example of other person. For instance, in case with food, a person can see that other people taste that, so he/she can also try it; this person tries and, of course, starts trying to find those stupid reasons preventing from such pleasant experience. After this, I am sure, the person will continue taking such kind of risks.
As for me, I can’t say that I risk all the time. I can’t even provide any example of my big risk; I suppose my risks are still in future. I know that I am not afraid to take risk; at least I haven’t met some difficult situation when I was to risk.
Here I’d like to mention my friend, who is afraid of speaking. I can’t say she doesn’t talk at all, but she is not a public speaker, and she will never speak on something she is not sure about, and if she is asked something she doesn’t know thoroughly she just keeps mum. My friend is afraid of making mistake.
To my mind this is not right, for everyone knows if we don’t make mistakes will never learn. In this connection I would like to cite Carrol admitting that “failure is a good thing” (Carroll). Though, I wouldn’t agree that “success is boring” (Carroll). I’d rather admit that people should try to improve even successful things. A good example of this is Carrol’s daughter who seeks for the further development (Carroll).
To my mind, taking risks is essential for the whole humanity. It is impossible to imagine where we could be now if our ancestors didn’t risk to tame fire. All these great and little risks lead people to new discoveries, new opportunities. I think people should take risks and start something new; they can’t just sit and talk about achievement of others, they should take a chance and risk, leaving one’s fear behind, without being afraid of failure, because failure will only show the right way to go and succeed.
Works Cited
Carroll, J. “Failure Is A Good Thing.” NPR. 2006.
Dreifus, C. “A Conversation With/David Ropeik; The Fear Factor Meets Its Match.” The New York Times. 2002.
Schwalbe, M. The 40-30-30 Rule: Why Risk Is Worth It. The 99 percent Web.