Embrace Risk: Our Quest for Survival

Risk involves the potential of losing something valuable, a high probability actually. That something can be emotional (such as a relationship), physical (such as your health), or financial (such as your job).

The Oxford Dictionary cites 1655 as the earliest use of the word “risk” in English, derived from the French “risque,” which means danger. But consider other derivatives – the Italian verb “risicare,” means “to dare,” while the dual Chinese characters for “risk” are “danger” paired with “opportunity” – and you get a different glimpse of what risk-taking entails.

Every human innovation has come from risk

From hungry prehistoric hunters chasing down large mammals across the ice to blasting into space with reusable rockets and artificial intelligence — embracing risk has driven humans to remarkable achievements.

Risk has helped “define what it means to be a human being,” according to Peter L. Bernstein, in his 1996 book, Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk. And it has propelled science, communications, finance, innovation, speed and power throughout history.

With a global vision of consumerism as the key to peace, the founder of the Ford Motor Company had his mind set on a big breakthrough with his Model T – which he called his universal car.

At a time when most cars were selling at about $2,000, Ford priced his new car at only $850. “Our policy is to reduce the price, extend the operations, and improve the article,” Ford said. “You will notice the reduction of price comes first.”

Although his competitors were stunned, Ford just kept innovating – and risk-taking. As sales surged, he adapted the idea of the assembly line for automobile production. Then, when faced with a high employee turnover rate because of the monotony of the work, it was time for another risk.

Ford cut his workers’ hours from nine to eight and doubled their minimum wage. Employee absenteeism became a thing of the past, and applicants lined up for any open positions. Sales soared, production increased, and what did Ford do? He reduced the price of the Model T again.

“The payment of five dollars a day for an eight-hour day was one of the finest cost-cutting moves we ever made,” said a satisfied Ford. By 1923, more than half of the cars the on the road were model T’s, and Ford was a millionaire.

One of her earliest risks was publishing her controversial first book, The Female Woman, in 1973 when she was just 23 years old. It took the publishing world by storm and was translated into 11 languages.  

Even with this initial success, she had 36 rejections for her second book, After Reason. This only empowered her to embrace her setbacks and continue persevering to get it published. Now Huffington has written 15 books, including her 2016 publication, The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time, an offshoot of her Thrive Global health and wellness startup.