You are hardwired for “loss aversion.” In other words, when facing a decision like hiring a new sales person, or buying a stock, or investing in a new training program, or making that difficult shot over the water to a green surrounded by sand, your tendency is to over value what could go wrong. Your brain defaults in the direction of avoiding a loss.
This is the same hardwiring that leads us to stay too long in a dead end job, hold on too tight when standing over a two footer, and stop dreaming once we’ve reached “maturity.”
Loss aversion tells you to play it safe, let somebody else dream and do.
Loss aversion tells you to settle. Loss aversion tells you NOT to bother. Loss aversion is why many companies today are attempting to “cut” their way back to profitability. Study history and you will see that there has never been a system survive by simply cutting.
NEVER.
Yet today so many seem to die trying…
Loss aversion is faulty thinking, but, for most of us, it’s thinking that goes unchecked, unnoticed, and unencumbered.
This week, lean into this tendency.
Take some small risks. Have a little fun with it. Go on, what’s it really gonna hurt?
Remember, when you’re 90 you’re going to wish you had:
Reflected more.
Invested more time in the relationships that matter.
AND, taken more risks…
Exceptional performers in work and life always take more risks than us normal folks. They put in the hours and hours of practice, no doubt. And when the moment comes, they pick out an aggressive target and go for it.
Go on, what’s it really gonna hurt…
BUILT TO LEAD 