Some people are simply risk junkies. Personally, I love risk taking and feel stymied and trapped without some type of risk daily. That risk can manifest itself in any various number of ways, however, it normally doesn't apply to my career goals. I've always seemed to shy away from taking risks which directly affect my career. This hasn't exactly worked out in my favor. We are wired to believe that it is more costly to miss miss the signs of a threat rather than an opportunity. Apparently, we're wired the wrong way for modern careers.
Overestimating risks and avoiding losses is a fine strategy for surviving dangerous environments, but not for thriving in a modern career. When risks aren’t life-threatening, you have to overcome your brain’s disposition to avoid survivable risks. In fact, if you are not actively seeking and creating opportunities—which always contain an element of risk—you are actually exposing yourself to more serious risks in the long term
Fortune favors the bold. We are not prehistoric man who faces threats to our existence daily. Rather, taking on risks which further your career is far more vital to your future than shying away from them.
A low risk career is “stable” in the way a country like Syria or Saudi Arabia is stable. Dictatorships do not allow much day-to-day volatility, but when there is a fire, it can quickly turn into major chaos or even revolution. By contrast, Italy has been dealing with constant political turmoil for centuries, and has experience in responding to unexpected crises. As Joshua Ramo explains, Italy is resilient to dangerous chaos because it has absorbed frequent attacks, like “small, controlled burns in a forest, clearing away just enough underbrush to make [them] invulnerable to a larger fire.”
These are five kinds of risks you should take in your career:
1. Jobs that pay less in cash but offer tremendous learning opportunities
2. Part-time gigs that are less “stable” than full-time jobs
3. Working with someone with little relevant experience but high learning clock speed
4. An opportunity where the risks are highly publicized
5. Overseas adventures
Volatile and challenging careers actually build the skills necessary to move yourself along and give you the ability to respond and grow. The riskiness that you perceive is part of that career isn't one you should be scared of, rather, one you embrace as a learning experience. You are doing yourself a disservice if you aren't constantly pushing yourself outsize your comfort zone.
What do you guys think? Would you trade your 'riskier' careers for something more stable? Do you get more nervous and timid when it comes to your careers than other things in life?
This is something that I've learned over and over again through sports. I just hope I can get a job that challenges me to step outside my comfort zone.
I think that 5 point list is right on the money, especially the first point and last point. Skills + international adventures = $$$.
Actually, I've found this typically just means a lot of air miles. Its not totally formulaic, but I find:
Connections to people with $$$ + parents with $$$ = $$$
On topic, risk in your career is only good if it works out or you can sell it.
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