Expert Feature: How A New Perspective On Risk Can Change Your Life And Your Business
How you view risk – your aversion to it or willingness to face it, will determine what you achieve in life.
Today I want to start by telling you a story about a guy named Francis Ouimet, who is thought of as America’s First Golf Hero and one of the most important figures in the history of golf.
Who was he?
Well, first off, he’s the guy that the movie “The Greatest Game Ever Played” is based on.
His Humble Beginnings
Francis Ouimet began his life as a poor kid living in Brookline, MA in 1900.
He lived across from a golf course, which was the toughest golf course in New England.
Just looking at him and seeing the way his family lived, there was no way you’d ever think he’d accomplish anything in golf.
Why do I say that? Because you have to understand something about golf from back then. It was much different than it is these days.
Here’s how one person described it… “There were very few players in America, no public courses, and the game was confined mostly to the wealthy.”
This poor kid didn’t have a chance of making it in the golf world back then, so instead he decided to become a caddy and watch the rich guys play golf.
And that’s when he heard about a guy named Harry Vardon – a guy who, at that time, had won the British Open three times.
But the thing that attracted Francis to him wasn’t the fact that he had won three times.
It was the fact that Harry Vardon had come from a poor family just like he did.
Because of Vardon, Francis began to imagine what it’d be like to play golf.
He got a club from the owner of the course and started practicing by candle light at night in his house.
He had to practice at night, because when his father heard that he wanted to play golf, he told Francis the idea was stupid. And he told Francis that he’d never be accepted into that world.
One day his mother snuck him in to go see Harry Vardon, when Harry came to play a game near their town.
His First Small Risks
After that, Francis began to take his first small risks. He kept caddying, but he also kept practicing.
One day, with the help of the course owner and a man he caddied for, he was allowed to play in the National Amateur Championship, because they saw how good Francis was.
He suddenly had the chance to play, but he had a problem. It cost $50 to register to play.
But again, Francis took a risk. He decided to ask his Dad for the money.
His Dad thought that it was a stupid risk. But Francis told his Dad, “But if I win, great things could happen!”
He took a risk and made a deal with his Dad: If he lost, he’d give up his dream and quit playing golf.
He played the game that day and towards the very end of the game he LOST!
He felt horrible, but he kept his word to his father and gave up golf.
He stopped playing and wasn’t look back. Instead he began working at a local store.
The Unbelievable Twist
And that’s when something amazing happened.
It was something that would not only change his life, but it would change the history of golf.
What was it? He was offered the chance to play as an amateur against all the pros in the U.S. Open.
That meant, that if he played, he’d play against Harry Vardon – his hero!
What would YOU do after experiencing an embarrassing loss?
He decided to stick his neck out and take another risk. He decided to try to qualify.
And this is the amazing coincidence.
He found out that the U.S. Open was going to be played at the course he’d grown up near his whole life!
He began practicing for the event with the course owner.
And he started to believe that maybe – just maybe – he had a chance.
But then the unexpected happened.
He lost his caddy just before the Open began. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find any professional caddy to caddy for him.
He finally had to settle for a 10 year old kid named Eddie, who was a brother of a friend.
What are the odds that an amateur, former caddy, with a 10 year old as his caddy, could win the U.S. Open!?!
I won’t go into the rest of the details, but Francis ultimately won!
How could this possibly happen? There’s only one way. It took RISK!
- Risk to begin playing in the first place
- Risk to play in the National Amateur Championship
- Risk try again
- Risk to use Eddie as his caddie
- Risk to face pros
- Risk to play against his hero
And the risk paid off. His decision changed the face of golf!
Listen to how one website put it…
“There were very few players in America, virtually no public courses, and the game was confined mostly to the wealthy. Ouimet’s victory changed all of that. His victory and unlikely background combined to create an inspirational moment. Within ten years the number of players tripled, many new courses were built, including public courses.
Then it says…
“Another great moment in golf occurred just before the start of the playoff, when Ouimet turned down the offer of an experienced TCC member who wished to caddie for him, and Francis decided to stay with ten year-old Eddie Lowery.“
“The photo of Ouimet and Lowery marching together down the fairway is one of the most famous in golf history, and symbolizes Ouimet’s great victory and kindness to a young person.
“Ouimet is one of the most honored players in history. He has been named to every Golf Hall of Fame, and has a room named after him in the USGA (United States Golf Association) Museum. He is also one of only three golfers to have a U.S. Commemorative stamp issued in his name.”
No Risk, No Reward
Without risk, there’s no reward!
Because of that fact, we need to have a new view of risk.
Most people think of risk as something to run FROM.
Instead of thinking of it as something we run from (in a feeble attempt to stay “safe”), we need to think of risk as something we should run TO
It’s the only door that leads to our full potential!
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying we should live our life “out of control”, thinking all risk is good.
All risk is not equal.
Two Kinds of Risk
I’d say there are two kinds of risks: Careless Risks vs. Careful Risks.
Most people take careless risks all time. They’re the risks that don’t give any real lasting benefits.
These are things people do that they DON’T think are risky.
1. Careless Risks
People take careless risks in what they eat, with their habits (like smoking or excessive drinking), how they drive (speeding or texting while driving), and in many other ways.
These are all risks that are fatal. They could at the least ruin your life – if not kill you.
The truth is that all of us probably have at least one thing in our lives that is a careless, continual risk we take.
Why do we keep doing it? Because we don’t think it’s a real risk. We don’t think the consequences will happen to us!
Careless risks aren’t the kind of risks I’m saying we should run to.
2. Careful Risks
The kind of risks I’m talking about taking are what I’d call “careful risks”.
I’m seems crazy, but most people try to stay away from these kind of risks.
Careful risks are the things that could give us huge, real, and lasting benefits. These are things people don’t do, because they think they are risky.
These are the things that if you did them…
You could be embarrassed, you could fail, or look dumb, but – if it works out, then the payoff is HUGE!
The consequences of these kind of risks aren’t fatal, but for some funny reason they’re scarier to people.
These are the kind of risks that we need to run to. These are the ones that will cause you to grow and achieve more.
This is the kind of risk that Francis Quimet took.
The Ultimate Question
We need to change our perspective about risk.
Remember:
- All risk is not the same.
- Careful risks are not a danger that we should run from.
- They’re an opportunity to go to the next level in life (or business).
Let me leave you with this important question…
What careful risk is it time for you to stop running from and turn around and begin charging towards?
A Small Favor
Can you do me a favor?
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