"If We Risk Nothing, We Risk Everything." Geena Davis

I consider myself a very cautious person.

I have been running very large IT infrastructures for over 20 years now. 

In my world the word 'risk' always comes prefixed with 'calculated' and 'mitigated'.

I always aim to stay in the Green Zone:

And yet, while I take risks on computer systems carefully, I take risks on people anytime. There are only 2 zones there:

Instead of working with mitigated risks, I work with motivated people.

Taking risks on people means giving them assignments and new responsibilities they have not done before.

It is not about throwing them in the water, and letting them swim or sink.

We have to jump in the water with them, whether it is boiling hot or freezing cold.

It is the most beautiful risk we can take, and one we must take.

One can not be a leader if one is scared to give others opportunities to grow. Someone took a risk on you every time you advanced. It is your responsibility to send the elevator back down to others.

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I took a risk on hiring someone, and I was wrong.

She turned out to be not what I expected at all.

She did not do well on the interview, but I saw passion, curiosity, positive attitude, quick thinking. So I hired her.

No, she was much much better than what appeared.

She now heads up a big operation.

What I do not understand is that we easily take bets on stocks and horses. Why is it so hard to take risks on people ?

We must treat people better than stocks and horses !

Do you agree ?

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