To win without risk is to triumph without glory. – Pierre Corneille
This is how I learned to ride while minimizing the risk.
What does that mean?
This quote is interesting, as it seems to imply different things, depending on what you value. If you value glory, then you will most likely look to seek out risk, while still winning. If you value safety over glory, you will most likely look to avoid risk while you are winning.
We all want to win, but at what risk? Do we care more about triumphing in glory, or in the quiet victory? What you are chasing will determine what this quote means to you, and how you might apply it to your life. What do you want out of life?
What you focus on will help shape the path you take. At each decision point, are you going for more glory, or more safety? How much are you willing to risk the chance at winning in order to gain that extra amount of glory? Life can be so complicated, right?
Why is knowing yourself important?
Do you know why you read this post? Do you know why you are at the computer at this point in time? Are you pursuing a victory at this point, or just having an enjoyable time at the computer? What are your plans for later today, tomorrow, or next week?
What are you hoping to get out of this post? Are you looking for a way to add more risk without changing the certainty of victory, or are you looking for a way to reduce the risks even more? Or are you seeking new tools and ideas to be used later towards one end or the other?
Where in your life do you take risks for the sake of the glory? Did you jump your bicycle a lot as a kid? Jump off swing sets or climb trees for the glory? Or did you prefer to win with much less risk, even if it meant less chance for a shot at glory?
Where can I apply this in my life?
Odds are you are a mix of both the risk taker and risk avoider. Everyone I spoke with eventually agreed with me that there are portions of their life where they are seriously risk adverse, even the dare devils. Yet in other portions of their lives, the whole point of the activity was to defy the odds, and take the risk, even those who tried to avoid risk.
I’m not here to tell you how to run your life. There are things that I do as a normal course of action which scare others half to death. In other things, I won’t go there because the risk is greater than I wish to take on, no matter what the glory. But then, I know myself, and have been asking myself “Why?” for quite some time.
For me, the point is to know what risks (and the consequences thereof) you are willing to accept. It is also about knowing how much you crave the glory. But most importantly, it is about how things change depending what portion of your life you are thinking about right now.
Do you go to track days to get in some hot laps, getting a taste of the glory of racing, without the expense and risk of really racing? Or are you a weekend warrior, a serious pro-am, who goes all-out on the weekends, and spends what little free time they have repairing what was broken in the last race?
Or do you go to the track days where you race against the clock, and work on honing your skills with an emphasis on minimizing the risk, while maximizing the results? Both are great outlets, but one gets the glory, while the other leaves you with a warm feeling about your competence.
Once you know and understand what your risk tolerance is in the different areas of your life, you can better understand some of those odd impulses you feel from time to time. Ever had an urge to try something you’ve never done before because of the glory which victory would bring?
This post is an introspective piece, and it’s up to you to try to figure out why you do some things and not others. When is a risk not worth the glory? When is glory simply unimportant? What is the group of people you wish to shower you with that glory for your victory?
We all have our reasons, even if we don’t know what they might be. We all want to win, but are we out for glory or safety? What are we willing to trade away to get to a ‘reasonable’ level of risk? To find out, we need to look inside ourselves and ask questions.
For what are you waiting? Are you examining yourself and assessing your risk tolerance and your drive for glory?
From: Twitter, @tonyrobbins
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/pierrecorn110284.html
Photo by KYNGPAO
