Risk aversion

peanutI saw this sign at a restaurant in the Turkey Creek area of West Knoxville (Tennessee). This is a totally commercial zone, with nary a neighborhood (and therefore, nary a neighborhood child) for miles.

I’m sure the sign comes from the head office, wherever that may be. Probably every restaurant in the chain carries this sign. I understand this. Sometimes you have to cover your assets.

But what happens when minimizing risk becomes your lifestyle? Hey, it takes guts to meet someone new, quit a job, try to ice skate, invite someone to church, enter a 5K, ask for help, or to put your art out there for the general public to see.  Life means little without risk.

From Creating Passionate UsersThis graphic comes from an article called Death by Risk Aversion at Creating Passionate Users. It is meant to describe how products or services offered by businesses get watered down to mediocrity in the name of risk aversion. In my experience, it describes some of our more inane efforts at church to design a program that pleases everyone and avoid as much criticism as possible. (Unfortunately and ironically, Creating Passionate Users, once the best thing on the net, shut down last year after the author received death threats).

Taking risks is so important that we do each other a great service by extending grace for failure.  Your kids need to know that failing at something is much better than not trying at all.  Your church leaders need to know that risking comfort is much preferred over playing it safe.  You need to know it too.

January 22, 2008 · Filed Under Culture

Comments

2 Responses to “Risk aversion”

  1. john on January 27th, 2008 3:03 pm

    AMEN to that!! Now, if only everyone would take risks, and stop being scared! Until fear is removed, we can’t progress what so ever!! By the way, great sermon today! Unfortunately, I think the majority will fail, but hopefully a small few can make a huge difference! The problem comes with being a “tight knit family”. How can you be honest with people, when they don’t exchange the favor! I know a lot of people who put it all on the line, just to be gossiped about, all the while those gossipers are preaching to everyone else to be more honest, when they themselves are hiding something! I know where people are coming from, when they’re unwilling to let their guard down, for fear of being burnt! It’s a very real problem we have, and not just us, but that’s all that matter’s… If we can’t fix ourselves, there’s no way we can even dream about fixing our town, county, state, much less the world! What is the answer??? I think 90% of it, is boldness!

  2. rod on March 25th, 2008 5:48 am

    There are so many reasons why leaders refuse to lead, but the result is always the same — disappointment, frustration, rebellion on the part of some, and apathy for the rest. We all need a big shot of life infused in us, because without it (or Him) we end up at the end full of regrets and wishes. With that being said, let me say a few things about what you have planned over the next few weeks…

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