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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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You Are What You Risk summary
Michele Wucker
The New Art and Science of Navigating an Uncertain World
24 mins
Brief summary
In "You Are What You Risk," Michele Wucker explores how embracing risk can lead to innovation, growth, and success. Along the way, she offers insights and advice for individuals and organizations looking to take calculated risks in pursuit of their goals.
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You Are What You Risk
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
People’s relationships with risk are unique and complex.
What does risk mean to you? And how does it make you act?
Imagine three friends who have the chance to go skydiving. The first, a daredevil, says yes right away. The second isn’t so sure. So she does some research and discovers there’s a higher chance of being struck by lightning than of dying from a skydive. OK, then – she signs up too.
The third friend? He’s terrified. But he’s even more scared of his two friends thinking he’s a coward. So he reluctantly agrees.
In the end, they all go skydiving. But they’ve each taken a different kind of risk.
The key message here is: People’s relationships with risk are unique and complex.
The first skydiving friend in our example is someone with naturally low risk sensitivity. She just doesn’t think skydiving is dangerous, so taking part is easy. Friend Two is sensitive enough to research the danger. But the data gives her confidence.
Which friend displays the highest risk tolerance? It’s actually Number Three – the scaredy-cat. He’s hugely sensitive to the dangers of skydiving, but decides to do it anyway. Simply put: he takes the biggest risk.
People can make surprising and even illogical decisions when it comes to taking risks. The author often thinks about her grandmother, who carefully planned for winter by freezing summer vegetables and, inexplicably, large amounts of butter. But despite being so overcautious about food, she refused to go to the doctor when she got sick. Why risk so little regarding food, and so much regarding health?
Well, it mostly boils down to how bad we are at seeing rhinos – gray ones, that is.
A gray rhino is a huge, obvious threat you can see coming from a mile away. For example, on a global scale, think about the precarious state of the financial system. Or the climate crisis. We all have personal gray rhinos too – like doomed relationships or slowly mounting health problems.
The thing about gray rhinos is, we’re surprisingly bad at acknowledging they’re charging straight at us.
Everyone could benefit from better acknowledging risks – including the huge, gray, rampaging ones they don’t want to deal with. What we should all be aiming for is our own Goldilocks-style sweet spot, where we take risks that are neither too great nor too small.
That’s not to say that everyone is Goldilocks, though. Some people are Mama Bear; they like cooler porridge. Some are Papa Bear and like it hotter. At the end of the day, people’s approach to risk simply varies depending on who they are.
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What is You Are What You Risk about?
You Are What You Risk (2021) explains how your relationship with risk defines your life in a unique way. Countless factors influence both how you perceive risk and how you respond to it.
You Are What You Risk Review
You Are What You Risk (2021) by Michele Wucker is a thought-provoking exploration of the concept of risk and its impact on our lives. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With compelling real-life stories and insightful analysis, it offers a fresh perspective on risk-taking that challenges conventional thinking.
- Combining research, personal anecdotes, and interviews with experts, it provides a deep understanding of how risk shapes our decisions and shapes our futures.
- Through its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking questions, this book navigates the complex world of risk in a way that is both accessible and intellectually stimulating.
Who should read You Are What You Risk?
- People searching for new ways to make decisions
- Economists looking to better understand risk
- Thrill-seekers and scaredy-cats wondering why they are how they are
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You Are What You Risk FAQs
What is the main message of You Are What You Risk?
The main message of You Are What You Risk is understanding and embracing risk to make better decisions and navigate uncertain situations.
How long does it take to read You Are What You Risk?
The reading time for You Are What You Risk varies, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is You Are What You Risk a good book? Is it worth reading?
You Are What You Risk is worth reading, offering insights on embracing risks and making smarter choices. A valuable read in uncertain times.
Who is the author of You Are What You Risk?
The author of You Are What You Risk is Michele Wucker.
What to read after You Are What You Risk?
If you're wondering what to read next after You Are What You Risk, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Risk by Dan Gardner
- On the Edge by Nate Silver
- Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
- Confidence by Ethan Nichtern
- 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin
- The Upside of Your Dark Side by Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener
- Science of Evil by Simon Baron-Cohen
- A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
- Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop