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January 22, 2003

Risks and Leverage

I was recently asked a thought-provoking question: "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

On one hand, this can be an inspiring question. I've found many problem-solving and strategic-thinking methodologies use a similar tool to help people and groups get past a perceived obstacle (for example, Who Moved My Cheese suggests that when you are afraid of the future, you think about what you would do if you weren't afraid, and then do it). What would I attempt to do if I knew I could not fail?

There's another side to this question. There's something about the fact that I could fail that makes it worth attempting. If I knew that I couldn't fail, it actually makes the attempt less interesting.

Though it's an interesting and maybe useful mental exercise to imagine away the obstacles that hold me back, the real world invariably seems to package the most interesting things with higher risk. Maybe it's a personality thing, but I like a healthy mix of higher-risk, higher-stakes projects along with the normal mix of things I do. The risks, as well as the results of these projects create their own energy and excitement that make them rewarding to be involved with.

I've also found that many of these projects provide huge benefits for the effort they require. Many do require a lot of effort, but the leverage effect amplifies the benefits from those efforts, when the project succeeds.

Part of what motivates me is my ability to create, find and participate in these higher-risk, high-leverage, high-return projects. This is one of the things I enjoy about UEN. The combination of a large education/research network and an affiliation with University of Utah and other universities in the state, amongst other things, makes for plenty of opportunities to turn a (relatively) small amount of effort and resources into an amazing result that benefits UEN stakeholders and usually many more people in the surrounding communities.

Posted by pete at January 22, 2003 10:50 PM