No Risk, No Reward Too: We Need More Risk Takers

Mike Solana of Founders Fund is probably one of the best social and cultural critics of the media and silicon valley. He takes to task and calls out the stupidity & silliness you see in the world. But he is also one of the most insightful observers and rightfully celebrates the amazing accomplishments. 

He wrote back in June 23rd: 

"The solo climb, the Everest trek, the remote expedition — these are deadly, unnecessary risks. Why would anyone take them? Tabling the more obviously gruesome question of why we shouldn’t celebrate their deaths, why should we celebrate their accomplishments? 

Here, I think we often miss the point. When it comes to the recreational adventurer, it’s true, few of these narrow victories matter. But that doesn’t make them meaningless for all the risk that they demand. The risk, itself, is the point. 

We celebrate the risk taken for glory, for wealth, for curiosity, because watching YouTube videos of the Titanic from the safety of our covers is not the thing that makes us great. The quality that drives so small a subset of the global population to extreme risk is the quality responsible for many, if not most of the most important things we have ever built or discovered. That’s what makes us great. We are nothing without risk."

I ponder this often. Humans absolutely suck at risk management and shy away from risk. It’s wired into us. But everything great that happens in our lives comes from doing “risky” things. Asking a girl on a date. Starting or investing in a startup. Moving to a new country or city. Deciding on who we marry. It’s what makes our lives awesome or awful. 

So the point: take more, smart risks. The world needs us to do so if we want to move forward as a society and civilization.