g’day
as a kid i was scared of rollercoasters. and heights.
i never broke a bone. still don’t ride motorbikes.
in summary: i’ve never thought of myself as much of a risk taker.
so when i was asked this week ‘where does your risk tolerance come from?’
it confused me for a sec.
because when people look at my path - quitting good jobs, starting companies, angel investments - they see risk.
so i sat with that question for a while.
and i think i found my answer.
for background: i don’t come from money. i went to public schools. my first overseas trip was at 18, and one i saved for myself.
no ‘safety net’ per se.
but a critical belief i’ve long held is:
i’ve always believed i could get a job if push came to shove.
not some dream gig. just a job.
pulling beers. labouring on a site. slinging phones at harvey norman.
nothing glamorous - but enough.
enough to put food on the table. keep the lights on. pay rent.
because work is always needed somewhere.
and it’s my belief that it’s ok to go backwards in service of a longer-term play.
that mindset makes me more confident. more free.
and, funnily enough… less likely to need the safety net at all.
as you get older, and gather more skills and wealth, you are less likely to need this safety net. but it’s critical to know it’s there. especially when you’re starting from zero.
so here’s the takeaway:
if you want to get comfortable taking risks, stop focusing on the upside.
start by defining your floor.
what would you do if everything collapsed?
what’s the worst job you’d take to stay afloat?
could you sleep on that floor, for a while?
if you can say yes to that - you are more dangerous than you realise.
charlie
ps – do you know any video editors experienced with social media? i’m looking for someone to help with instagram, tiktok, etc. if you know someone, please let me know
