For most people, ANY amount of risk is too much. It eats away at their peace of mind, wondering if *insert tiny risk here* will sink the whole ship: Make them bankrupt, homeless, partnerless, or dead. Reducing risk is the most sensible thing for most people to do.

Not all risk is the same, though. I’d posit that there are only two kinds of risk: Calculated risk, and everything else. Starting a business requires a near-insane amount of risk tolerance that most people just can’t stomach. But many do it anyway because they make peace via a calculated bet — that the best outcome will be worth the inherent likelihood of failure. This kind of risk is the fuel that makes (or breaks) businesses in the world today.

But, then there’s everything else.

• Running red lights

• Ocean swimming at dusk

• Picking up wild animals

• Clicking links in emails

• Ignoring red flags in people

Don’t mistake the calculated (good?) kind of risk for the normal, random, stupid kind simply because it’s all around you. Most people will not understand a calculated risk because they remember the last time *RISK* turned sour, and they don’t want that again. Allow yourself a proper chance at taking the right risks by removing the pointless ones.