Everyone has a dream but only a few turn them into reality. Many people have goals but only a few have ever achieved them. The missing link? Taking risks! It has been proven repeatedly that risk takers have more chances of success in life because this trait is what distinguishes the doers from the dreamers.

Mediocrity and the Majority

The saying “play it safe” or “better safe than sorry” has obviously been misunderstood and has been used as a scapegoat for average people. The majority of people feel safe when governed by rules and find comfort in the predictable. Their ideas are imposed by social norms and their actions are dependent on the opinions of others more importantly they never venture outside boundaries.

Risk-takers are a Different Breed

Risk Takers are those who are not afraid to “boldly go where no one has gone before.”, they have a different view of failure, and are not afraid to live beyond the boundaries. They live in the realm of possibility and greatness and find no time to care about what other people say.

Risk takers are not afraid to do what needs to be done, they pay forward and plant the seeds that later on reap the benefits. A lot of times they fail but they see failure as a gift that propels them forward.

Successful people understand that risks must be made in order to make a dream a reality. It is one thing to have a vision. It is a different matter altogether to be a visionary.

People who achieve greatness always take risks- calculated risks. They think things through and evaluate their options. They research and gain the knowledge they need to make an informed decision. They weigh the pros and cons.

Risk Takers vs the Dreamers

While imagination takes you places and you dream waiting for the right moment to take action, the clock continues to tick and the doer takes action and harvests the benefits.

This is the big difference between the doers and the dreamers. The doers do not wait for the right time, do not limit themselves, and are willing to put in their energy when every other person is hesitant.

The Profile of a Risk Taker

1. Optimistic

Risk takers are optimistic regardless of the results. They are bold, curious, and adventurous. Their mantra: “What have I got to lose?”

2. Bold

People who take risks are courageous, confident, and not afraid of failure. When every other person withdraws, they are willing to stay.

3. Hungry for Knowledge

Knowledge is vital to success. Risk takers don’t back out because they lack information and experience. They know that if they invest their time and energy in learning they will get the knowledge they need to navigate future steps and sail through difficult waters.

4. They Pursue Success

Success won’t be handed to you on a silver platter. You have to chase and hunt for it. Risk takers intentionally look for opportunities that may never have been found if they had waited.

5. Their Definition of Failure

For most people failure is the end. For Risk takers, failure is defined as a temporary roadblock, an obstacle to overcome, an opportunity that points in another direction, or even better- a blessing in disguise. So failure for them is not a hindrance.

6. Higher Standards

All those small wins from previous risks taken strengthen the risk taker’s resolve. For every success comes the will to be above average, it emboldens oneself to tread into newer, undefined territories.

7. Experience is their Friend

The more they fail, the smarter they get. Experience is the best teacher. They learn about their strengths and weaknesses. They make better decisions and choose risks that are calculated in their favor.

8. The Minority

Risk takers are a minority because most people love playing it safe. But this is beneficial in two ways: first, there’s less competition, and second, it’s easier to stand out in the crowd.

9. No Regrets 

Taking risks eliminates the possibility of looking back and asking, “what if?” Even if you fail, you’ll have way more experience and knowledge, which can help you further on in life and can also lead you to further success in other areas.

How to Start Taking Risks

Some people think that risk-taking behavior is something predetermined through genetics or upbringing and to some extent you’re right.

Neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart said that our risk aversion is linked to how we’ve benefited from risks in the past; if you take a risk and it pays off well, we physiologically respond by favoring risks in the future. The opposite is true if a risk doesn’t pay off.

So if you want to increase and develop your risk tolerance you can start by taking small risks. This raises your chances of success and will reinforce the benefits of risk-taking. It will also help you change your perspective and aversion to risks.

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How to be a Successful Risk Taker

• Understand That Failure Is Going to Happen a Lot
• Don’t be afraid to be Authentic
• Only take risks when your clearheaded
• Emotional decisions are not a good idea
• Understand what you’re risking
• Take calculated risks
• Study the pros and cons

Why you Should Take Risks

Many of life’s greatest achievements require going outside of your comfort zone. There is no guarantee in life and taking risks doesn’t mean success all the time, and that’s OK! Putting yourself out there can lead you to so many roads, that you never even imagined, even failures turn out to be blessings in disguise. It has been proven time and again that some of life’s most rewarding experiences come from taking risks.

“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” — Stephen McCranie

Here’s another great read: 10 REASONS WHY SUCCESS DEPENDS ON CONSISTENT ACTION