I’m walking my dog Freedom on the path in the woods as we do everyday. I look up and a woman, about 40 yards in front of me, is throwing rocks at something. I ask if she is okay as I walk closer and ask what she is doing. She starts yelling at me incomprehensibly. This is a new experience for me and while not concerned, I am curious. As I get closer she is yelling something and from out of nowhere a guy on a bike doing 30mph fly’s by me from behind and she starts screaming at him, “are you crazy, I told you it was a Copperhead snake.”
This was clearly a case of three people in one place at the same time who had 3 different levels of risk tolerance.
The lady wasn’t going anywhere near this foot and a half baby copperhead.
The bike guy was flying too fast to make any changes or care.
What would you do?
I was willing to get closer, ask questions, make some assessments carefully and…
“you know if it bites your dog he will die!” she yelled.
“I know, thank you, “ I told her.
She continued to tell me what to do and not to go anywhere or to get close. I had to tell her I was going to do what I needed to do (keep walking past the snake after it made it’s way off the path on the other side of my dog) because she was now bossing me. As you might imagine, she decided to follow along with a new human shield…
Everyone has their own risk tolerance and often “Life Math” considering the different risks has to be done in an instant. Getting clear on what line you are willing to walk, what risks you are willing to take but even more so, getting in tune with your body so you “just know” what to do when it happens. Quick calculations about how to proceed, even if it is to go slowly.
It is important to talk about this subject because people need to consider what their risk tolerance levels are when it comes to personal, family, team and organization. When we think about these issues before they happen, we are better prepared to make decisions about risk with confidence.
Consider what your risk tolerance is in each area of your life and you will be more clear when questionable “snakes” show up in your environment.
Much love and all the best!!
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