The New Definition of Risk (And Why Playing It Safe Might Be Killing Your Future)
Risk Isn’t What It Used to Be
Before we begin…
My colleague Jennifer Crosswhite—author, editor, book coach—has created a helpful guide called You Need a Book! to help you increase your impact with a book.
If you’ve ever thought about writing a book but found the idea overwhelming, this ebook will help you get started. Click here to grab the guide.
Let me ask you something:
When did “playing it safe” become the most dangerous move?
We’re in a different economy now. The kind of world where…
Stable jobs disappear overnight.
Raises get eaten by inflation.
Entire industries get upended by AI—before lunch.
And yet, most people are still clinging to the idea that staying quiet, waiting it out, and not making waves is the smart move.
It’s not.
That’s not safety. That’s a trap.
Risk Isn’t What It Used to Be
Risk used to mean starting something.
Quitting your job. Launching a business.
Putting yourself out there.
Now? Risk is not starting anything.
Risk is relying on one paycheck.
Risk is betting your future on a system that’s already breaking.
Waiting it out isn’t conservative—it’s reckless.
Offense Wins in This Economy
The people who are thriving right now aren’t the ones hoarding safety—they’re the ones building leverage:
Learning new skills (especially AI)
Starting newsletters, freelancing, consulting
Packaging what they know and putting it to work
You don’t need a viral moment.
You don’t need to quit your job.
You just need to start playing offense.
The new safety? It’s optionality.
It’s having something of your own. Something no one can take from you.
Where You Start Doesn’t Matter. That You Start Does.
This isn’t about going “all in.”
It’s about going forward.
Pick a lane.
Learn something.
Share something.
Sell something.
One small move at a time.
If you’re waiting for things to calm down—you’re going to be waiting a long time.
Now is the time to build.
Final Thought: Be Courageous
You don’t need more credentials.
You need more courage.
And if the old rules don’t work anymore, maybe that’s a blessing.
It means you’re free to build your own.
Let’s get to work.
P.S. I’m not sure how long Jennifer’s guide will be available. Grab it now before it goes away.
P.P.S. Miss last week’s article? Make sure to check it out. It involves your next $1,000 decision.