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Flip Wilson's Story
Flip Wilson； the famous edian； is best known for his
ability to make people laugh。 But here is what he said in a
somewhat more serious vein； about his own experience with
the risktaking process。 〃I fell down and got up； I fell down and
got up。 For sixteen years I did practically nothing else but fall
down and get up。〃
Even so； do you think Flip Wilson ever thought of himself
as a failure？ You bet your life he didn't。 For if he had； he
would never have found the courage to try 〃just one more
time；〃 and you and I would probably have never even heard
his name！
You should understand； at this juncture； that as soon as
you seriously set a big goal for yourself； you are going to
bee involved in a process of risktaking which will add a
dimension of excitement； indeed a whole new flavor to the
course of your life。 But at the same time you should be aware
that as you start engaging in more risktaking behavior； the
majority of people will be trying to avoid it 〃at all costs。〃 In
other words； instead of taking meaningful risks； most people
will continue to ensure themselves in a series of empty
promises。 These promises； in turn； will ultimately
have the effect of reducing their existence to the level of a
meaningless charade。 To understand how this phenomenon
operates； just consider the people whom you know who have
promised when buying their new home。 〃Why did they
promise？〃 you askbecause they were afraid that they
wouldn't be able to make the mortgage payments on that
〃dream home〃 they truly wanted to live in。
Then turn your mind to the veritable armies of
individuals； who remain in positions at work which they find
dull and unrewarding。 Why do they stay？ simply because
they fear they would not be able to 〃cope with〃 the position
which they would truly love to 〃tackle。〃 The irony is； of course；
if these people would simply put themselves 〃out on a limb〃by
going after that better job or； that dream home； or whatever
else it is they truly desirethey would then demand a
mensurately better performance from themselves。 As a
result； they would soon discover that the risk they had taken
was actually paying big dividends in all aspects of their life。
The Young Millionaires
Several years ago； I read an excellent book on the subject
of risktaking。 It was entitled The Young Millionaires； and it
contained the truelife stories of eighteen individuals； each of
whom had earned in excess of one million dollars。 In fact；
some of these people had actually earned many millions of
dollars； over and above the one million dollar mark； during the
course of their highly successful careers。 Throughout the
book； the author made many interesting observations about
the 〃law of financial success；〃 but the most important one was
the one which he kept ing back to： namely； although these
individuals came from a variety of different backgrounds and
although each had earned their money in a different way； they
all shared one thing in mon。
〃What was that one thing？〃 you ask。 Simply put； it was
thiseven though everything they owned was riding on the
oute of virtually every major business decision which they
made； none of them considered themselves to be taking
〃risks。〃 The reason they didn't； he went on to explain； was
because they were living their lives 〃as though it were
impossible to fail！〃 （Note； however； that in the eyes of most
people； there would be no question that these individuals were
taking tremendous risksand on an almost daily basis）。
FighterPilot Study
In a similar vein； research done many years ago which
investigated the lives of fighter pilots in World War II；
determined conclusively that； contrary to what you might
think； many of the pilots who 〃played it safe〃 during the war；
were among the first to be killed in bat。 By way of
contrast； the study also found that； practically without
exception； not only were the surviving aces individuals who
refused to 〃play it safe；〃 but they were the greatest risktakers
throughout the war。 Indeed； as one has the opportunity to
observe the performance of individuals from all walks of life； it
soon bees evident that whoever 〃plays it safe〃 in life； dies；
and dies relatively young。 For although many of these
individuals remain 〃clinically〃 alive for numerous years； when
their hearts finally cease beating it is a mere formality；
because the truth is； they have never really lived！
By now you have probably said to yourself； 〃All of this
sounds eminently reasonable； but why should it be；？〃 or 〃Why
are so many of us destined to go through our entire lives in
this condition of selfimposed misery； simply because we are
unable； or unwilling； to take meaningful risks？〃 Well； it seems
to me if we will only cast our minds back to the formative
years of our own lives； we will soon recognize where this
reluctance to engage in risktaking behavior has its source。
Once we have arrived at that point； I believe we will have e
a long way in our attempt to bat； and ultimately
neutralize； this insidious problem。 I exhort you to pay very
strict attention to the information which will now be setout
before you。
When you were a young childin fact； even as far back as
the time when you were an infantyour parents desperately
wanted to see you succeed。 As a consequence of this wish；
they were terrified by the prospect you might somehow fall
short of their expectations of you。 This was perfectly natural；
in light of the fact they loved you very dearly。 Unfortunately；
however； it motivated them to attempt to shelter you from
every potential harm which might e up in your life。 For
example； when you first started to walk； they were right by
your side and as soon as you even looked like you were going
to stumble； they quickly grabbed onto you； so you would not
fall and hurt yourself。
Similarly； when you engaged in your first fist fight with
〃the little terror next door；〃 your parents were there to soothe
the bruised feelings。 They probably tried to console you by
saying 〃You were right dear； and the other wrong the other
child was a bully。〃 Next； they probably said something like； 〃In
the future； dear； be very careful and try to stay away from kids
like that。〃 Moreover； if your upbringing was typical of that of
most of us； your first bicycle probably brought with it repeated
warnings such as： 〃be careful；〃 〃don't fall；〃 〃watch out；〃 and so
on。 In this manner； you were slowly but surely 〃programmed〃
to make every move in your life with a brilliant caution light
burning brightly on the screen of your impressionable young
mind。
You must gain the awareness； therefore； that regardless
of what anyone may have told you to the contrary； none of us
was ever 〃born〃 with a fear of taking risks。 As I have clearly
indicated above； the fear of taking risks is something which we
learned； only after we entered this wonderful world of ours。 In
fact； contrary to what many people have mistakenly been led
to believe； the human beingif left to his or her own devicesis
a bor