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to believe； the human beingif left to his or her own devicesis
a born risktaker who is 〃naturally〃 programmed to follow the
path which will eventually lead to greatness in his or her own
life。
But； be that as it may； before you embark on this exciting
path of risktaking； you should remember to never lose sight of
the fact that being a risktaker does not mean being
an irresponsible individual。 If you really think it through； you
will realize these two concepts are mutually exclusive。 For
being a risktaker means to act courageously； and to act
courageously is considerably different from acting foolishly
（which is how a person acts when he or she behaves in an
irresponsible manner）。 You might encounter a few situations
where the line separating these two concepts bees
extremely narrow。 Nevertheless； it is absolutely essential you
never cross over that line； inadvertently； or otherwise！ Another
thing which you must be aware of； is that risktaking is always
a relative term。 In other words； behavior which represents a
risk to one person may not necessarily represent a risk to
another person。 Moreover； if the same behavior were carried
out by a third party； one might even be tempted to deem it
irresponsible conduct。 It is clear； therefore； that one must be
able to distinguish among these different concepts with a
significant degree of accuracy。 In order to achieve this； it
bees necessary to go back to one of the basic principles
involved in the process of selfdevelopment。
You must be able to see yourself； with your inner eye；
already in possession of the good you desire。
RiskTaking vs。 Irresponsibility
People who are irresponsible very rarely acplish
anything of importance and quite often they invite real harm
to themselves。 They might occasionally bee involved in
some activities which are successful； but these results occur
so infrequently； and they are so overshadowed by negative
results that they are hardly even worth mentioning。
Consider； for example； the individual who dives off a high
cliff and into a shallow body of water； simply because he has
been 〃dared〃 to do so by a group of his peers。 Although the
person in question is afraid to dive； for some strange reason he
is even more afraid of what the others might say to him； or
even think about him； if he chose not to dive。 Clearly； the
person's fear of diving is perfectly reasonable； in view of the
fact he has had absolutely no training as a diver。 Furthermore；
as a result of his lack of training； when he does contemplate
what might happen if he did dive； he visualizes himself being
very seriously injured。 Obviously； for an individual such as
this to go ahead and dive； would be extremely foolishto say
the leastand the person's actions would have to be considered
irresponsible by anyone's standards。
On the other hand； however； if this same person trained
to bee a professional diver and if he were skilled at taking
all of the various factors into consideration （i。e。 if he were able
to visualize himself successfully going through all of the
necessary motions such as swimming to shore； stepping back
on land unharmed； etc。）； then it would be a totally different
situation。 For although the person would still be taking a
definite risk； no one could accuse him of acting in an
irresponsible manner。
Consider for a moment； the 〃stunt people〃 who work in
the movie industry。 These individuals are constantly
performing dangerous acts。 In fact； that is precisely what they
get paid for。 But do not be deceived！ For the men and women
who perform these stunts are not amateurs by any means。
They are all petent professionals； highly skilled in the
performance of their dangerous trade。 They always check and
then double check every calculation； before they make even
the simplest move。 As a result of these precautions； they are
very rarely ever injured。 No； there cannot be any question
about itstunt people are 〃RiskTakers〃 to be sure； but they
are very rarely irresponsible individuals！
Investments
Now； turn your attention to the person who invests his or
her hardearned savings in a venture about which he or she
knows practically nothing。 Perhaps someone； possibly a
relative whom the person may have held in high esteem；
suggested this investment was a great idea and the investors
stood to earn an extraordinarily high rate of return on it。
Assume； moreover； that despite the person's very grave
misgivings about going into the venture at all； he is also being
strongly motivated by greed； to seek the highest possible rate
of return which can be earned on the money invested。 Finally；
suppose that the tremendous fear of loss notwithstanding； the
person decides to go ahead and makes the investment anyway。
What happens next？
After the investment has been made； most of the person's
waking hours will probably be spent：
1。 worrying about the investment； and
2。 visualizing himself reduced to a
state of abject poverty。
It is abundantly clear； therefore； that this sort of behavior
must be deemed the polar opposite of financial responsibility
and the person involved must be considered imprudent and
irresponsible； rather than a 〃bona fide〃 risktaker。 The usual
oute in a situation such as this is predictable； if not
pleasing。 The individual in question loses the money； not to
mention the former friendship of the individual who originally
suggested the investment。 （The reason is that foolish；
irresponsible people seldom blame themselves for making
such errors。）
On the other hand however； if that person listened
carefully to the suggestion of his friend or relative and then
studied the situation for himself； he could have formed an
opinion which was based on sound knowledge rather than
hearsay； and which was motivated by genuine interest rather
than simple greed。 At that point； the individual could have
gone ahead and invested a sum of money which would not
have placed his total financial situation in jeopardy。 Then； as
he gathered more information based on actual experience； he
could have gradually increased his investment if such action
appeared to be in his best interest。
Clearly； if our hypothetical individual followed this
second course of action； he would still certainly be taking a
risk。 However； one could not justifiably say he was behaving in
the manner of a fool or an irresponsible person。 Moreover；
even in the eventuality that this person made a bad
〃judgement call；〃 and lost his money； that would have been all
he had lost。 For he would still have his friendship and he
would still have his own selfrespect； because he would realize
he had been guilty of nothing more than an error in
judgement。 An added benefit of this second approach is that
the individual would not automatically reject future
investment possibilities； should they arise。
I am sure you are getting my message 〃loud and clear〃：
risktakers are knowledgeable people who study situations
carefully； have confidence in their own abilities and have a
very health