"There's a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone is trying to optimize their ass-covering."

People often shy away from taking risks because they're more focused on avoiding blame rather than seizing opportunities. This notion—that there's a strong tendency to play it safe—can be seen everywhere, from businesses to personal decisions. It's all about protecting oneself from potential fallout rather than pushing forward with bold ideas.

Historically, this mindset has been prevalent in many organizations. Think about large corporations in the 1980s and 1990s. The corporate culture was all about minimizing errors to protect one’s position rather than innovating. Remember the days of big boardroom meetings where even the smallest mistakes could cost you your job? It was a time when the fear of making a wrong move was greater than the potential rewards of a right one.

A perfect example of this is Kodak. Back in the day, Kodak was a giant in the photography industry. They had the technology for digital cameras way before they became mainstream. But guess what? They held back. They were too worried about cannibalizing their film business—a classic case of ass-covering. They were optimizing for short-term safety rather than long-term innovation. And look where that got them when digital cameras took over.

So, how do you take this wisdom and run with it? First off, embrace the idea of failing fast and learning quickly. Instead of thinking about what could go wrong, think about what could go right. It’s all about shifting your mindset. If you’re in a position to make decisions, give your team the freedom to experiment. Encourage them to take calculated risks and assure them that failure is part of the process.

Let’s put this into a relatable story. Imagine you're the manager of a small marketing team. You’ve been tasked with boosting the company’s online presence. The safe route is to continue with traditional methods—SEO, regular blog posts, and occasional social media updates. But you’ve got this wild idea. What if you create a series of quirky, engaging TikTok videos to showcase your brand? It’s risky. What if people don’t like them? What if it doesn’t resonate?

But you go for it. You pitch the idea to your team with enthusiasm and build a small task force to execute it. You’re transparent about the risks but also about the potential rewards. And guess what? The campaign goes viral. Your brand gets unprecedented exposure, and your online presence skyrockets. Sure, it could have flopped. But the risk paid off, and now your team is more motivated than ever to think outside the box.

In everyday life, taking this to heart means not always choosing the safest path. Maybe it's about pursuing a passion project on weekends even if it might go nowhere. Or maybe it’s speaking up in a meeting with an idea that’s a bit out there. Sure, there’s a chance it won’t pan out, but there’s also a chance it could lead to something incredible.

So, the next time you’re faced with a choice, think about whether you’re just trying to cover your ass. If that’s your primary motivation, it’s worth reconsidering. Take the leap. You might just find it pays off in ways you never imagined.