Nothing ventured, nothing gained... pick 10 risky propositions that are well worth a punt
Starting your own business
It’s a great test of resilience, particularly in this climate. And if it all goes wrong? Well, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, “If you can meet
with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same...”. With the important caveat that you should never hand over the
deeds to your house to either of them.
with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same...”. With the important caveat that you should never hand over the
deeds to your house to either of them.
Getting married
If it doesn’t work out, at least you’ll know. With an unhappy cohabitation there’s that desperate ambiguity that can drag it out for years.
Leaving your job
That dream of owning a vineyard or securing a DJing residency in Miami might not come off, but no pay cheque is worth eight hours of misery daily.
Committing to a religion
Put it this way, if God does exist, it’d be a shame to miss out. Even if you pick the wrong one, any deity will look at you more favourably than an agnostic. At least you played the game.
Dancing
Lighten up. Even if you look like MC Hammer on crack at least you’re enjoying yourself. Which is always better than standing solo at the bar.
Taking up a dangerous sport
Because no sport is as dangerous as sitting around doing nothing: having a sedentary lifestyle is tantamount to BASE jumping for your heart.
Disagreeing with your boss
No, we don’t mean in a ‘maverick cop at loggerheads with the DA’ way. Handled correctly, this can actually be a career-maker. Do it face-to-face and be sure to bookend your difference of opinion with a few positive alternative suggestions, and you might be surprised at how warmly it’s received.
A 30-yard pass
There’s a fine line between an artless hoof and a geometric defence-splitter. Sublime if it comes off, but if it doesn’t, affect a Steven Gerrard-style knitted brow, so they know punting the ball to the opposition keeper isn’t what you meant to do.
A ‘warzone’ holiday
OK, not a really hot one, but to paraphrase Orson Welles in The Third Man, in Switzerland they’ve had 500 years of peace, and their nightclubs are rubbish. Beirut, however, is going off – with bars, clubs, and women who look like Victoria’s Secret Angels with only slightly more clothes on.
Adding that extra 10kg
Short on gains? It’s time to bring on the pain... hold on, we never said to ditch your spotter, too. Nutter.
Words: Mike Shallcross
