Why Safety Isn’t Living

Risk vs Safety

For years, I worked in a large, conservative company. It was a great business in many ways, but its appetite for risk was close to zero.

The reason was history. Risks had been taken in the past — sometimes without people even realising they were risks. Things went wrong. Customers were disappointed. Profits were hit. The lesson that stuck was simple: avoid risk.

At the time, I understood it. Who wants to repeat mistakes? But looking back, I can see the cost. When everything has to be “certain,” something else gets lost. Energy. Creativity. The spark that makes people and companies truly alive.

Because risk is part of life. Without it, life becomes flat. Dull. Predictable.

I see the same pattern in people. We convince ourselves safety is the sensible choice. Stay home. Keep things stable. Avoid anything that could go wrong.

And yes, safety has its place. But how interesting is it, really?

Sitting on the sofa watching TV is safe. Crossing an ocean in a small boat is considered risky. But here’s the thing: is it really?

The probability of something going wrong on an ocean crossing is often far lower than most people imagine — certainly lower than the risks we accept every time we get in a car. What makes the difference is the size of the consequence. Out on the ocean, there is no outside help. You live with what you have. Every decision counts.

That sharpens the mind. And for me, that’s when I feel most alive.

The point isn’t to remove risk. You can’t. And you shouldn’t.

The point is preparation. Train well. Learn. Carry the spares. Build the experience. Reduce the chances of something going wrong, reduce the severity if it does — but don’t try to eliminate risk entirely. Because in eliminating risk, you eliminate growth. You eliminate joy.

Looking back, that’s what frustrated me in the corporate world. And it’s what excites me now in life and in adventure.

When we choose the “safe” path, we often choose a life that feels smaller. When we step into risk — with eyes open and preparation in place — that’s where creativity, innovation, and transformation live.

It’s true in business.

It’s true at sea.

It’s true in life.