In which way
can we increase our chances of success? How can we
overcome exaggerated fears and take well-calculated steps? Thinking must take place before action if such action is to be
productive. Planning must take place before implementation if success is
to be attained. Self-confidence needs to be built before it can be
applied. Skills must be acquired before they can be employed.
The most powerful tool
Reason is the most
powerful tool for dismantling falsehoods. If we grow convinced that we
stand a good chance of accomplishing our goals, we will become less
worried and more adventurous. Logic is our cardinal ally for contesting
overblown concerns. The best way to face fear is to demonstrate its
irrationality.
The
intensity of a potential catastrophe is independent of the likelihood of
its occurrence. Salesmen promote insurance policies by painting vivid
pictures of misfortune, but their sales presentations seldom mention the
actual statistical probability of such misfortune taking place.
The perception of risk is also heavily
influenced by cultural stereotypes. Saving rates differ from country to
country according to how citizens see their future; the willingness to
change jobs and move to a distant city is higher in the US than in
Europe; the proportion of the population that invests in the stock
market also varies from country to country.
Asses risks objectively
Potential dangers need to be quantified in order to be
properly assessed. If emotions take control, they will exaggerate the
negative consequences of risk. On many occasions, the material damages
that people actually suffer are minor compared to the accompanying
psychological discomfort.
Many things we fear arise from stories written by marketeers.
Why do California residents protect themselves more often against
earthquakes than against divorce? Because salesmen market earthquake
insurance very effectively, while at the same time, few couples are
aware that a pre-nuptial agreement can protect them against a
devastating divorce.
The trap of exaggeration
If you are considering a
challenging professional move, forget about irrational fears and ask
yourself the right questions: if your new job proves to be a
disappointment, what is the actual likelihood of your becoming
unemployed? Even if you lost your new position, how long would it
reasonably take you to regain employment?
We worry about risks
that have been exaggerated by marketeers trying to promote their
products or services. Those who sell pension plans frequently paint grim
pictures of retired people living in poverty and rightly so. There is
no reason why salesmen should refrain from offering their insurance
policies, but it is up to us to appraise risks according to their true
gravity.
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Text:
http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com
Image by RA_photography under Creative Commons Attribution License. See the license
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