From Hobby to Micro-Business in 3 Somewhat Difficult Steps

“I need a cheap hobby!” Ever heard someone say that before? One thing I’ve learned about hobbies in 27 years is there’s no such thing as a cheap one. If you’re interested in something, then the more you get into it, the more it tends to cost to stay interested and keep progressing. Of course,…

Field Report: What if You Leap and the Net Doesn't Appear?

Tyler’s Note:  This is a Riskologist Field Report by Lynn Hess. Field Reports are written by readers just like you, so be nice, enjoy the story, and take action on the lesson. To contribute your own Field Report, go here. I’m a huge quote freak, and the inspirational words of others, famous or not, help guide…

Field Report: The Story of My Accidental Music Business

Tyler’s Note:  This is a Riskologist Field Report by Jason Timothy from Music Software Training. Field Reports are written by readers just like you, so be nice, enjoy the story, and take action on the lesson. To contribute your own Field Report, go here. “Everyday should be a holiday….” That’s what the Dandy Warhol’s sticker that was stuck…

"But I'm Just a Waitress"

I was in the car with a friend the other day. We were driving to dinner and talking about life. I like to ask people hard questions—”What do you really want from your life?” and “How do you know it’s the right answer?” She was telling me about the things she dreamed of for herself…

The Bring Your Own Awesome Policy

“Man, I’ve been on so many dates recently; it’s almost starting to wear me out a little,” I half-complained, half-boasted. “And I think I need to check my bank account—dating is expensive!” “Tyler, what are you trying to accomplish here?” was D’s only reply. “Are you trying to find a girlfriend? Because you’re doing it…

The 30-Second Guide to Taking Better Risks Every Day

Yesterday, I was working out in the park when it started to rain. By the time I made it through my second set of exercises, it was coming down in buckets, and I wasn’t having a lot of fun. “I’m going home,” I said to myself. “This is ridiculous.” But then—like magic—I remembered one of…

The Dairy Queen Story: A Smart Riskologist’s Guide to Building a Better Microbusiness

I’m not a fan of fast food. It’s horrible for you, it doesn’t taste good, and I hate myself every time I eat it. Luckily (for both of us), this story is not about fast food. It’s about a very clever business that built a small empire called right under the nose of its competition.…

11 Lame-Ass Excuses You Make Every Day that are Ruining Your Life (And 11 Non-Lame-Ass Alternatives)

These days, when I make a silly excuse for myself, I can usually catch it—and correct it—pretty quickly. But it wasn’t always like this. I used to struggle a lot, making excuses that kept me from doing things I really wanted to. I’d waste my time with TV and video games and not work on…

My 16-Year-Old Bike Explains Which is Best: Quality or Quantity (Hint: They’re Both Wrong)

There’s a silly debate that’s been raging since, I guess, the beginning of time. One side says, “Focus on quality! Always get the very best you can!” The other side says, “No, quantity is what’s important. The more the better!” Both sides have fair enough points, and you can see the debate rage in almost…

The 5-Step Risk Analysis Plan for Any Life Goal

Fellow Riskologist, If the source of your fears remain the same throughout your life, I’d argue you’re not truly living. Last week, I published a piece called The Risk-Taker’s Boogeyman syndrome, and many brave Riskologists answered my call to arms: Identify where your fears come from—where your boogeyman lives—and take a step towards moving them further…