Dan the "Branding Man" Schawbel Teaches Us the Finer Points of Personal Branding
Fellow Riskologist, What do people think of when they think of you? No, not what do you want them to think. What do they actually think? This is something that goes through my mind a lot as I work—alongside all of you—to build Riskology.co into the most respected blog about risk-taking on the Internet. Whenever…
The "Don’t Own Stuff You Can’t Fix" Plan for Life
Fellow Riskologist, A few weeks ago, I sat down in my driveway with a pile of tools, a YouTube video loaded up on my iPhone, and a little ambition. I was ready to take on the task of changing the bearings on my Subaru. It was a bear of a task. One full day. Five…
What is Risk? This Formula Will Explain Everything
Fellow Riskologist, I’m just starting to come back to life after two weeks with the flu. In between the fever-induced hallucinations and general mutterings of a mad man, it gave me the opportunity to think about risk in another light. Why did I get sick? Most people fall ill, get better, and hope it never…
This Study of 7th Graders Reveals One Secret to Taking Smarter Risks
Fellow Riskologist, Would you ever believe you could learn much about successful risk-taking from a seventh grader? Everywhere on the Internet, you’ll find people talking about the “power of positive thinking.” You’ll be lead to believe your thoughts and what you tell yourself will have a profound impact on how successful you are in your…
How Many Times Can You Embarrass Yourself Today?
Fellow Riskologist, How many times can you embarrass yourself today? If something’s important to you, are you willing to set aside all the funny looks and remarks of disapproval you might get by making it a priority in your life? I ask for a very important reason. You see, the better able you are to…
The Profit In Inconvenience: Why 300 People Said No to $700
Fellow Riskologist, Hello from 39,000 feet over the Atlantic on my way to Argentina. I’m headed to Buenos Aires to run a marathon this weekend. All this sitting around in a plane has me thinking, and I want to ask you a question… Say you find an ad I posted on Craigslist for a guitar. You…
Here’s How Your Brain Could Trick You Into Paying $2,600 For A Banana
Fellow Riskologist, We all know what keeps the lights on in Vegas; it’s a never-ending stream of bad risk-takers entertaining themselves by losing money at card tables, slot machines, and roulette wheels. But the funny thing about Vegas is most people who go there don’t consider themselves gamblers. They’re just normal, everyday folks like you…
What My Fat Chicken Taught Me About Smart Risk-Taking
Fellow Riskologist, Meet Bertha: Bertha is a big girl—almost twice the size of her three sisters. She lives in my backyard where she and the others run around pecking, clucking, and scratching all day. But why is she so big? Is it her breed? Is it her genetics? Yes, these things could play a role,…
You Get By With A Little Help From Yourself
Fellow Riskologist, When someone with a traditional job asks what it’s like to be self-employed, my favorite answer is: “It’s totally amazing, but my boss is an asshole.” The answer’s a joke, of course, but anyone who’s self-employed knows there’s a bit of truth to it. Going to work, most people are accustomed to showing…
Bone in Mouth Syndrome: Live Happier With Two Easy Rules
Fellow Riskologist, Fred The Dog was at the park with his owners, chewing on his bone. As he sat and gnawed, he noticed that other dogs had bones too. Some of them were bigger than his. And some looked tastier. That’s when Fred experienced something he’d never felt at home alone with his bone—envy. Suddenly,…