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Working It

Why you should take more risks, with Nate Silver

Sep 17, 2024
Nate Silver, a renowned statistician and founder of FiveThirtyEight, shares insights on taking meaningful risks in our careers. He discusses the pitfalls of fear in decision-making and why older individuals should embrace risk as their experience can guide informed choices. Silver emphasizes the importance of a mindset shift from scarcity to abundance, comparing risk-averse thinkers to those who thrive on calculated risks. He also draws parallels between the high-pressure world of poker and the workplace, highlighting the value of probabilistic thinking.
17:30

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Understanding risk-taking provides a framework to evaluate decisions by focusing on expected value rather than succumbing to fear of failure.
  • Adopting a 'river' mentality encourages calculated risks and innovation, contrasting with the cautious 'village' approach that limits professional growth.

Deep dives

Understanding Risk and Expected Value

Risk-taking behaviors are crucial in professional settings, as they often involve making calculated bets based on potential outcomes. The concept of expected value (EV) helps illustrate how one can evaluate decisions by weighing their possible returns against associated risks. For instance, accepting a job offer that doubles one’s salary but comes with a high-stress environment and a 10% chance of termination may still represent a positive expected value given the significant benefits 90% of the time. Recognizing that most individuals tend to be overly cautious can empower them to make bolder, more rational choices in their careers.

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