The Titanic – Risk vs. Reward
In one way, shape, or form, I have viewed most of my decisions, both big and small, through the lens of a simple concept: risk versus reward. Are the risks that are necessary worth the potential reward? I believe in this concept so much that I use this exact language with my children in their upbringing.
This is why I'm so confused by the tragic story of the mini-submarine that was lost on a journey to view the Titanic. Maybe I'm a simpleton, but the risks in this kind of adventure seem so great in comparison to the reward. To be honest, I'm not really sure I knew that there were mini-submarines going to view the Titanic prior to this tragedy, but I've certainly thought a lot about it since the announcement of the loss. For me, seeing the Titanic up close and personal via my television in my house is enough to give me an immense emotional flavor of a tragedy that happened more than a century ago.
And while there may be people who disagree with my perspective on going thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface, the concept of risk-reward is critical. Even the basics of our human nature are based on risk-reward decisions. Fight or flight, the emotional state when chaos exists and instant decisions have to be made, is truly based on the assessment of risk-reward. Less critical to survival, decisions on relationships, business decisions, investment decisions, driving decisions, etcetera are all risk-reward analyses. Most of the time, it almost happens naturally without a lot of forethought.
I certainly do not know anyone who was on the sub, nor would I ever wish this kind of loss on the families who are now missing a loved one. But I think it's important to realize and remember that risk-reward can be written out, like a “plus and minus” on a piece of paper. Maybe if we were to do that more often, we would realize that some risk is appropriate for the right amount of reward----and at the same time, not enough reward isn't worth too much risk.
