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Always Balance Risks with Rewards


WITH THE BLATANT flouting of traffic rules, law-abiding pedestrians and motorists soon discover that using Windhoek’s roads can be risky – especially in areas with high traffic density like the city’s central business district (CBD), near educational institutions and industrial zones, and close to shopping malls.

Pedestrians are compelled to take extreme care when crossing roads and at intersections.

Motorists drive cautiously and defensively, viewing other drivers with scepticism.

Speeding and irresponsible driving is linked to risk and reward for taxis – the more trips a driver squeezes in ferrying commuters to or from work, the higher the income.

As for speedsters and road hogs, clearly an absence of traffic officers encourages bad behaviour.

During morning and evening peak traffic periods, there is hardly ever a police presence in the CBD or at busy spots.

This perceived low risk of a violation spot fine and a reward to demonstrate road user superiority, becomes attractive.

The appalling bad driving and speeding are prevalent on the open roads too.

With the festive season fast approaching, soon many will be travelling to tourist destinations or to other parts of Namibia to spend time with family and friends.

Most travellers will make use of public transport – seven-seaters and minibuses.

For the drivers it is income boomtime and they will try to squeeze in many round trips, ignoring the risk of incurring a speeding or traffic rule infringement fine, against the reward of making more money.

From an early age, one learns to be vigilant and manage risk to negate potential calamity, harm, injury or to suffer loss.

Confronted with an array of physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual challenges, as we age, we learn to make the right choices as a risk management strategy to look after ourselves.

So don’t expose yourself to a dangerous situation as for you the reward might hold dire consequences.

Rather delay arrival at your destination than travelling in a vehicle driven by an intoxicated individual. Disembark and demand a fee refund if feeling unsafe because of irresponsible driving.

In business, risk management is equally important.

Smart entrepreneurs swiftly learn the importance of money discipline, business focus and working smart as well as hard.

Entrepreneurs know that failure to keep books and records, and to not prudently manage cash inflows and outflows, is risky.

Wise entrepreneurs realise that failure to put contracts and agreements in place to regulate relationships with partners, staff, suppliers and customers, or paying taxes on time, will lead to trouble.

Responsible entrepreneurs accept that applying risk management principles is not a choice, but an obligation, and a prerequisite for business success.

In not applying common sense when it comes to risk management, entrepreneurs are bruised and battered, usually to the extent that their business might close, with loss of dignity and the money invested.

Only fools such as gamblers believe that the higher the risk the greater the reward.

Casinos are in business to make money, not to risk losing it to gamblers.

The wise will always balance risks to achieve a desired reward – safety and security in life, or success if in business.

* Danny Meyer is reachable at [email protected]ompete.com





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