Be bold! Don't let fear determine your fate.

• Author: Clark, Carine
• Position: SILICON SLOPES - Column

Why does the word "risk" scare us so much? Maybe because it's risky? Why are we so afraid to make mistakes when we learn more from our mistakes than from any of our successes? Why do we feel so unsettled with disruption, when disruption gives us an opportunity for growth and new opportunities? Maybe it's time we changed our lens on how we look at risk and disruption.

When we think of risk we often associate it with grim outcomes or the possibility of something unfavorable happening. When we think of disruption we think of something turning our world upside down. I've heard many people say, "I just don't want anything to change." Unfortunately, the only thing that never changes is that things always change.

But what if we started looking at the world differently? What if we looked at risk as an adventure--something that we haven't tried before. Something that might teach us new ideas and give us valuable scar tissue that we would come to love?

For years I had wanted to take my family of four to Africa. Everyone told me I was crazy. They said it was too dangerous, you'll get eaten by something that doesn't live here. You'll get kidnapped. You'll get murdered. None of these outcomes were interesting to me. But I really wanted my sons to see massive herds of elephants, white rhinos and the splendor that is Africa--all without any Wi-Fi. We were smart about the trip; we didn't take any foolish risks. And we had the trip of a lifetime. It was the grandest adventure--one that we will never forget and still talk about.

Risk is also a chance--the possibility of something happening, maybe even something wonderful. Stop stopping yourself. Take the chance. Meet the new person. Pick up a new hobby. Try new things. Relish in the joy of trying something new, even when it doesn't work out as you expect, even if you are...