"It is hard to fail, but it is worse to never have tried to succeed."

- Theodore Roosevelt

Above the entrances of Roman wrestling schools, the phrase "Strip or Retire" was inscribed. Roman wrestlers competed in the nude, and the message was clear: Compete or Quit. Place yourself in the arena for honor and glory, or walk away. This audacious risk is universally respected. It takes a particular kind of individual to stake their reputation, well-being, and future on the hope of success. Throughout history, we have revered those who dared all for the chance of greatness. Consider your personal heroes, be they mythic or human – figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, Yukio Mishima, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Thor, and Odin. What unites their tales? A gamble for greatness. These are the stories that inspire us. Nassim Taleb, author of "Antifragile," terms this phenomenon 'skin in the game.' It signifies having something to lose – the act of taking a risk.

In today's landscape, everyone claims expertise and frequently endeavors to sell something. It's rare for individuals, especially our 'leaders,' to possess a stake that extends beyond surface-level commitment. This is evident in conversations about employment and jobs. Many seek secure positions in established firms with good pay and minimal responsibility. There's nothing amiss with this perspective, but it does render one's livelihood dependent on others. Few are willing to embrace the peril of failure, particularly in the realm of business. An entrepreneur, according to Dictionary.com, is someone who organizes and manages a venture, notably a business, with significant initiative and risk. Genuine entrepreneurs are uncommon, and many who claim this title are franchisees of multi-level marketing firms.

In life, you'll frequently encounter invitations to buy, invest, or involve yourself in someone else's scheme – a scheme in which they have little to lose but everything to gain. I propose standing on your own feet whenever feasible, relying on your own experiences over others. As Nassim Taleb advocates in "The Black Swan," 'If you take risks and face your fate with dignity, there is nothing you can do that makes you small; if you don't take risks, there is nothing you can do that makes you grand, nothing.'

A well-known illustration of this principle is the "man in the arena," a concept highlighted in former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's speech, "Citizenship in a Republic." Roosevelt was a man of action, known for his willingness to go all-in. From his achievements in combat sports to getting shot in the chest during a speech and continuing to address the audience before seeking medical attention – he encapsulated this ethos:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat?"

We're living in an age of critics and risk aversion. Keyboard warriors and armchair experts are abundant. To achieve something truly remarkable, you must step out of your comfort zone and enter the arena. This arena can be literal, such as a physical field, or metaphorical – the arena of business, family life, or any domain where you put something valuable at stake.

Having 'skin in the game' is essential to me. This pertains not only to my business but also to the allocation of my time and energy. I'm cautious when someone attempts to sell me something they don't truly possess or asks me to invest in something when they're not invested themselves. That's why I operate under my own name. Every action I take, every person I collaborate with poses a risk to my reputation and livelihood. When I coach or develop programs for my clients, their success reflects my competence.

Given this reality, I ensure that I comprehend precisely what I'm designing and recommending, based on my own experiences or those of individuals I trust. Life presents us with choices that alter our course. Every day, we decide our next step. We can move toward a life of high-risk autonomy or one of low-risk dependence.

Ultimately, the choice is yours.

Now is the moment to act. Will you take the plunge or retire? What arena will you embrace?

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