Here’s How Your Brain Could Trick You Into Paying $2,600 For A Banana
Fellow Riskologist,
We all know what keeps the lights on in Vegas; it’s a never-ending stream of bad risk-takers entertaining themselves by losing money at card tables, slot machines, and roulette wheels.
But the funny thing about Vegas is most people who go there don’t consider themselves gamblers. They’re just normal, everyday folks like you and me hoping to have a good time seeing a show, going to a party, or walking the strip—they’ll just do a little gambling to see what it’s all about. That’s it. Just a little.
But then they get home and realize they lost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. The problem isn’t unique to Vegas. Here’s a guy who lost his life savings trying to win an X-Box in a carnival game (don’t worry, he still won a giant banana).
But you? You don’t gamble. And if you do, you’re responsible about it, setting a limit for how much you’ll lose before you stop. What does this have to do with you?
The answer is: More than you think. And to be a truly Smart Riskologist, it’s critical you understand how and why it happens.
What My Fat Chicken Taught Me About Smart Risk-Taking
Fellow Riskologist, Meet Bertha: Bertha is a big girl—almost twice the size of her three sisters. She lives in my backyard where she and the others run around pecking, clucking, and scratching all day. But why is she so big? Is it her breed? Is it her genetics? Yes, these things could play a role,…
You Get By With A Little Help From Yourself
Fellow Riskologist, When someone with a traditional job asks what it’s like to be self-employed, my favorite answer is: “It’s totally amazing, but my boss is an asshole.” The answer’s a joke, of course, but anyone who’s self-employed knows there’s a bit of truth to it. Going to work, most people are accustomed to showing…
Never Lose Again: This Investor Tactic Will Make You A Better Risk-Taker For Life
When you commit yourself to something—a project, relationship, a new job, etc.—how do you protect yourself if everything goes wrong? You want to invest yourself, but you don’t always want to bet the farm right off the bat. Several years ago, I did a dating experiment where I went on about 40 dates with nearly 20…
I Could Never Remember Names. Now, I Can Never Forget Them
So you’re at a party with a friend and you don’t know anyone there. He’s introducing you to new people every few minutes and while you wish you were having fun, instead, you’re stressing out because you’ve already forgotten the names of the three people you met just three minutes ago. Or maybe you’re at…
Habit Interruption: How I Taught Myself To Stop Peeing In A Broken Toilet
A few days ago I was having a problem with my toilet; it was leaking water all over the floor. I had to do something or my apartment was going to flood! So, I turned off the water to the toilet and emptied the tank. Next step? Fix it! But, it was going to be…