Taking Intelligent Risks: Why Avoiding Short-Term Volatility May Endanger Your Career

Tim had been a successful magazine editor for years, enjoying a steady paycheck and predictable routine. When the industry began to shrink, layoffs swept through, and after decades of security, Tim lost his job almost overnight. His freelance friend, Sara, whose work was riskier month to month, adapted quickly. Having managed ups and downs all along, Sara seized on shifting trends while others floundered.

Economists call this the 'volatility paradox': stable paths can hide fragile situations, while frequent, smaller risks actually prepare you for big shocks. When you invite manageable uncertainty into your life—by saying yes to short projects, pursuing learning opportunities, or hustling for side gigs—you build psychological and practical resilience. If a black swan event does hit, you’re less likely to be caught flat-footed. Meanwhile, those who always avoided disruption may find they are least prepared when the system cracks. Recent research in career studies and behavioral economics shows that resilience built through everyday low-level risks translates into a real competitive edge when times get tough.

Sara was able to quickly find new contract work, because she'd been practicing resilience for years; for Tim, the lack of volatility proved costly when change arrived.

Take a clear-eyed look at your work, responsibilities, and side projects, and sort them by real risk—not just in terms of money, but also in how much change or growth they offer. Make it a point to tackle at least one small, calculated risk this month: agree to a contract, suggest a bold project, or say yes to something that requires new skills. Remember to secure your fallback plan too, so you can ride out failure without sinking. By doing this, you’ll gain confidence and adaptability plus safeguard against being blindsided by unexpected career shocks.