Risks
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. Chained by their certitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free.
Success comes from inside.
A middle-aged man had worked as the school’s janitor for 25 years. Today, the school superintendent called him into his office.
“I’ve looked at your original application from 25 years ago. It says here that you never went to college. Is that right?”
The janitor replied, “That’s correct. I never attended college.”
“Your application doesn’t show that you graduated from high school. Did you attend high school?”
“No. I never attended high school.”
“I’m sorry to tell you this, but the school board has a new policy. All school employees must have at least a high school diploma. For 25 years you have done a terrific job, but I have to let you go. Rules are rules.”
The janitor turned in his mop and went home. “What can I do? I’ve been a janitor all my life. Maybe I can start my own janitorial business.”
The first company he contacted said, “Sure, you can do the clean-up here. I remember how you did such a great job at the school.”
The next company said the same thing. Soon the janitor had more buildings to clean than he could personally do. He hired an assistant.
Business continued to grow. Soon the janitor hired more employees. His customers were so happy with his work that they gave him additional small construction contracts.
After a couple of years, the janitor became quite wealthy. He had dozens of employees, trucks, equipment, and a six-figure bank account.
Then, one day he received a letter to come down to his bank. The vice president greeted the janitor and said, “It’s a pleasure to have you come down to our bank. We’ve never seen you here. Your employees always make your deposits. We checked our old records and found that you never signed the signature card to open your bank account. Could you sign it for us now, just to keep our
records straight?”
The janitor replied, “I don’t know how to write. You see, I’ve never been to school. Would an “X” be okay?”
“Sure. No problem.” The banker didn’t want to offend his largest customer. “This is amazing! Here you are, a janitor, who has succeeded in business and become our biggest account. Just think what you could have achieved with an education!”
“Heck!” said the janitor. “If I had an education, I’d still be a janitor!”
