--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Managing risk is a key variable, frankly…" description: "\"Managing risk is a key variable, frankly, all aspects of life, business is just one of them, and one of the things that most people do in terms of mana..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/reid-hoffman-1342_acceptable_managing-risk-is-a-key-variable-frankly_2617774.png" --- # Managing risk is a key variable, frankly, all aspects of… ![“Managing risk is a key variable, frankly, all aspects of life, business is just one of them, and one of the things that most people do in terms of managing risk, that's actually bad thinking, is they think they can manage risk to zero. Everything has some risk to it. You know, you drive your car…” quote by Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/reid-hoffman-1342_acceptable_managing-risk-is-a-key-variable-frankly_2617774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/reid-hoffman-1342_acceptable_managing-risk-is-a-key-variable-frankly_2617774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e37/reid-hoffman-1342_acceptable_managing-risk-is-a-key-variable-frankly_2617774.png) > “Managing risk is a key variable, frankly, all aspects of life, business is just one of them, and one of the things that most people do in terms of managing risk, that's actually bad thinking, is they think they can manage risk to zero. Everything has some risk to it. You know, you drive your car down the street, a drunk driver may hit you. So what you're doing is you're actually trying to get to an acceptable level of risk.” [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to eliminate risk entirely is flawed; risk must be reduced to acceptable levels, not erased. **In simple terms:** Risk can’t be zero. Key Takeaway Manage risk to acceptable levels. Themes risk management decision making Mood pragmatic analytical Type business educational When to use this quote - investment - healthcare - project planning Key Concepts probability theory behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What risks are truly unavoidable? - How do you define acceptable risk? A Different Perspective Zero risk is unattainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) [Aspect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) [Aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspects-of-life/) [Bad Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thinking/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Drivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drivers/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Just one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-one/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage/) [Manage Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage-risk-361636/) [Managing Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/managing-risk/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Zero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-zero-2083545/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Variables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variables/) [Zero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero/) [Zero Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero-risk-1009249/) ## Related quotes > [If I was prime minister, there would be absolutely zero risk that Brexit wouldn't happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/if-i-was-prime-minister-there-would-be-absolutely-zero-risk-that/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [Athletes are statistically, given their age and health, at virtually zero risk from COVID.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-travis/athletes-are-statistically-given-their-age-and-health-at-virtually/) [Clay Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-travis/) > [If we accept that there is no such thing as 'zero risk' then we should not spin the meaning of words with assertions such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-long/if-we-accept-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-zero-risk-then-we-should/) [Rob Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-long/) > [The potential of a zero-risk is in every market, because eventually I think people will switch to these products as they become available. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-calantzopoulos/the-potential-of-a-zero-risk-is-in-every-market-because-eventually-i/) [Andre Calantzopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-calantzopoulos/) > [Credit ratings and risk weightings must undergo a thorough process of review and revision. No security or instrument on the planet should have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/credit-ratings-and-risk-weightings-must-undergo-a-thorough-process-of/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [The reality is that zero defects in products plus zero pollution plus zero risk on the job is equivalent to maximum growth of government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/the-reality-is-that-zero-defects-in-products-plus-zero-pollution-plus/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [Zero risk means zero accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bigelow/zero-risk-means-zero-accomplishment/) [Robert Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bigelow/) > [Instead, to be financially free, we need to learn how to make mistakes and manage risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/instead-to-be-financially-free-we-need-to-learn-how-to-make-mistakes/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [As an industry, we have a responsibility to manage risk in a way that is prudent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-c-griffin/as-an-industry-we-have-a-responsibility-to-manage-risk-in-a-way-that/) [Kenneth C. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-c-griffin/) > [When I take kids into the woods, I tell them, "What we're going to do today is going to be incredibly dangerous." And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/when-i-take-kids-into-the-woods-i-tell-them-what-we-re-going-to-do/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [“There is always risk, so learn to manage risk instead of avoiding it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/there-is-always-risk-so-learn-to-manage-risk-instead-of-avoiding-it/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [The ones who make it, are the ones who manage risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-burns/the-ones-who-make-it-are-the-ones-who-manage-risk/) [Steve Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-burns/) > [I'm a firm believer in teaching children to manage risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/i-m-a-firm-believer-in-teaching-children-to-manage-risk/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [You might say that economic history is the history of people learning to manage risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/you-might-say-that-economic-history-is-the-history-of-people-learning/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [“Many of the high-return projects are high risk, which is why I suggest you forget the idea of looking at risk at all. Manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-of-the-high-return-projects-are-high-risk-which-is-why-i-suggest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Reid Hoffman > [As an entrepreneur and investor, I prioritize construction and collaboration. Whether it's a five-person start-up or a global giant, the companies that are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/as-an-entrepreneur-and-investor-i-prioritize-construction-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [In software speed to market, speed to learning is really key. In hardware if you screw it up you are dead. So accuracy really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/in-software-speed-to-market-speed-to-learning-is-really-key-in/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [“Stockpiling facts won’t get you anywhere. What will get you somewhere is being able to access the information you need, when you need it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/stockpiling-facts-won-t-get-you-anywhere-what-will-get-you-somewhere/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [I think the randomness by Donald Trump's governing, by tweeting, sloganeering, attacking, will create great chaos in the entire market. I think people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-the-randomness-by-donald-trump-s-governing-by-tweeting/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Democracy is always frustrating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/democracy-is-always-frustrating/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [One of the ways they run forward is by viewing the thing they’re doing as something that’s going to be the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/one-of-the-ways-they-run-forward-is-by-viewing-the-thing-they-re/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [If you could train an AI to be a Buddhist, it would probably be pretty good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/if-you-could-train-an-ai-to-be-a-buddhist-it-would-probably-be-pretty/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [It’s actually pretty easy to be contrarian. It’s hard to be contrarian and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/it-s-actually-pretty-easy-to-be-contrarian-it-s-hard-to-be-contrarian/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Giving birth to something that could possibly change the lives of millions of people for possibly decades, hundreds of years, whatever the length of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/giving-birth-to-something-that-could-possibly-change-the-lives-of/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [The entrepreneurial journey starts with jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-entrepreneurial-journey-starts-with-jumping-off-a-cliff-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Be persistent, and hang on to your vision. And at the same time, be flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/be-persistent-and-hang-on-to-your-vision-and-at-the-same-time-be/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [First mover Advantage doesn't go to the company that starts up, it goes to the company that scales up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/first-mover-advantage-doesn-t-go-to-the-company-that-starts-up-it/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Before dreaming about the future or marking plans, you need to articulate what you already have going for you - as entrepreneurs do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/before-dreaming-about-the-future-or-marking-plans-you-need-to/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [The metaphor that I frequently use for entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane plane on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-metaphor-that-i-frequently-use-for-entrepreneurship-is-jumping/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [ I think most of \[people\] are not very well educated themselves to understand the Winston Churchill line - democracy is the worst of all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-most-of-people-are-not-very-well-educated-themselves-to/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) [Explore all 253 Reid Hoffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. 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Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. 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