Euler wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:34 am
The problem I see with the world as it stands is that if you take risks, you can get rewarded for those risks. Of course the number of people that take risks and fail is pretty high but that shouldn't stop you from taking risks. Therefore the people who do take the risks are the ones that benefit the most.
Musk took a huge gamble by investing the money he made from the first start up into PayPal then using that on Tesla, then SpaceX. Could have failed at any point. Many do!
The weird thing about this system is that some people do get disproportionately large payoffs but, personally, I feel that's worth it if it lifts everybody.
I think the SpaceX IPO has created about 4,400 millionaires. I've met some of them because when I would stay in Los Angeles, I'd stay near El Segundo, which is where SpaceX was based. I was lucky enough to be introduced to some of these people many years ago. Bloody good on them, they left good jobs and normal careers to have a punt on new tech.
I'm pretty sure the Facebook IPO did the same and yes, I know a few of those as well.
One of the problems I see is that people just don't take risks. But when people do and get rewarded, it's somehow unfair. We need to embrace, sensible, risk taking and watch the results. I'd say people in generally and nations are often too risk averse nowadays.
A friend of mind who I met through work emigrated with his family to Silicon Valley and took a massive risk. But he gets kudos there for doing it and is well rewarded. Good on him. Good on anybody that tries to make their life better.
I completely agree with this post.
What’s funny is that when I first started trading and lay betting, even a £50–£100 liability scared me. Then I watched your video about winning whatever the result because, at the time, my main goal was simply figuring out how to get rid of that liability before the race even went in-play!
When I saw the size of the liabilities in some of your other videos, I thought, “Wow!” Fast forward 10 years, and £5,000 liabilities at Cheltenham, Ascot, and other high-liquidity events don’t phase me anymore. The only thing that still concerns me is the risk of getting caught in a Betfair blackout.
You're absolutely right that the reward comes at the end. Once you accept risk, understand probability, and stay disciplined, the positive outcome becomes the greatest reward. You never know what’s possible if you don’t put the work in.
We all have setbacks; the key is getting back up, dusting yourself off, and carrying on. People told me I’d never make it in my chosen career, but I proved them wrong. I still love what I do to this day, and it gives me the flexibility to trade even while I’m at work!
So yes, taking a controlled risk for a positive outcome is very different from reckless gambling. It’s not the same as running blindfolded across a Washington DC highway! Although, judging by some of the trading videos I’ve seen, a few people seem to approach it that way.
And as for trading with the mortgage money... now that really is a stupid risk!
