Within the bounds of ethical behavior, you’re committed to becoming a financial success. There’s no late night, grim project, or problematic client you won’t take on to reach your goal. If those statements describe you, I’ve got a unique opportunity that will advance research in cancer treatments with a $39 million payoff . All you have to do is harvest a gallon of scorpion venom, and you’ll be an instant multimillionaire. Due to scientists’ use of unique compounds found within the venom and low harvest yield, scorpion venom is the most valuable liquid on the planet.

A portion of anyone’s success is the ability to evaluate and manage the risk versus reward equation. Every decision we make in a business setting is a risk. In the spectrum of staying the course to proposing an innovation, there are risk factors along every point. Like a future orientation or culture of change, leaders must be comfortable swimming in the pool of risks.

Let’s go back to the scorpion venom proposition and evaluate the risk factors. Of the two thousandish species of scorpions, the venom of forty-odd species can kill a human. A gallon of venom will require over 7,500 extractions. The harvest process involves applying an electric shock to the scorpion’s stinger, and the venom is mined with a pipette. Using a nonscientific statistical evaluation, there’s better than a good chance of being stung by a non-lethal scorpion during the process. Being an awesome leader, I’m sure you’ve considered using protective gear to limit the risk of getting stung. How does your risk versus reward ratio stand now?

You’ll get a gold star if you added innovation to your approach. If you proposed developing a robot that extracts the scorpion venom, you’re on the right track. Such a robot currently exists and removes any risk of human contact with the creepy-crawlies. No portion of our skill set exists in a vacuum. Stringing individual skills and prior experiences together creates a synergy that sends our results off the charts!

Consider this …

1. List two major issues, problems, or challenges you’re facing in your business, project, or workplace right now.

2. Outline the primary stakeholders of these issues, problems, or challenges.

3. Develop a plan to speak with as many of those stakeholders as possible to get their take on the situation.

For more, check out The Top Performer’s Field Guide, The Innovator’s Field Guide, or visit www.JeffStandridge.com.

(Originally published in The Top Performer’s Field Guide.)