Always work to identify your major project risks, then work to mitigate those risks in whatever way that you can.
I had to jaywalk the other day. Well “had” is an exaggeration, but it was the best option relative to walking another block in either direction. The street had light traffic, so the risk of crossing was pretty low. There was something else that helped mitigate the risk: I was across the street from our local hospital, containing the only Level I trauma center between San Jose and Los Angeles.
We’ve been talking a lot lately at work about how to empower teams and maximize their velocity. One mechanism was through guard rails. If you clearly define what is in-bounds and out-of-bounds then teams don’t have to waste time asking about what is possible, they can just execute. The other mechanism was that of safety nets. It is easier to take risks when the consequences of those risks have been reduced or eliminated. That can be minimizing the possibility of something happening or reducing the impact of a risk if it does come to pass.
So, project-wise, if you are going to jaywalk then do it at the hospital.
Photo: Freshwater Trail in the Townsville Town Common, Townsville, Australia. The only time I have come within five feet of a croc while mountain biking. No, there was not a hospital nearby.