In my head, I hold two opposing positions, at all times.

Being cautious enough to avoid making stupid mistakes to maintain a margin of financial safety for our business.

Yet, daring enough to bet on us and take on business risk (that later we might have regretted not having done), which may have helped grow our business and position us to leave a legacy of determination and inspiration for generations I will never see.

Being willing to be leave my comfort zone, to grow our profits is scary.

My ongoing challenge is how to be a “business opportunity hunter,” when I just want to be a “nester” and protect what I’ve got.

Sounds selfish…huh?

Alas, the Parable of the Talents, haunts me.

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 14-30, a master entrusts his servants with talents before going on a long journey. In those days, a talent was a unit of currency or a weight of precious metal.

But in the context of this parable, it’s interpreted as meaning abilities or resources that God gives to us.

The master gives five talents to one servant, two talents to another, and one talent to a third… each according to their abilities.

The first two servants invest and double the talents they received - 5 talents become 10, and 2 talents become 4.

The third servant buries his one talent in the ground.

When the master returns, he settles the accounts with his servants. The first two are praised and rewarded for being faithful and fruitful with what they were given.

The third servant is rebuked for being unproductive and not making use of the talent he received.

So, the master takes the one talent from the unfaithful servant and gives it to the one who had ten talents!

This seems so unfair! He was just afraid of losing the one talent he had!

Why would the master take away that one talent and give it to one who had many talents already?

Because he wasn’t growing! He wasn’t productive!

Hiding his talent only made him worthless!

Sadly, we’re either growing or dying. Gaining ground or losing territory. Growing our business profits or headed for bankruptcy.

Balancing caution and daring is a delicate process.

Most times I’m a nervous wreck on the inside as we navigate the choppy waters of entrepreneurship.

Here are 5 strategies I’ve gleaned over the years (that help me keep my food down) as I navigate this thing called entrepreneurship:

1. Assess Our Risks
   We calculate our risks by conducting our due diligence before taking any actions, especially listening to all the sales pitches of folks who want to invest our hard-earned money!

   What are the dangers involved and do the potential rewards out outweigh them?

   For example - Should we invest twenty thousand dollars in a proposed data center in Fauquier County Virginia, when the builder is not one of the top three data center builders in the country and the Fauquier community is concerned about the destruction of their bucolic lifestyle.

2. Take Baby Steps
   Instead of charging into a high-risk business deal, take incremental steps. While considering other business opportunities, create an LLC or a limited liability corporation to help shelter our personal wealth and manage potential risks.

   This allows us to explore new territories while being cautious.

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