工作上该冒险时就冒险

Big Risks, Big Rewards
高风险，高回报

If you think about it, most accomplished people in our culture are entrepreneurs who have taken big risks to net proportionally high rewards.
你可以想一想，在我们的社会里，大部分有成就的人都是冒了很大的风险、并相应地获得高回报的企业家。

Tough as it is for cautious people like me to accept, if you don't occasionally take calculated gambles, you won't get ahead as quickly as those who do. You will also never get over your fear of the unknown, and life will be predictable and dull.
这让像我这样的谨慎之人难以接受，不过如果你不偶尔地在审时度势后冒些险，你就不能像别人一样很快进步。此外，你永远无法克服对未知的恐惧，你的人生一眼就能看到底，了无生趣。

How do you go about deciding if a career risk is necessary and will bear fruit?
你该如何确定一项职业上的冒险是必要的、会有所收获？

First, it helps to think long term. Where do you want your career to be in five years, and what actions will you have to take to make sure you get there? Next, clearly define the challenge and the opportunity -- or the upside if the risk goes well.
首先，要放眼长远。你希望自己的职业生涯5年后是什么样子的，你将必须采取什么措施来确保实现这一目标？其次，明确定义面临的挑战和机遇──或如果冒险成功了，会有什么好处。

Then, consider the downside. Will the worst-case scenario be career-ending, or something that can be overcome?
然后，考虑不利方面。如果出现最糟糕的情况，是否会葬送了自己的职业生涯，还是能够克服？