Security versus Opportunity

In my experience, most women (certainly not all, but most) are security oriented. Research from big-brained scientists at leading universities, think tanks, and marketing institutes confirm this. They value stability and safety more than obscene amounts of wealth.

Men, of course, are just the opposite. We value obscene anything. We are opportunity oriented. Any opportunity to get to the top- of our sport, of our work, in our love lives- gives us a chance to be the alpha male. Snort, snort.

There are probably good evolutionary reasons for this difference between men and women, though it's hard to know if it is nature or nurture that make us different. It doesn't matter, really. My point here is that being security oriented means that you will be a better risk manager, but you may leave a lot of money on the table. Being opportunity oriented means you will squeeze out the last dollar from every venture, but there is a real risk of hanging on too long and losing everything (as I did in 2008, when I watched our 401k retirement drop 50% before I switched to bonds. Doh!).

There is a time and place for both strategies, but for some reason, women mainly latch on to one, and rarely explore the other. Men are more likely to do both, in my experience. It's good for girls to learn to take chances and explore opportunities in life. Travel, dating, and entrepreneurship are examples of exploring.

Later in the book, I say "Don't predict; measure." By that, I mean try lots of different opportunities, but without risking your whole future. In so doing, you'll see what works and what doesn't, and you'll make the most of promising opportunities.