Chance help: What is the biggest risk you have ever taken and did it pay off? - Help.com

it depends on what type of risk..?

I gambled with my financial future - I lost everything and can never get a loan again. It didn’t pay off finacially and has meant my opportunities in life within the current financial environment in the UK is very limited.

I do feel wiser knowing what it is to not rely on money for happiness though. I don’t advise you gamble yourself into a debt that appears unrepayable. What I am saying is there is a silver lining round every cloud. try and take a positive or many positive teaching out of any experience. With each choice we become wiser.

I am currently suffering immensely from the biggest risk I ever took not paying off. I gave up everything and everyone in my life, went all the way to the other side of the world. All that in the name of love. Turned out that love wasn’t reciprocated. I lost 3 very important years of my life, completely wasted the entire last year, and the chance to have kids when I wanted, my only dream in life, is gone forever.

If I could go back in time and know the future I would not take that risk of course. But life doesn’t work like that, you never know the future. And in a way I think I had no choice but to take that risk. I for one can not not follow my heart, not go after a dream.

It’s like you say, if you don’t do it, you’ll always wonder “what if”… That’s what people told me too, better to have lived to regret it than to regret not living it. And never knowing…

I got divorced after 17 years of a very difficult and controlling marriage, it was the best thing I have every done for myself and my children are happier. I am making it on my own and I never thought I had it in me to be this independent (married at age 22).

I too, have considered going back to school, but with nearly sole custody and a 50 hour a week job, it’s near impossible right now. Maybe once the little guy is in school it will be easier…then again, there maybe no time like the present!

I say if you can - do it!

Alibear - Look into Open University and home learning to develop your career or skills training - you might not have to quit everything. Look into internships also or trainee/apprentice roles. Going back to school must have a motivation behind it - figure out if there is another way of achieving your goals - 8 years home learning might be better than quitting your job and not manageing financially at uni and being kicked out or amounting serious levels of debt….