Risk aversion is not an immutable trait. At age 6, I was tested for my tendency towards risk aversion. I scored as high as possible in risk aversion; in other

Risk aversion is not an immutable trait. At age 6, I was tested for my tendency towards risk aversion. I scored as high as possible in risk aversion; in other words, I was extremely risk-averse, as my parents worried. That tendency marked a better part of my life, and it brought forth/was comorbid with GAD and generalized depression. All of those things make you think that if you just had more control you would feel better, but the grasping for it only exacerbates the symptoms. Now I'm 41, and am really interested in bootstrapping (I have made one small app, working on the next). In particular, I love the risk/reward calculus especially. I've gradually awoken to the amount of value I bring via programming and strategy versus the salary structure in place at a lot of companies. This year I'm focusing on amassing leverage in several forms, be that a more public voice, a more fit body, additional income streams (however small), etc. (Typical midlife stuff, yes.)