“There's a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone is trying to optimize their ass-covering.”
— Elon Musk
Simplified Meaning:
People are often scared to take chances because they worry about failing or getting blamed if things go wrong. Instead of trying new things, they stick to what's safe to avoid trouble. For example, in a company, workers might choose not to suggest new ideas because they fear their bosses will reject them or criticize them if the ideas don't work out. This means they play it safe and just do their job without trying anything different. This mindset can prevent progress and innovation because people are more focused on protecting themselves rather than coming up with creative solutions. To apply this idea, try to be brave in your decisions. Don't just think about the safest option but consider taking some risks if you believe they could lead to beneficial results. This way, you might achieve something great instead of always playing it safe and missing out on opportunities.