“The dangers of life are infinite and among them is safety.”

-Goethe

RISK IT!

HOW EXPATS CAN BUILD A MORE

SATISFYING LIFE ABROAD

The webinar will be starting soon……..

YOUR HOSTS

Lindsay McMahon

English and Culture

Norman VissEveryday Expat Support Center

What are some risks that expatriates might take? What does risk mean to you?

How does risk-taking differ across cultures?

How can we use risk-taking strategies to make life abroad more satisfying?

TODAY’S WEBINARBROUGHT TO YOU BY EXPAT EVERYDAY SUPPORT CENTER

SPECIAL GUEST: L INDSAY MCMAHON

The possibility of suffering harm or loss, danger

(The Free Dictionary)

RISK

The amygdala is the center of fear, emotion and decision making, fight or flight response

Adrenaline is released to create alertness to respond to emergencies

We fear judgment by others and our own judgment of ourselves

WHERE DO WE EXPERIENCE FEAR OF TAKING RISKS?

Fields (2011)

EXPATS HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AND A CHOICE

Survey results will be emailed to all attendees.

WHAT IS RISK-TAKING FOR YOU?__________

70.4% of survey respondents said that expat life is more risky than non-expat life.

HOW RISKY IS EXPAT LIFE COMPARED WITH NON-EXPAT LIFE?

0204060

COMMON RISKS FOR THE EXPAT COMMUNITY

Change in cultureStarting a

business abroadOne spouse

giving up careerInteracting with

localsBuying a house

Going from familiar to unfamiliar

Giving birth abroadNot knowing the

languageChoosing to live in

a local neighborhood, not with other expats

RISKS THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN AS AN EXPAT

Individual characteristics

Regional differences Local economy Religion Different interpretation of risk (financial risk, risk of losing face, risk of losing status)

HOW IS RISK- TAKING DIFFERENT ACROSS CULTURES?

US Britain Spain France Germany0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80Percentage that agree

Do you agree or disagree?

Where do you think your culture would fal l on this chart?

Pew Research Center, Global Att i tudes Project , Nov 17, 2011.

SUCCESS IN LIFE IS DETERMINED BY FORCES OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL__________

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

RISK TAKING IN THE UNITED STATES

“Lean into uncertainty.”

Move toward risks.

Fields (2011)

YOUR GOAL__________

HOW CAN YOU LEAN INTO UNCERTAINTY?

10 WAYS TO TAKE MORE RISKS IN YOUR LIFE ABROAD

What risks have you taken in the past?

Articulate them.

Reflect on them.

Blanke (2004)

“OWN” YOUR PREVIOUS RISKS__________

42.4

15.23

39.4

I am now able to take more risksI now want to take less riskWhat is risk?It hasn't changed at all

HOW HAS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE RISKS CHANGED SINCE YOU BECAME AN

EXPAT?

Imagine the worst thing that could happen if you took the risk.

Make it realistic.

What would you do if you took the risk and failed?

Fields (2011)

“GO TO ZERO”__________

Don’t put yourself in a box.

Don’t say “I am not the type to_____.”

Blanke (2004)

DON’T TYPECAST YOURSELF___________

Who inspires you?

What risks have they taken?

Read their books and their blogs.

DESIGNATE YOUR HEROES__________

How and when is it holding you back?

GET TO KNOW YOUR INNER CRITIC________

Procrastinationis not always about laziness.

It is oftenabout fear of taking risks.

NOTICE WHEN YOU PROCRASTINATE______________

What risk will you take?

By when will you take the risk?

Let your family and friends hold you accountable for acting on your goal.

CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY______________

DON’T GET PARALYZED BY ANALYSIS__________

Don’t talk yourself out of taking risks by focusing too much on the details.

Find other people who strive for self growth.

Spend time with people who view life as an adventure.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH OTHER RISK-TAKERS__________

Learn to center yourself through exercise, meditation or another form of awareness practice

Fields (2011)

DEVELOP A DAILY RITUAL

__________

WRITE 3 SPECIFIC RISKS THAT YOU CAN TAKE IN THE NEXT YEAR TO MAKE YOUR

LIFE MORE SATISFYING

Lindsay McMahon

English and Culture

CONNECT WITH US ONLINE!

Norman VissEveryday Expat Support Center

@isointer

https://www.facebook.com/englishandculture

https://www.facebook.com/expateverydaysupportcenter

@EngandCulture

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CITATIONS

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How Language Learners Can Silence the Inner CriticHow Video Diaries Brought me to Conversational Flue

ncy in Spanish

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