Swim at your own risk

Swim at your own risk

5th October, 2022

After a long day at work, I went to the pool to relax when I noticed this warning sign. Swimming is not something I am used to, but one of my goals for this quarter is to improve my fitness, so I am giving it a shot.

"Swim at your own risk" "No lifeguard on duty"

I'm not sure why this sentence came to mind, but I wanted to share with you how I reflected on our lives and the risks we take every day. We "live" at our own risk whether we are deciding on a career path, getting married, choosing a field of study, the best way to save, invest, or following certain diets. The consequences will fall squarely on our shoulders. Except for our actions, no one can change the outcome.

We are responsible for our own lives, and if we are sitting around waiting for someone to save, fix, or even help us, we are failing. We're squandering our time because only we have the ability, will, and responsibility to move our lives forward.

Do we enjoy taking chances? When I'm working on a project and the planning phase gets to the point of discussing the risks involved, I always notice that other stakeholders prefer delegating this type of work, discussions, or meetings to other members. Because they do not want to be held accountable. I was raised with the idea that the more risks we take, the greater our achievements, but this isn't always the case, and we (as humans) don't usually enjoy taking risks.

If you believe you need to master risk management in your projects or organization, please review our courses on risk management.


Project Risk Management: Preparation for Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®
Enterprise Risk Management

About the Author
Karim Salem, MBA, PMP®, PMI-ACP®, GPM-b™

Deputy Director – Client Relations
Head of Managed Learning Solutions

Karim Salem, MBA, PMP®, PMI-ACP®, GPM-b™, is Deputy Director – Client Relations | Head of Managed Learning Solutions at Meirc Training & Consulting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a multidisciplinary background spanning project management, business development, events, sales, and corporate learning, he works closely with organizations across the Middle East to support strategic partnerships, capability development, and growth initiatives. Karim holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Power Engineering from Ain Shams University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship through a joint international program between EU Business School, Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), and London Metropolitan University. He is certified as a PMP®, PMI-ACP®, and GPM-b™ professional and is actively involved in volunteering and professional initiatives, including with the Project Management Institute. Earlier in his career, Karim co-founded a project management consultancy firm, reflecting his entrepreneurial mindset and passion for practical, value-driven solutions. Through his role at Meirc Training & Consulting and volunteering initiatives, he has also contributed to workshops and awareness sessions focused on project management, LinkedIn branding, sales, and business development. In recognition of his leadership and community impact, Karim was selected by the British Council as one of the top Arab youth changemakers through the GlobalChangeMakers® program. He became the first Egyptian to serve as President of a Rotaract® Club in the UAE. He is passionate about professional growth, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and building meaningful connections that create long-term impact.

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