Thomas Jefferson said, “With great risk comes great reward.” The sentiment of this quote has been quite popular and prolific, from the stock market to the self-help gurus. MMA Fighter Jon Jones is famous for having said, “The higher the risk, the higher the reward.”

However, it is debatable as to whether Jefferson meant to imply any correlation between the amount of risk and the amount of reward. Am I going to say that Jon Jones is wrong, or misquoted Jefferson? No. He can beat me up. He’s a world-class martial artist, after all.

Even if it is a misquote, many have run with the idea. Though money managers readily suggest that investors follow their level of risk tolerance, many pursue investing under the idea that taking a big risk potentially means a great payout. Everyone seems comfortable with that as long as they realize the other potential of the transaction—that your entire investment could be wiped out. In accordance, American singer-songwriter Greyson Chance added to the quote, singing, “Bigger the risk, bigger the reward. But the higher the climb, the harder the fall.”

The self-help industry is keen on risk as well, touting a key to success with venturing out of one’s comfort zone. In essence, they are encouraging us to be brave, to conquer our fears in order to realize more of what we are capable of. In other words, to grow.

I might offer a pertinent story of my own. I was very fearful of roller coasters and other adrenaline-based amusement park attractions. I always avoided them, well into my twenties. But I challenged myself during an outing to Dorney Park with friends. The park had this ridiculous “ride” that raised a group of people stories and stories above the ground and simply dropped them into a freefall, to bounce up and down until gravity decided to free them. So, I did it. I may have blacked out at one time, but I did it! It is a story of conquering one’s fears. I frequently conveyed the story to new acquaintances and during job interviews. Have I or would I ever do it again? Nooooo wayyyyyy!

But for the quality industry, the more apt question about amusement parks comes from author Ricky Morgan, writing, “Nothing captures the human desire for thrill quite like an amusement park. From the pulse-pounding heights of roller coasters and Ferris wheels to the imaginative realms of Jurassic Park and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, attractions at these parks offer a controlled environment for uncontrolled fun. But how do we ensure that the thrills are both exhilarating and safe? The answer, to a large extent, is nondestructive testing (NDT).”

So, check out Ricky’s article, “NDT Applications for Manufacturing of Amusement Park Rides,” how even a misattributed quote can provide valuable insight with Steve Kinney’s article, “Machine Vision Technologies Adapt for Higher Speeds, Evolving Needs,” and the results of our annual State of the Profession survey, all in this month’s Quality.

Enjoy and thanks for reading!