They say opposites attract. Although my husband and I have many important things in common, we are complete opposites in one area. He’s a “risk taker,” and I’m... well, not so much. Rather than being labeled as “risk averse,” I prefer the term “caution giver.”

I’m a federal employee. I come from a long line of public servants. I bet that my ancestors probably worked in the service of the king or queen, or at least the local earl or baron, before they came to the United States. My husband is different story. He’s a small-business owner. Whereas I tend to worry and ask a lot of what-if questions, he likes the challenge of being in command and building his business.

In my role leading NIST’s Cybersecurity for Small Business Outreach, I’ve met many small-business owners, and most have similar personalities to my husband. They have incredible drive and an unrelenting spirit. Small-business owners see opportunities where caution givers like me only see risk.

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