They apply to jobs, relationships, art projects and everything in between:
The top right is the rare one–a car that goes fast but doesn’t feel like it’s on the edge.
The hot rod is a car that is actually pretty safe, precisely because it doesn’t feel that way. You don’t have to drive very fast or take many risks to feel like you’re on the verge.
The joy ride is dangerous because you don’t feel like you’re having fun until you push it really hard.
And cars that go really slow and feel that way aren’t sports cars at all.
When you need to turn something up to 11 and risk your hearing, your bank account or your sanity to actually feel anything, you’re on the road to an unhappy ending.
I’m in favor of hot rod projects. You can go all in without risking everything.