From a purely financial perspective, over the course of one's life, is it better to have been a risk-taker OR?

We took the risks...put every waking moment into it and nearly starved to death for many years. Kept taking the risks and eventually it paid off for us. Success has little to do with luck but everything to do with hard work and putting yourself out there. We didn't take vacations or drive brand new cars or live in fancy houses but we kept people working, sent our kids to school and have lived an honest and satisfying life. There is no pension but in our senior years, we are finally financially comfortable and more importantly, respected for our work, both in our industry and in the community. Sure beats following someone else's rules..