Now to do that, you'd have to be DAMN sure of yourself.
No, I always accepted it was a high risk strategy, which is why I didn't spend the money. (Incidentally, I transferred it to my wife who wasn't working to avoid tax on the interest
).
Like any other high risk investment, you can never be certain of the outcome. You hope that the greater risk will produce a greater reward but there are no guarantees. Of course, I did some due diligence as you would for any other investment but in the end it requires a certain leap of faith.
My only regret is that if I'd known it was going to drag on for 5 years I would have done something a bit more creative with the money instead of just sticking it in a savings account. A bit of a missed opportunity there but you live and learn.
I have always accepted the fact that we could lose but I don't intend to go down without a fight.