Embracing Risk

Embracing risk is one of the most powerful things anyone can do to level up and maximize the probability of reaching your full potential. Below, you’ll find risk-takers across industries sharing their stories of how they began to embrace risk.

Adriana Vazquez

You just do it! Take the risk and win or fail. It’s always a 50/50 chance. People are always afraid of failure but failure brings new knowledge and understanding. You still win! Quitting that job you hate,leaving that draining relationship, moving across the the country because that’s what you feel you need, starting your business with no plan, anything!  Read more>>

Laura Moir

Some people can work a regular 9-5 that has nothing to do with their creative passions for their entire lives. I know this, because that’s what my Dad has done. His creative passion is carpentry. But he has worked for the same computer company for decades, that has nothing to do with carpentry. And he absolutely loves it. Read more>>

Jainai Jeffries

No one else is going to achieve my goals but me. I always preferred to do things on my own, so it never crossed my mind to rely on others take the risks I need to take in order to reach what I want. “Risk” is just taking responsibility and giving myself a chance to live as I please. Read more>>

Ander Sevilla

My ability to take risk stems from the realization that adults are just people too. I remember being in college, learning from professors who I felt were only there to collect a pay check. While I had many intelligent, compassionate, invested, and hard working professors; I felt that an overwhelming majority did not necessarily have my best interests at heart. Read more>>

Sarah Dugger

Before I was training pets and pet guardians, I was working with tigers, [mountain] lions, and bears (oh my!) at top tier accredited facilities. As a zookeeper, I was dedicated to bringing zoo guests as close to the animals as safely possible to bridge the gap between the human and natural world. We facilitated connections to inspire conservation mindsets, and helped make memories that would last a lifetime. Read more>> 

Kelly Elsas

Thank you so much for having me! I think risks are very similar to opportunities if you really break it down. I developed my ability to take risks by looking at the facts first. Knowledge dispels fear. That being said, it definitely depends on the risk. Some situations require research and major judgement calls. Read more>>

Morgan McKell

I’ve always felt like a natural risk-taker, so I didn’t necessarily have to develop that ability from scratch. However, I’ve learned to distinguish between different types of risks, especially between everyday life risks and business risks. In business, it takes a lot of time and making many mistakes to develop a risk-taking attitude. Read more>>

Adam Vosding

In 2018 I took a major leap of faith and decided to take a break from my corporate career to travel around North America for 6-8 months with my dog, @HollandThePup. When that period of time came to an end I knew I wanted to find a way to keep traveling and I discovered seasonal and gig work that allowed me to keep traveling and experiencing new things that I would have missed out on working in a cubicle. Read more>>

Danny Russo

Starting a business during the Great Recession was a baptism by fire in risk-taking. Born and bred in the crucible of economic turmoil, I learned early on that taking risks was not just necessary but essential for survival and success. I’ve witnessed the interior design industry turn upside down and inside out, evolving in ways we could never have predicted. Read more>>

Alexa Estep

Risk is the only route to an extraordinary life. Whether that be financially, romantically, or intrinsically. In the process of achieving you come to realize that everything is a trade. Risk boils down to trading stability for the chance at something special. The ability to take risk is counterintuitive to the human decision making process. Read more>>

Chenwei Xu

Risk-taking is an essential part of personal growth. One of the biggest risks I’ve undertaken was relocating from my home country shortly after college to pursue graduate school and career opportunities in the States as an international student. The challenges international students face can be stressful, including cultural shock, language barriers in the workplace, work sponsorship and visa issues, which create a constant risk of rejection or job loss. Read more>>

Ciarra Nicole

My ability to take risks is to keep pushing and keep moving forward, even when it’s a struggle. Despite the challenges, I always focus on the end goal. What exactly is that end goal for me? What do I truly desire to possess and prioritize in my life? Read more>>

Katie Reynolds

When I decided to become a nurse, unknowingly, I also became a caretaker to my mom and grandmother who both had developed Parkinsons .Twords the end of my mom’s life,I wanted to find something we could do together, that she was capable of doing and,that would be fun. At this stage of her life,walking and swallowing became a huge challenge. Read more>>

Regan Richardson

My ability to take risks probably developed from childhood. I didn’t hear a lot of negative talk about what people have done and didn’t succeed, so I didn’t have any subconscious thoughts that I couldn’t do something.  Read more>>

Lara Agnew

I have been afraid of failure for as long as I can remember. I grew up thinking I needed to present any new skill as competence. I felt uncomfortable being a beginner at just about anything-a sport, music, being a student, etc. I even shied away from my own voice worried it wouldn’t be “right”. In 4th grade, I had a teacher, Mr. Gilman, that showed me how fun life could be if you took risks. Read more>>

Gladys Bolding

I developed my ability to take risks by building self-confidence, reducing fear, and gradually expanding my comfort zone. I had to educate myself in whatever endeavor I attempted by gathering as much information as possible to make informed decisions.  Read more>>