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.
Carolina Balboa
Growing up in Rio de Janeiro with a Brazilian mother and a Spanish father, I always had a deep connection to both cultures. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel and connect with my family in Spain every year, spending my summers in the countryside. This early exposure to different environments and frequent travel fueled my curiosity to explore the world further. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to embrace and appreciate the diverse cultures that make up my heritage. At 16, I lived abroad for the first time on my own in Australia for three months. This experience was the catalyst for a life filled with travel and adventure. Since then, I’ve lived in France, Spain, the USA, and numerous cities across the globe. Embracing a nomadic lifestyle for over two years, I lived out of one suitcase and also backpacked solo through Southeast Asia, among other adventures. Traveling has taught me invaluable lessons about taking risks. Navigating unfamiliar places and situations constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone. When you find yourself in a foreign city with no knowledge of the language or customs, you learn to handle uncertainty and make decisions with limited information. I remember arriving in Myanmar with no taxis available due to the time I arrived and the heavy rain. Standing in a late-night restaurant/bar with just my backpack, I had to quickly adapt, approach locals, and find a way to my accommodation without speaking the language or having internet access, all while relying on the kindness of strangers. People are often so kind and willing to help. These moments of uncertainty have become opportunities for growth and learning. Read more>>
Caleb Hafen
I developed my ability to take risks by nurturing faith in my ability to achieve goals while carefully navigating my expectations of actually achieving those goals. I’ve noticed that expectations tied to results outside of my control can lead to feelings of disappointment, frustration, and entitlement. Expectations tied to results within my control lead to high levels of motivation, measurable action, and satisfaction. For example, I believe I am capable of submitting for 20 auditions, attending 5 classes, and networking with 3 new industry professionals in a month. It is helpful for me to expect myself to achieve these things because these goals are all within my control. I also believe that I am capable of booking a dream job. However, it is not helpful for me to expect that goal because the achievement thereof is more out of my control. That result, if achieved, would be a gift. I can still do things that would make the achievement of that goal more likely (by submitting for auditions, attending classes, networking, etc.) but the actual result would depend upon the casting decisions of other people. Read more>>
Emily Wilson
I am in my 40s, and I did something that seemed both thrilling and risky—I quit my stable job and became a digital nomad, traveling the world with my dogs. That might sound like a wild adventure, but the truth is, I’m actually quite risk-averse. I’ve always preferred to have a plan and be prepared for what’s coming next. So while this lifestyle can be pretty unpredictable, I feel like I am learning to adapt so that I can more readily take these leaps. Hopefully I have packed enough parachutes in case things go sideways! I spent my career managing programs in an educational setting, which requires the ability to anticipate and mitigate risks. So what on earth had me jump into such foreign territory as a slow traveler and content creator? It wasn’t an overnight decision. The burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in pushing me to seek a new pace of life. I have always loved traveling, but for years it always seemed too risky to pursue full time. During the chaos of the pandemic, something clicked and I didn’t want just a “someday maybe” dream. It was time to actually make it happen. To take the risk and make this radical change I had to focus more on finding creative ways to adapt. My cautious and analytic nature helped me to identify issues, but now I had to dig deeper and approach it like a puzzle to figure out and solve. As an example I needed to figure out how to afford this crazy idea. My house is something I invested a lot of time and care into over the years, but instead of keeping it as my cherished home, I turned it into a multi-unit rental. I also needed to manage the rental remotely, which for mid-term rentals requires a small team and a lot of coordination. On top of all that, I still had to find some kind of magic to turn this small rental income into enough to support my travels and new life. Each of these are risks to manage with creativity and persistence. What might look like a spontaneous adventure was actually the result of careful planning, strategic decision-making and a lot of hard work. Read more>>
TICA ROSE
When I first ventured into the world of event planning, I quickly realized that success in this industry required more than just creativity and organization—it demanded the ability to take calculated risks. One of the pivotal moments in my career that honed this skill was when I decided to organize my first large-scale luxury wedding. At that time, Tica Rose Events was relatively new, and while we had a few successful smaller events under our belt, we had never tackled anything of this magnitude. The opportunity came when a high-profile client approached us to plan a wedding that would not only be a grand celebration but also a showcase of cutting-edge design and innovation. The stakes were high. The client’s expectations were enormous, and the event needed to be flawless. Despite the pressure, I saw this as a golden opportunity to elevate my brand and prove our capabilities. I knew that playing it safe would not suffice; I had to step out of my comfort zone and take some bold decisions. One of the biggest risks was the venue. The client wanted an outdoor wedding at a newly opened estate, which had never hosted an event of this scale before. The venue’s untested nature posed a significant risk, but its breathtaking scenery and unique charm were too perfect to pass up. I decided to take the plunge, believing in my team’s ability to transform the space and manage any unforeseen challenges. Another risk was incorporating avant-garde design elements that had never been used in our events before. From custom-built structures to intricate floral installations, the design plan was ambitious. I collaborated closely with my vendors, pushing their creative boundaries while ensuring we had contingency plans in place for every possible scenario. Read more>>
Rahul Dhiman
I truly feel that my propensity towards taking risk came from two very different drivers in my life. One being, the fact that I grew up enamored by films. Particularly the films that told the story of an underdog, or of someone achieving a feat that seemed impossible to everyone else. The second driver that counterintuitively did this, was me studying engineering. These two factors seem quite unrelated, and each of them actually seem as though they have nothing to do with taking risk, but they actually combined to create an environment where I was primed to take risk. By studying Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley, and having a “stable” job and degree to fall back on, I always had this safety net in my head. I would always tell myself, “worst case if this doesn’t work out, I won’t be homeless.” And that’s all I really needed. For a few years 8 AM to 6 PM was dedicated to my day job. The other hours of the day were fully dedicated to moving the ball forward in taking risks. Whether that be investing all of my income into creating an independent television show, to starting my own company, I was in a space where the downsides of these risks seemed pretty benign to me. Read more>>
Conner Brooke
I wouldn’t consider myself a massive risk-taker by any means. I’m actually really bad at it and have to challenge myself in this area on a regular basis. I’m naturally a play-it-safe personality and can get caught up in the fears of failing. But life really is too short. By living your life always trying to avoid regrets, I think you end up making more regrets in the process. I grew up a pretty nervous kid, scared to put myself out there or try anything new. In 5th grade my parents pushed me to get outside of my comfort zone and try out for the middle school musical. It was the last thing I wanted to do. What if I embarrassed myself or wound up disappointed with the outcome? But of course I ended up loving it and continued to participate in the school musicals until I graduated high school. That experience taught me so much about doing something that scares me. I would have missed out on something that brought me so much joy if I hadn’t taken that small risk. I try to remember that now when I’m hesitant to say “yes” to trying something new just because I’m scared. I once heard author Christy Wright say “just do it scared” and I couldn’t agree more. If you wait to say “yes” until you aren’t scared anymore, you’ll wait your whole life. Don’t overthink it and talk yourself out of taking the risk by telling yourself all the reasons why it might not work. Just go with your gut, say yes, and give it all you got! The more you just practice saying “yes”, the more you prove to yourself that you can do it Read more>>
Shaquandra Tyler
I have literally always been a risk taker. I have never been afraid to start over, especially when I see that something isn’t going to work out. I always learn from my mistakes and know what not to do the next time around. I also plan things ahead of time to make sure that I am always prepared. Read more>>
Junk & PO (Krissy Fernandez)
In high school, I felt a growing urge to see beyond my existence on Guam—a tiny island where you can drive around the entire perimeter in a couple of hours. I was living in a metaphorical fishbowl, yearning to break free from the familiar and predictable. This relentless desire to explore the unknown fueled my decision to make a major shift in my environment and leave home. At 18, armed with the belief that I could carve my own path, I set my sights on San Diego, driven by curiosity and a thirst for new experiences. In those days, before the era of social media, my plans were often made on the fly. I didn’t know a single soul in San Diego except my cousin, didn’t have a job lined up, and after buying my one-way ticket, I had only $200 to my name. Making the decision to leave was tough. I was in my 1st serious relationship, my baby sister was about to be born, and my childhood besties were starting their college lives on the island. The term FOMO didn’t exist yet, but I felt it deeply. Yet, I realized that staying would only hinder my growth. So, with a mix of excitement and nerves, I boarded the plane, trusting that I would figure things out. That pivotal moment boosted my confidence and set the foundation for future risks. It taught me that stepping out of my comfort zone was essential for growth. Whether it was leaving relationships, starting new ones, switching careers, buying homes, moving to Las Vegas, or changing directions in my creative journey, each risk pushed me further. None of these decisions were easy, but they were crucial for my personal evolution. Whenever faced with fear, I asked myself: “What do I fear most, and what would I do if it happened?” Writing it down helped me see that my worst-case scenarios weren’t as dire as they seemed, reminding me that I had overcome hard things before and could do so again. Read more>>
Christine Kemmer
I believe that a strong support system behind me certainly helps, but I think not taking anything THAT seriously is the key. Trusting your research, your gut and your abilities comes first and then knowing that whatever the results are, you will figure it out. Knowing these things helps you take the risk and know that if it fails, it’s not THAT serious. Read more>>
Renata Goos
The way I see it, the ability to take risks comes from being outside of your comfort zone. It’s something that luckily you experience from a young age, which I did. My parents, especially my dad, was very avid on raising strong independent women that were self-sufficient and could make decisions on their own. Even though I am not a person that likes change, I have always taken risks because I really dislike not being in control of my destiny. And I believe that is my biggest drive. Let’s put it that way, if I am not fully happy, fulfilled, and successful in what I am doing or how I am living, I will do anything to make that happen, I just can’t stand it otherwise. I also think that in order to take risks you have to be ok with making mistakes and learning from them. It is also crucial that you have a safe place to land, so building a strong network of friends and family that can support each other makes things a lot easier, when you know that if you hit the ground, you will have a safe place to recover from it. Read more>>
Julia Brodsky
I don’t think I ever specifically worked on it—I was just naturally curious and ready to try new things. As a child, I loved climbing trees and rocks, biking far from home, meeting new friends, and coming up with random project ideas like writing fairly tales, inventing board games or building kites. Sci-fi and adventure stories fascinated me, and I loved imagining myself as the hero. Inspired by “The Three Musketeers,” I started taking foil fencing, outdoor orienteering classes, and theater in middle school. My parents also played a big role, taking me on month-long whitewater kayaking trips above the Polar Circle or backpacking in the mountains every year. As a young adult, I moved to another country, became an astronaut instructor, raised three kids, wrote a book, started my own business. Each of these experiences helped me become more comfortable with taking risks. Now, I work as a risk manager for an ambitious NASA project, Mars Sample Return. I hope my risk-handling skills will prove valuable in this role. Read more>>
Mackenzie Morey
It all started in 2016. I was a senior in high school passionate about makeup. I have been told time and time again that “you’ll never make a living doing makeup”. I struggled with that narrative but still persisted. I began by doing makeup on the side for friends and family. It was more of a hobby than a business at that point because I certainly wasn’t making much income from it. My parents were weary of me going to beauty school after high school. So I pursued a 4-year degree. Even though I was going the “traditional college” route I kept thinking how can I spin this degree to help me as a makeup artist? I started out as a business major but the curriculum wasn’t sparking my interest. I switch to a communication degree with an emphasis on social media strategy. I developed a passion for marketing and advertising although I still longed for a career in the beauty industry. I took a job at Sephora and worked in cosmetic retail to fill the void. I loved working there and learned so much about sanitation, application techniques, and different brands. I finally felt like I was on the right track by pursuing a “worthwhile” degree while also still working with cosmetics. Then, COVID-19 happened. My schooling was transitioned online and I was furloughed from my job. As scary as the world was, an opportunity opened for me. Bridal makeup artists were canceling left and right because of the pandemic. Brides were reaching out to me in a panic for a new artist. I was determined to help them. I researched safety regulations and took all the necessary precautions like masks, sanitizer, gloves, etc. My side business was now booming. So, I took the risk to work for myself full-time. Read more>>
Seun Bewaji
I’ve missed out on so many opportunities in the past when it came to maintaining relationships, jobs, etc. I was too comfortable in my own skin. I wanted to play it safe. I was scared. I had all of those “what if” thoughts in my head. I thought, “What if people judge me?” “What if I fail?” Within a matter of time, I had to put those thoughts to rest because I realized it was only hurting me, not helping me. So I started doing things I was afraid of. I learned how to drive. Within a few years, I got my drivers license. I started going to networking events to meet up with directors, actors, producers. I started sending emails everyday to directors to get an audition to act in movies, TV, and Theatre. Anytime I had those thoughts, I told myself, If I don’t go for what I want, I’ll never have it! That’s the reality I had to face. Tomorrow is never promised. I would never want to be on my death bed filled with regrets. It’s better to start following your dreams now. Or else one day it’ll be too late. Life is too precious to let your dreams pass you by.. Read more>>
