Risk-taking is at the heart of making a difference, but often we’ve been conditioned to avoid risk as much as possible. So, we asked some successful risk-takers to talk to us about how they developed their comfort with taking risk.
Antonella Pastor
I really resonate with the fact that this reality here is the one I can be the author of. I feel deeply that I have one chance in this life to either settle for living in fear or go out and do what I actually want to do. To live authentically for myself. I hate the thought of leaving this life with regret, with wonder. I have seen how fragile life is, and I understand how quickly it can go from everything to nothing. Realizing that has driven me closer to wanting to live proudly and be fearless. Read more>>
Lauren Packard
Brain surgery. Twice. In 2014 and again in 2023. The first time I got a concussion and went to urgent care where they did a routine CT to check for bleeding. Then came back and said “There is a mass that shouldn’t be there.” Obviously, I was very confused because of the concussion but also just the whole situation. “What do you mean?!” So, they put me on a video chat with a neurologist and then rushed me to get an MRI. Read more>>
Tanika Garlington
I believe if you truly want or believe in something, it is up to you to make it happen and see things through. Many people will just have a vision but do not take the time out to see it through. If you want it, go get it and make sure you work 100% at making it as successful as possible. Success is definitely the key to being true to you. Read more>>
Kim Raaf
I’ve always been excited about new opportunities, but I wouldn’t say I was naturally a risk-taker until my mid-twenties. Before that, I chose a safe path—I pursued a stable career, avoided dangerous activities, and stayed away from risky decisions. Fortunately, this foundation of security allowed me to take a leap of faith and let me realize how incredibly rewarding risk-taking could be: I followed my passion for photography and left behind a secure job as a medical doctor. Read more>>
Maria Teresa Molina
My ability to take risks developed over time through a mix of necessity, mindset, and learning from experience. As an immigrant, I was already accustomed to navigating uncertainty and adapting to new environments. That experience of starting over in a new country pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize that taking calculated risks was essential for growth. Read more>>
Victorya Champagne
My ability to taking risk is to remember things can’t get worse then they already are. You can either stay stagnant or take a chance and gain substantial growth from it. I always look at risks as an opportunity to overcome my fears. Instead of saying “wow this is scary” I say to myself ” what makes this scary and how can I overcome this fear ?”. It’s always better to reach for the star and only make it to the moon then never try at all. Read more>>
Heather Manwaring
When I was 16 or so, I was introduced to a quote (or way of approaching life, really) by my step mother that struck me to the core. It became my guiding light back then, and has continued to influence and guide my decisions in a multitude of different ways into my adulthood. That quote is:
“And the day came when the pain of remaining tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to open,” by Anais Nin. Read more>>
Kenzie Pincelli
When I started photography, I was terrified. I didn’t want to put myself out there as a photographer because I was scared to fail. I was afraid that people would look at me and think I was being unrealistic and chasing after something that wasn’t going to happen. I was most terrified that I would fail and be disappointed in myself. Eventually, I got to the point that I couldn’t risk not trying. I knew that if I didn’t try, years down the road I would look back and regret not taking a chance on myself and on photography. Read more>>
Albert And Liliya Chernogorov
Taking risks is a natural part of life. When you shift your perspective and view risk as a challenge, it transforms into an exciting journey. Saying “no” to every potential risk means you’re saying “no” to countless opportunities. For us, if something doesn’t risk your life, it’s worth considering. Embracing these challenges with an open mind has allowed us to grow and explore new horizons. Read more>>
Leslie Glazier-werner
I was born in the 1950’s to a mother who conformed to the rules…until my dad left her with no education, job skills and 3 children to raise. Not only did she proactively act to feed her children, she became management in a male dominated engineering firm in the 1970’s…. by taking calculated risks. Likewise, I’ve done so as well. Read more>>
Heidi Hess
Risk-taking is a muscle. It’s something that you develop with either time, experience, or both. As a child, I was the cautious one in my group of friends. They would be out doing flips or running along a cement brick wall behind our houses that was eight feet tall and I couldn’t do it. It didn’t seem safe, so I didn’t do it. Read more>>
Rowell Javier
Constantly moving from military base to base growing up and also having Tourette syndrome, I’ve had to overcome many challenges as a child. I’ve had to take risks such as putting myself out there to see if either I make new friends or if I get bullied for my condition. Or take a risk at something as simple as trying to land a new skateboard trick or learn a new skill. And although I didn’t realize it at the time, those challenges instilled in me a unique mindset at a young age. Read more>>
Paz Sher
Before discussing the ability to take risks, I think it’s essential to recognize that risk, for me, is inherent in any art that seeks to make a difference—art that pursues the nuances of a contemporary moment that cannot be repeated through others’ experiences. I believe I developed the ability to take risks by transforming failures into strengths. Risk also stimulates ambition. Allowing a sculpture to fail came with the ambition of extending its scale. Read more>>
Graham Zempel
My brother Joe and I developed our ability to take risk from a childhood that taught us anything could happen, and that it’s better to take the shot and miss, than not to take the shot at all. Our early childhood was easy, and in the market crash of 2009 all of that changed when our family lost what little money we had. By the time we had reached high school, we were suddenly broke and had to find ways to make money and use our time effectively. Read more>>
Vikki Smyth
When a lot of us think of the word “risk” we almost imagine a free fall or a jump, right? For me, it’s far more to do with “calculated risk” than it is to do with the free fall or jump mentality that we often have in mind. I tend to use the words “risk” and “creative” interchangeably. Pushing myself in regards to knowing my options logistically (the “calculated” part), and then being creative with them, has helped me feel more confident in my risk taking. Read more>>
Demetrius Borge
When I first began on that deranged carnival ride called college, I had the whole thing mapped out for a sensible future. The plan was to major in Computer Science—practical, lucrative, —and to minor in film, just to keep a bit of my soul alive amidst the rows of computer screens and sterile code. It was the kind of setup that would make any parent proud while simultaneously boring me to tears. Read more>>
Tom Kelly
Calculated risk taking came to me at a very early age. I was never afraid to try new things and take chances if I could envision a positive outcome. At the age of 10 I decided I wanted to start a newsletter that served our local neighborhood. With a friend helping to write, reproduce and sell the newsletter to neighbors. I did not make much money but it kept me busy and reinforced my self confidence with praise from the neighborhood. Read more>>
Chris Brandsey
From the outside, it might seem that I always land on my feet, progressing smoothly toward a promising outcome. The anxiety associated with the risks I take might appear as nothing more than an occasional nuisance, easily brushed aside. However, the reality is far less glamorous. My journey toward embracing uncertainty has been deeply rooted in self-discovery, understanding my own limits, and reconciling with society’s typical perspectives on risk tolerance—a process that has been anything but straightforward. Read more>>
