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.
Angelika Brewer
Early on in my writing career, I recognized that being a self-taught professional writer would require disciplined self-study, because I was not being taught the ropes by an instructor or professor. While I had many great mentors along the way, much of my knowledge came from my own love of learning new things and seeking out information. Read more>>
Amanda Varney
I think to achieve almost any life-changing goal or to obtain the things we want, often times we do need to take a risk to get there. In order to grow and make big life changes, we have to step outside of our comfort zone and take those risks. I just would hate to look back at my life when I’m older, and think of all the things that could have been if I had just taken the risk. I want to look back and be proud of my accomplishments, and be able to say I was a woman of resilience and confidence. Read more>>
Kristian Wilson
I believe the concept of “no risk, no reward.” I’ve been taking risk since I was younger. I always had an understanding that I never want to live life with regrets. In order to not regret anything, I pushed myself to do things I’ve never done before. Read more>>
Marquis Davis
I developed my ability to take risk at a very young age. Growing up in the inner city, the way that the surroundings were, it was almost like taking a risk just going outside everyday. It was dangerous. Also, at age 16, I discovered that I had a real passion for Music, so I decided to drop out of high school and pursue that passion. To me, that was like taking a huge risk, because at the time, I was the only one who thought that it was a good idea. Read more>>
Bridget Willard
How did you develop your ability to take risk? Read more>>
Caitlin Palomin
Starting any business is a risk. In every business there is a risk of failure, a risk of foregoing more stable paths, and a risk that you will be wildly unprepared. I started my own law firm last year–Palomin Law Firm, PLLC. While I was in law school, I realized that I wanted to be able to create a law firm that focuses on the client above all else. I wanted to create an environment that promoted understanding, communication, and client-centered approaches. Read more>>
Diana Goodwin
As an entrepreneur, you have to get used to taking risks if you want to get anywhere, but it takes practice. Over time I’ve become more comfortable with the idea of risk, but the best advice I was given was to start small. Seek out opportunities to take risks in low-stakes situations so you can practice evaluating the pros and cons and get comfortable listening to your intuition. Read more>>
Wendy Holland
I developed my ability to take risk through my up bringing. I have to older siblings who are successful in their field. What I’ve learned through their journey is that that they had to take risks to get to where they are. So that influenced me to always be open to taking risk. Read more>>
Sarah and Ezra Reich
It started around 2019 when we were offered to open up a factory to produce our buns at a bigger scale from an investor in Los Angeles. The goal was for it to be open first quarter in 2020. At the end of 2019 we didn’t feel that the deal was right for us even though it looked good on paper. The shut downs came in 2020 and we actually dodged a situation we could have lost a lot on due to the timing. Read more>>
Taylor Watkins
Ever since a child, I knew I wanted to bring people together. Whether it was putting on a magic show for my friends or singing Elvis Presley songs to my family in the living room, I was a young entertainer on his way to a life of event coordinating. My early 20s brought on new age philosophy and eastern spiritualism. Read more>>
Sandra Sanchez Loulakis
I developed my ability to take risks from being in the business of fashion which is a very competitive cutthroat industry and even though it can be a very cruel industry IWanted to be a independent business owner and I refuse to give up so, I learned that if I didn’t take a risk During the most challenging times I wouldn’t of made it where I am today taking that risk basically showed me the only way to do things is to take a risk and I advise anybody who wants to be an independent business owner to take that risk as it will take it to the next level as it did for me. You have to keep walking forward taking those risks and not looking back before you know it you’re headed in the direction that you’re seeking. Read more>>
Brad Parkes
Inherently we’ve always believed that every choice is a risk. Starting a business is a risk, but so is not starting a business. Developing a new product is a risk, but so is not developing a new product. Read more>>
Nicole Meyer-Mcfalls
In my first life I was an instructional leader for special needs students. Unfortunately, I became ill and needed to take early disability retirement. I quickly learned what my students told me about but I never fully understood. Being disabled can be isolating and a bit scary. I had lost everything. My career, my husband and almost my home. I was broke, sick and wondering what my future was going to look like. Read more>>
Rhonda Alexia Webb
Thanks for giving me the chance to talk about this particular topic with your audience. Let’s face it, taking risks is unavoidable, and I learned this very early in my entrepreneurial journey. It comes with the territory. And if you’re uncomfortable with risk, then maybe this particular journey is not best suited for you. And that’s okay. The very definition of risk lets you know up front that things can go bad, maybe really bad. Read more>>
Elijah Perry
From a young age, skateboarding taught me to confront risks head-on. While I may not skateboard as frequently now, the lessons it imparted remain indelible. Skateboarding is a blend of joy and inherent risks; it’s about mastering the art of not falling, even though I had my fair share of tumbles and broken bones. Read more>>
Ruben Carrillo
From always feeling like an outsider. If you’ve always felt uncomfortable you get used to it. And that’s really all the worst that can happen from chasing after your dreams. If you don’t make it, you just feel a little uncomfortable for awhile until you can make a way to make it work. You have to pick your struggle. You can either be uncomfortable where you’re at. Or you can be uncomfortable trying to change your situation. One requires effort so most people don’t choose it. Read more>>
Miranda Krueger
My parents play a big factor in my ability and willingness to take risks. When I was two months old, my parents bought their first business on the island that we now call home and have since that day. There was an auction for the building that the fire station once occupied, and they came up to bid on the building and won the auction that day. Read more>>
B. Cloy
By being curious. I’ve always been a person who wanted to try new things whether it was sports, the arts, language, or academics. Because of my curiosity, I became pretty good at a lot of things or understood a lot of new things. After you’ve attempted new things so many times, you’re no longer afraid to take a risk. Read more>>
Marie Allen
What a fun question this is! I’ve always been a risk taker, so taking risks isn’t a huge deal for me. I can’t even say definitively how I developed it because I feel like it has always been a part of who I am. If you think about it, you have two options. I am the kind of person that does not like 10 options. I can get indecisive and start questioning myself. You give me two options and I can make a choice with the snap of my fingers. Read more>>
Ryan Smith
Risk is opportunity. The biggest risk one can take is to give the control of their life and opportunity to someone else. Yet this is exactly what most people do. They go to work for somebody, take a salary and benefits for a safe path and security. They feel secure in their jobs yet they can be fired and replaced whenever it will improve the bottom line at the company. The safe play will never get you where you want to be even if you have moderate ambitions. My Dad told me a long time ago, “You will never be rich working for someone else.” Read more>>
Chad Gerber
I think that someone’s ability to take a risk is directly related to their passion and drive to achieve a certain outcome. As a kid, I discovered early on that music was my passion and exactly what I needed to do with my life. Music was what kept me balanced, happy, mentally sound, and made others happy, so I decided that there could be no other outcome than to become a musician no matter the cost. Read more>>
