Increasing Your Capacity for Risk-Taking

The capacity to take risk is one of the biggest enablers of reaching your full potential and so we want to create a space where risk-takers can come together to talk about how they’ve developed their capacity for risk taking.

Ann Marlin

I come from a long line of entrepreneurs so I believe my ability to take risk comes directly from my immediate family and the generations before them. I was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana where my mom’s side comes from ranching and farming. Their ranch has been in the family for 3 generations.  Read more>>

Alison Cronin

I have always been the type of person to take risks and go after what I want. Sometimes, it gets me into trouble, but other times, I end up happier than ever because I took the risk. I genuinely feel that we can have whatever we want in life, and that almost always involves taking risks. Read more>>

Lauren Tongco

Growing up, I always had a fascination with colors and brushes. At 13, I discovered makeup as a way to blend art and beauty, a passion that would later shape my life in unexpected ways. My bedroom became my studio, with a vanity mirror and a collection of cosmetics growing steadily. Friends and family became my canvases, and their smiles, my reward. Read more>>

April Nichole

The term “risk- taker,” was not in my vocabulary til I was put in a new environment in my teens for the 3rd time. Our family moved around quite a bit, which opened me up to new experiences, surrounding and people. I had to make the choice over and over again to either step out of my comfort zone, take hold and embrace the change or stay comfortable, sit back and wonder. Read more>>

Vivek Varma Nampally

In life, taking risks means trying new things even when we’re not sure what will happen. It’s like taking a leap of faith towards something we really want, even if it’s a bit scary. Think of it as stepping outside our comfort zone to chase our dreams. Read more>>

Lilian Allahverdian

Developing my ability to take risks has been a gradual process shaped by various experiences and a conscious effort to step out of my comfort zone. Early in my career, I recognized that growth often comes from embracing uncertainty and learning from both successes and failures. I started by taking small, calculated risks, such as volunteering for challenging projects or proposing innovative ideas. Over time, these experiences built my confidence and resilience. Read more>>

Amy Jam

Patience has never been my strong suit, a trait my mother often attributes to my early arrival into the world, two weeks ahead of schedule. When reflecting on my penchant for risk-taking, impatience stands out as a key factor. At the slightest chance of excelling in a venture, I swiftly downplay my vulnerability and amplify the potential rewards in my mind. Read more>>

Bryce Damuth

For me, it was a conscious decision at first. In 2004, I moved to Nashville, TN with a group of friends. They moved for the music. As a non-musician, I had space to explore and try to find my “thing”. So it was a stated goal after I moved that I would live without fear, I would keep myself open to any opportunity that came my way and would not shy away from them. That first year, I branched out a ton.  Read more>>

Kelli Despain

I’m a “jump in the deep end and flail a bit before learning to swim” type of person. The question I get asked the most about my business, Bottega Exchange, is how did I get my idea off the ground? How do you go from concept to open for business? My answer is always to jump right in. Just like having babies, you will never feel fully prepared.  Read more>>

Rigel Yaluk Mosquera

I believe everything in life is a risk, risk breeds best opportunities and safe risk will always yield less. I developed my risk taking by choosing my foundation to be art making. You have to try and experiment a lot to get new results. Many times these experiments don’t yield results. Aside from that my hobbies like surfing force one to take risk and do what is counter logical. Risk always pay off in the long run. Read more>>

Carissa Carter

My biggest influence in learning to take risks was receiving nods of encouragement that built my confidence in pursuing what I had always wanted to do, which is make a good living doing what I loved: singing and writing songs. Joel Weaver, who worked at Brick Row Music with Brad Davis, booked me a gig at Cocktail Creamery in McKinney a few years ago so I could earn a little extra cash.  Read more>>

NADINE ROBINSON

Developing my ability to take risks has been a journey shaped by my unique experiences and challenges as a Black woman. Life hasn’t afforded me the luxury to take risks lightly, and often, I find myself making fear-based decisions out of a scarcity mindset or a sense of urgency. However, I’ve learned to rely on my capabilities, competencies, and courage over time. Read more>>

Brittany Vadnais

I don’t know. I just know I’m comfortable taking risks and putting myself out there. Of course, like everybody I have a comfort zone. I always ask myself before I close off any doors, how much can I push the comfort zone before I retreat into my shell? Read more>>

Rebeca Obando

Taking risks has always been at the forefront of who I am as a person, and how I developed my business. I’ve always lived by the motto “Say yes to things that excite you, and figure out the how later”. Read more>>

Matt Eskandari

Developing my ability to take risks has been a journey of learning from experience, building confidence through calculated steps outside my comfort zone, and continuously seeking knowledge to make informed decisions. Surrounding myself with a supportive network of mentors and friends has provided valuable perspectives and encouragement, while embracing a growth mindset has shifted my approach to challenges, viewing them as opportunities for personal and professional growth.  Read more>>

Emma Medeiros

I started becoming bolder about taking risks when planning our wedding in 2012. I’ve always been a history geek, and am particularly fascinated with the Tudor/Renaissance period. I have a huge family, so I’ve been to many, many weddings, but it always felt like I was attending the same one over and over again; the same white dress, black tux, rituals, and readings. Read more>>

Jess Voss

I learned to take risks through a rather unconventional path. Imagine a finance graduate trapped in a lucrative but soul-crushing corporate role. For six years, I toiled away amidst spreadsheets and sterile boardrooms, feeling increasingly estranged from my authentic self. Read more>>

Shane Brazzell

Failure. I have failed so hard that I thought I wouldn’t get back up again. After surviving, and proving that I could in fact have everything in my life destroyed AND survive… The word risk doesn’t mean the same thing anymore, it has no bite. I know now, that even if I lose, I can get back up, work my tail off and still come out ahead. Read more>>

Kit Vicious

As cliche as it sounds – my father. I had a front row seat to watch this man fight for custody of me and my younger sister – and witness him give us as much as he could while we were growing up. He made the leap to becoming a consultant and never looked back. Read more>>

Mathilda Tennysdotter

My urge to say “Yes” to things have always been strong. Starting at a young age I was always curious and wanted more out of life. I took a huge risk as a 20 year old moving across the world on my own. It was scary but you know whats even scarier, staying in the same place without trying something new.  Read more>>

Carli jay

This is something that came naturally to me and I wasn’t even aware I was a “risk-taker” so to speak, I thought this was just what people did, go after things you want, chase dreams and all that jazz. It wasn’t until others pointed it out to me during my late 20’s and early 30’s as I met new people or shared my story through podcasts and interviews that people started saying to me “Your Courageous” or “Wow that’s so brave” and I didn’t really understand what they meant. Read more>>

Cynthia Shaw

What I find interesting about this question is how everyone here takes risks every single day. The moment you wake up, decide to take a step out your front door, and carry on with your day is a series of risks. I see safety as something not guaranteed, as there is no telling what is going to happen next. Read more>>

Matt Chessco

My ability to take risks developed in 2018 when I quit my engineering career 4 days after getting my first job. In the summer of 2018, I finished my Mechanical Engineering degree. I got my last exam on a Saturday and I started working the next Monday. Read more>>

Uchechukwu Ajuzieogu

My ability to take risks has evolved through a combination of personal experiences, education, and professional challenges. Here are the key factors that contributed to this development: 1. Early Experiences and Background: Growing up, I was encouraged by my parents to step out of my comfort zone and embrace new challenges. Read more>>

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