Taking risk is natural for some, but in our experience most successful risk takers gradually developed their ability to leave comfort zones and take risk and we’ve asked them to share their experiences and advice below.
Liz Crosswell
Taking risk has always been a part of my DNA. I’ve started several businesses in my lifetime. I love to create a business and grow into something wonderful. When I started Crosswell Organizing it was just me, out there working every day in people’s homes. I now have a partner and a team of 15 people. Starting a business is the easy part, it’s the follow through that is so challenging. Read more>>
Carolina Liz
It was not easy. But when you decide to become an actress, you realise the craft is all about taking risks. You can’t act or give voice and a life to a character if you don’t try things that are out of your comfortable zone. Thank God there’s no such a thing as “right or wrong” so you might as well go try something really crazy, I also LOVE to portray characters that are not very close to me in real life because it challenges me to understand other opinions and different visions of life. Read more>>
Summer Barnhart
Everyday we take risks. Some of them small while others big, I made the choice to take a risk and start my business on New Year’s Day of 2017. My kids were young and I knew how much I wanted to find a way to create a schedule that allowed me to be present while my husband worked. I also knew how much pleasure I took from shooting. Read more>>
Gwen Steel
I am not an inherent risk taker. I first started working with a voice acting coach in 2002, and knew that it was something I’d love to pursue. But I put things on ice because I was afraid to make the jump. Being an actor and entrepreneur was risky. What if I put all this effort into it, and it didn’t go anywhere? What if I…failed? Read more>>
Ty Bamla
Every human is a creative being. I’m a soft-spoken person in real life, however I can be anything and let my rage out on the screen. A lot of people think film people just swan about, meet each other at upscale restaurants, and talk about films. They think that’s how actors/artists get their creative concepts. Read more>>
Kira Mccoy
I haven’t always been a risk-taker. I grew up the oldest of 4 children and a lot was expected from me. I never defied my mother or the repercussions would be swift and painful. Once I left home and went to college, things changed a bit. I realized that I could (sometimes) become the master of my own destiny. I got very honest with my mother, even telling her once when she was trying to impose an early curfew, “Mom, you realize I have been living on my own, with my own car, doing what I want, sleeping, eating, and enjoying my time, and I am still alive, well, and on the dean’s list, right?” My mom died during my second year of college and that was a bit freeing since she had been an oppressive influence. Read more>>
Alice Nguyen
Taking risks is something that has become second nature to me, especially in the food business. When I first started 88 Banh Mi and Bowl, I knew I wanted to offer something truly special—authentic Vietnamese flavors, but with a commitment to freshness and quality that you don’t always find. Making our bread daily in-house was a huge risk. Read more>>
Thomas Basaluos
Ever since I can remember, my father has been a profound source of inspiration for me, especially when it comes to taking risks and seizing opportunities. His journey began in a small village in Egypt, where he often gazed at planes flying overhead, dreaming of where they might be going and what it would feel like to soar above the clouds. As a child, he would get excited at the sight of a plane, chasing it until it disappeared from view. This dream of travel and adventure stayed with him throughout his life. Read more>>
Carolyn Riggins
Developing my ability to take risks began when I first assumed a managerial role, overseeing the growth of a bank branch from $9 million to $80 million. In this capacity, I had to make quick decisions while meticulously analyzing potential consequences. Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages, along with the financial impact, whether positive or negative, became a crucial aspect of my decision-making process. Read more>>
Christina Moss-crawford
I think this was something I saw instead of being taught. My parents were always dream chasers which allowed me to be a free thinker and not be afraid of challenging myself or pivoting from one business or passion to the next. Read more>>
Dre Dimura
If you were to ask my friends or family to describe “Dre DiMura”, I’m certain that “risky” would come up frequently. It’s become a huge part of my DNA. I love taking risks. It’s a skill you can cultivate, as was the case for me. I was a really meek kid; I had terrible stage fright. I grew up around the arts in New Jersey, so I had big dreams of becoming a performer. Read more>>
Chrystian Marte
I’m no stranger to how intimidating risks can be. Every day, we face decisions that fall along a spectrum of ‘scary’ to ‘not so scary.’ It’s akin to playing a video game where we might want to stay in ‘peaceful mode.’ Comfort is everyone’s best friend, often because we’re afraid of failure and the unknown. Read more>>
Denise & James Gordon
Our ability to take risks was always something we recognized in each other when dating. We’d both separately packed up our proverbial cars and were in the initial stages of forging a career in Los Angeles when we met. This approach was also an undercurrent in our marriage. James never met a television deadline challenge he wasn’t willing to accept, and Denise launched and sold a few successful small businesses over the years, including the day spa she’d opened the very second that pandemic quarantines were lifted. Read more>>
Isaac King
Being a practitioner of experimental film and animation techniques necessitates risk. The field encapsulates a wide array of artists innovating and — as the name implies — experimenting. One could hardly call oneself an experimenter if one didn’t step out of their comfort zone and explore new possibilities. Read more>>
Taylor Adams
Thanks so much for having us! Neither one of us has ever shied away from a challenge or been afraid to take a leap of faith. The first leap we took together was 15 years ago, at our first college, when we decided to transfer to universities in Boston. I think the biggest thing we’ve learned over the years is that any risk we take where things don’t work out exactly the way we expected isn’t a failure, but an opportunity to learn and improve. All of the experience from then on unexpectedly led to us starting our business together! Read more>>
Jennifer Lang
In some ways, I am very cautious and risk adverse. When hiking with my husband, who still thinks going off-path is acceptable at our age (59), I now scream “I’m not following you” and start walking back/down. That said, I definitely take risks professionally: started my own writing studio in a non-English speaking country, teach topics that are both in and out of my comfort zone and research/learn what I need for the latter, create community around writing. Read more>>
Sarah Brunner
Sarah: We both quit our day jobs to pursue music – so we were both banking on ourselves to succeed in music. From here, we continued to say yes to opportunities even if there was more risk involved, like touring across the country for 4 months. These 4 months brought us a lot of the opportunities that led to our recent album release. We continue to try new things in every avenue of music — marketing, merch, shows, because we’ve learned that luck and opportunity can come from anywhere and when you least expect it. Read more>>
Sherrod Foster
Perfectionism has been my biggest barrier to taking risks. Knowing my procrastination stemmed from perfectionism, and that perfectionism stemmed from fear of failure and rejection revealed my need to lean into risk. One practical way I did so was setting rejection goals. Aiming to be accepted into every residency, festival, or showcase was keeping me from applying at all. Aiming for ten “no”s in a given period is easier and more motivating to my inner critic. It soothed my perfectionism because I was either going to meet my own goal or get a surprise acceptance. Read more>>
Olga Boldyreva
I’ve always believed that taking risks is rooted in having faith in yourself and your passions. Over time, I realized that the more I trusted my instincts and followed what truly excited me, the more willing I became to step out of my comfort zone. Though taking a risk in my craft doesn’t really scare me—I’ve been fortunate to have a support system of family, friends and loyal customers who encouraged me and my creativity along the way. Read more>>
