We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Jesse Reing | Owner of Event & Wedding Planning Company

While I’m not one to go bungee jumping or hop into a racecar, I have always been a risk taker in my own way; I love change, I love shaking things up, I love stepping out of my comfort zone, in all aspects of my life. Opening my business wasn’t necessarily a risk. I was in a seemingly long term relationship with someone who could support us as I moved everything off the ground. Read more>>

Danielle Wilson-Riley | Creative & Candle Boss

Most times the hard decisions are always the ones that you need to take to experience change. The most important things to think about when considering anything a risk is : -Discern whether its your mind talking or your intuition. -How well will taking this risk change my life? -What good will come out of this? – If I do this will I regret it? Read more>>

Draye Densmore | Draye Densmore: Real Estate Specialist & Options Trader

I thoroughly believe risks have to be taken in order to achieve real success. Playing it safe can only get you so far. If you believe in yourself and what you’re doing then you should be able to take calculated risks in order to achieve your goal. Taking risks has ultimately shaped my whole career for the better. It was very risky to go into real estate right out of college and move to an area where I didn’t know anyone. Read more>>

Paloma Góngora | Visual Artist & Designer

The biggest risk in life is not risking. Risking is not madness but leaving your comfort zone knowing that you’ll struggle and disappoint some people. I firmly believe that taking risks needs a lot of heart and tons of intelligence. Not every risk should be taken without making a plan and when you believe it’s your time, you should go for it. I consider myself as a stable person but not static and that makes me live in continuous movement Im a fashion designer who had a successful career in the industry in Spain. I worked in 3 companies. Read more>>

Jana Amorim | Travel Management

To talk about how I think about taking risks, I must tell my story! Between exchange, opening a company, selling a company, getting married, having children, and living abroad after life seemed to stabilize, they are all part of my story! Read more>>

Ian Fleischmann | Executive Chef

Risk is the only way to true rewards. I have rolled the dice multiple times in my career. I walked away from being the Executive Chef the Goodtime Hotel on South Beach, which was owned by Pharrell and David Grutman. There was never going to be room to be a partner/owner with a company like that. Read more>>

LAZARO SANCHEZ | FASHION DESIGNER

Risk always accompanies a fashion designer. Every time I work on a new collection my legs shake. There is always the risk that it will not be to the taste of the clients, unlike working with my clients, it is that you only have the pressure of only one person, although the risk is always present. This industry is full of tough decisions. As an immigrant, I had to make many difficult decisions. Leaving your family, friends and a country where you were born to venture into a dream of freedom. That’s what I call taking risks. Read more>>