Shoot your shot?  Take a chance?  Society bombards us with messages, phrases, examples and stories of how taking risk is the key to success, but is anything ever that simple?  We asked some of the brightest folks we know to tell us about how they think about risk.  We’ve shared their responses below.

La Espe

I think that taking risks is important, we hear it all the time from successful entrepreneurs and celebrities. But I think that we should always value what we can lose and/or win, after taking that risk and depending on that taking it or not. Also making sure that it’s not our ego of knowing we might not be the best at something be the one that is holding us in order to take risks. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself. Read More>>

Kelly Ann Pyszkiewicz

In any industry, risks are inevitable. Over the past six years as a tattoo artist, I’ve learned to diversify my income by exploring various art mediums, from selling oil paintings and custom framework to engraving guns for my fiancé. Tattooing is highly seasonal and sensitive to economic downturns, such as the current “tattoo recession.” Diversifying has allowed me to navigate slow periods with ease. Investing in marketing, like my billboard in Boise, Idaho, is a gamble, but it can drive higher bookings and boost brand recognition.  Read More>>

Enmanuel Gonzalez

I’ve been a risk taker all my life. From a young age, I never followed the system or did what people told me to do—I was always drawn to paths that intrigued me, even if they seemed impossible to others. I’ve always chased the uncommon route, doing things most people wouldn’t even attempt. Read More>>

Jaime Custer

Risk taking is essential for a succesfull career i’d say. Many opportunities don’t just come by themselves and you have to go look for them. Sometimes reaching out to people who you think will never respond is a game changer. Risking the last dollar can be an opportunity. Believing and risking taking go hand in hand but it has to be a controlled risk. You have to believe in yourself and in your projects to able to take risks and see what the consequences may be. I’m a hundred percent sure that although they say the train does not pass twice there are millions of trains you can take. Everyone has a different route and controlled risks can determine your outcome. Read More>>

Fabiola Malka

Risk has been an integral part of my personal and professional journey. As a Peruvian-born, Chilean-Jewish individual with a background in economics and a passion for journalism and communications, I’ve always been drawn to challenging myself and stepping out of my comfort zone. My career path has been a testament to this, from writing for numerous media outlets in Peru to working on projects for the World Bank, USAID, and BID, and eventually becoming the writer for the Vice President of Peru. Read More>>

Safiyyah Joseph-Francois

I see risk differently when my faith is firmly rooted in Christ. On the surface, a risk might look like a gamble—but through the lens of faith, it becomes a step of obedience. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” and that truth shapes the way I move. I don’t take risks recklessly; I move when I sense God leading, even if the path is unclear. When my faith is established in Him, I can step forward with confidence, knowing I’m not walking alone or relying on my own understanding. Read More>>

Gloria

Risk has been a crucial part of my journey as an independent creative and small business owner. I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not taken that initial leap – boldly stepping into my dreams without a roadmap, just a vision and a deep inner knowing. Every step forward has required a certain kind of courage – one that demands an unwavering confidence in the leap itself and, more importantly, a profound trust in who I am and what I am capable of. Read More>>

Morgan Oughton

Safety is an illusion and living a mediocre life doesn’t mean that bad things won’t happen.
You can be healthy and happy and then one day you slip and fall in the bath tub, get into a car crash on your way to work, or be diagnosed with a terminal illness. Life is risk, so why not embrace it for everything it is worth?
I have always lived my life on my own terms, moved often, lived abroad, changed careers, explored some of the most remote places left on the planet, and none of it would be categorized as easy or without risk. Read More>>

Jacob; Ellie Levins; Marshall

We strongly believe in taking calculated risks. That mindset didn’t come naturally to us at first, but owning a business has really shifted our perspective. Over time, we’ve come to see risk not as something to fear, but as a necessary part of growth. Risk has played a pivotal role in both our personal and professional journeys. If we hadn’t been willing to step outside our comfort zones, we might never have started this business—or even met each other.  Read More>>