Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

Samantha Copland | Wedding & Boudoir Photographer

For the wedding/couples portion of my business; Two years ago I decided to plan a trip with other photographers that I had met through an online Facebook group targeted to individuals like myself. I had already been photographing weddings and couples, but I had yet to book anything out of state. My dream was/is to be a destination photographer. I knew it would be hard to market myself in areas I had not even been to. So, I hopped on a plane and our first trip was to Utah. Read more>>

Jesse Stephenson | Real Estate photographer and underwater explorer

The old adage “without risk, there is no reward” pretty well sums up my view on risk. In order to do anything meaningful, you really have to take a risk or chance. I have always felt that I would rather take a risk and fail than to have never attempted something because of fear of failure. From another perspective, my motto in life has always been to “make today an adventure”! So I often look at something I would like to do as an adventure while many others may look at it and call it risky. Read more>>

James Tyler White | Actor – Content Creator – Filmmaker – Social Strategist

Risk requires strategy. All risks should be taken as long as the reward is greater and there are multiple beneficiaries. Every pro and con should be assessed when taking risks in order to strive for the best possible outcome. Risk has prompted me to move and travel to many different cities, not only strengthening my network but also creating lifelong friendships. As an actor and storyteller, taking the leap of faith to travel and explore other cultures has not only broadened my bandwidth of human understanding but also invigorated my imagination. Read more>>

Andrew Morales | Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Gym Manager

There wouldn’t be a story to tell if there wasn’t a chance taken, blessing or curse. We don’t know until we try. We take a chance every day in everything we do. You either do or you don’t. Heads or tails. To each of us, the fear of landing on tails when we flip the coin varies on how much emotion we have invested in that moment. With every coin toss comes an experience we can grow from and learn from. Read more>>

Raquel Fraticelli | Artist | Professional Dancer

When I was first starting out in the dance industry, the amount of “no’s” I received far outweighed the amount of “yes’s”. Going to auditions time and time again requires a bit of naive confidence and a whole lot of risk taking. I went through so many cycles of feeling that this was not the right industry for me or I was not good enough – but the cycles taught me resilience and trust. Read more>>

Whitney Berger | Fitness Studio Owner

You have to take risks to grow. I’ve always taken risks, following my instincts and dreams. When I decided to open my own Fitness Studio all my loved ones had advised against it and were worried for me. If I had listened and not taken a risk, I would be no where… still working for someone that didn’t fully appreciate me and what I offered. Read more>>

Agustin Oliva | Co-Founder of Argentine Beef Grass Fed

I’m the type of person that likes to think through everything logically. What is the risk that I’m taking and what is the potential reward? For example, I apply this way of thinking to my driving every day; should I speed down this empty road? Risk/reward: speeding ticket from hidden cop, potential loss of $, ID points, insurance increases, etc. or if nothing happens I’ll arrive at my destination about 2-3 minutes earlier. I apply logical reasoning to any situation I’m in and base my decision on the risk/reward ratio. Read more>>

Safina Duke | Life Coach & Host of Life By Safina Podcast

I think risk is just our way of describing “something that society doesn’t understand.” We’re all given a role to play, and very rarely is it exactly who we are meant to be. The bigger risk is not listening to your own intuition. Living your life for other people, or taking a track just because you think it’s what you’re supposed to do. Read more>>

Stephen (Stvii B) Richardson | Producer/artist/engineer/DJ

Each risk brought me closer to the next step. I remember times making great money in a comfort zone. It took a risk of me loosing that comfortability, sacrificing what I build for myself, even at times going completely broke just rebuild again. But I always found myself in a better space than I was before. Without those risks, what I consider the next level wouldn’t be reached. Read more>>

Neïsha Kaïna Etienne | Multi-Disciplinary Creative

I can’t say I’ve always been a risk taker – not consciously anyway. I was more of a planner. In high school, I planned the four years of college down to the apartment I would live in down the street from the school of my choice. Strict planning didn’t pay off. My first big conscious risk came in 2019 when I moved out of my parents house making a little over $600 a month; rent was $390. The risk was for freedom. Read more>>

Bill Reicherter | Political Activist / CEO

Risk to me is the baseline of how you view success. As we all know, without risk there is no real reward but you have to look at risk in a way that comes down to what can your gut handle. If you go back in time to the companies that shaped America like Kraft, Hersheys, Kellogg’s etc… they all have one thing in common they failed forward and risked everything to go forward. Now I am not saying you have to risk everything, but if you believe in what your doing, then you have to weigh out the risk, what am I willing to risk to get this reward, knowing the reward is not guaranteed. Read more>>

Cigi Mann | Wife + Mama + Realtor

I think it’s so important to take risks in life. In those moments, you see what you are truly made of. I definitely call myself a risk taker at this stage of life, but my response would have been completely different 10 years ago. I’ve learned you need to do what you are being called to do and not what you think you are “supposed to do.” At one point in my 20’s I moved from Atlanta, GA to San Francisco. I was in a toxic relationship and I knew none of it was a fit for me. I ended that relationship and quickly moved back to Atlanta to be close to family and friends. I needed their support more than ever. Read more>>

Tennille Griffith | Makeup Artist

Playing it safe never really got me anywhere to be honest,lol. Life had a funny way of making me move when I started to settle… not much comes from being in a place of comfort . It’s like the best things come when you step out of your comfort zone and just go for it. If I never took a risk I wouldn’t even be in this field doing makeup. I’m all for risk, but still risks that make sense , sensible risks. Read more>>

christian motter | Co-owner Yacht Management Company

Every day in business is a risk, not just the day you decide to start it. Thats what makes life fun and exciting, risking it for the biscuit. My business partner and I grew up together in New Orleans, Louisiana and were always the kids who were competitive and wanting to push the envelope a little further. While our parents and teachers may have hated this, I think this is crucial in business. Always questioning the how and why and just putting yourself out there for every possible opportunity. My mother used to always say that success dances with the ones who are out on the dance floor and I think that mindset has really pushed me to always keep my feet moving in life. Read more>>