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.

Mike Annese | Fire Chief/Drummer

Taking risks is a necessary step in advancing your career, or whatever you take a chance on. Risk can be unfamiliar, scary, exciting, and so many other things that lead to progress, growth and change. I have always tried to push myself along the way and take some chances. The first step to anything new is a form of risk in something you are unfamiliar with, however, without taking the risk you do not stretch your abilities and life experience. Read more>>

Bengala Ngobene | Founder & CEO of Chakalaka, LLC

I’ve grown to understand that there is risk in every decision you make, especially in the entrepreneurial journey. Risk-taking has been a constant in my life and career, shaping not only my business but also my mindset as an entrepreneur. I expect challenges when pursuing success, and when making decisions or executing my ideas, I always do so with a readiness for the risks involved. Taking calculated risks has taught me resilience and allowed me to build a stronger foundation for my business, Chakalaka. Read more>>

Kayla Macvean-salaun | Founder + CEO

My perception if risk has changed throughout my career, but changed drastically as I started and grew my business. I spent most of my early life as an athlete, running (ha) as far away from risk as I possibly could, never wanting to risk anything and always opted for the safe and predictable path. But then, as I progressed through my career and started thinking of branching out on my own and starting my own business, I quickly realized that risk is not only inevitable, but necessary if I wanted to achieve the goals I’ve set. Read more>>

Marguerite Carter | Lifestyle Photographer

Risk-taking, to me, is about evaluating the potential for growth against the fear of the unknown. I think of risk as a calculated decision—a blend of intuition, planning, and acceptance that things might not go as planned, which is such a big part of this business. Everything, down to the weather, involves an element of risk. Read more>>

Alex Coombs | Freelance Musician

I tend to think of risk in a personal way that is directly relative to a persons belief in themselves. Being a freelance musician and session artist, you are hired by means of recommendation or by an online presence but that doesn’t ensure that you will be called back even if you “do the job.” It’s always been extremely important to me that in whatever project or artist I affiliate myself with that I am able to put a little bit of myself into the art, not necessarily just play a part. In other words risk to me is like placing a bet on myself to be myself. In the freelance world people want to continue to work with the feeling someone can bring to them as opposed to just hiring talented individuals. Read more>>

Evan Motlong | Physical Therapist and Sports Performance Coach

I feel risk taking is necessary for all successful business owners, or successful people in general. I don’t believe anyone successful got where they are without taking a risk and taking that “leap of faith.” I am a big believer that taking a big risk is directly correlated with believing in yourself. Sometimes you have to be pushed towards believing in yourself and taking that risk, and sometimes you naturally stumble upon it, but either way, it causes you to look inward and say “I am going to do this.” In my life and career risk taking has been a staple for me in helping me get to where I am today with my business but also just as a person. Read more>>