By far, the topic that comes up most in our conversations with entrepreneurs and creatives is risk. We’ve had conversations about risks that worked out and risks that did not. We’ve seen eyes light eye sharing about career-trajectory changing risks as well as folks sigh about the risks they wish they had taken. Below, we’ve selected and shared some of those thoughtful conversations.

Juan Manuel Torres Rodriguez | Production Manager

We think risk is actually what has brought us to where we are with our project, if we had not taken the risk of investment in a different country with a lot a competition and adversities to confront, we probably have not moved from Venezuela, and we would be living in a comfort zone without having the opportunity to accomplished our dream of becoming Tripping Animals Brewing, one of the best breweries in Florida and USA. Read more>>

brahm masla | singer, songwriter, producer and performer

Risk taking is everything to me. All art comes with a certain amount of risk, and because of this, all artists, as soon as they embark upon the process of making art, have to have a lot of bravery. The process of creating art is inherently vulnerable, because you are creating something from inspiration within you, your own imagination, your own mind, from your own unique experience. When an artist creates a piece of art, it becomes somewhat of an extension of themself for everyone around them to perceive. They become incredibly vulnerable, and that is scary in such a hostile and judgmental world. Read more>>

Emily Scott | Event Florist

I find risks exciting & consider them opportunities to level up in life. I’ve risked stability, peace of mind and consistency in this journey of starting a business, which have all paid off tremendously. Sometimes taking a risk and landing successfully is the kind of growth spurt needed to evolve into the kind of person you want to become. You have to leave the fears behind you, believe in yourself and do whatever is necessary to avoid failure. Read more>>

Destiny Johnson | Influencer & model

You definitely have to take risks at times to get ahead. Of course it can be challenging but even in life there are things you have to do you don’t necessarily want to, to accomplish things. I’ve learned to just take it in stride and know it’s for a greater good. Read more>>

Nika Hollingsworth | Founder & Creative

In business, we are taught that there is both good and bad risk. When you are an entrepreneur, risk of any kind plays an integral role in every decision. Every opportunity that creates value can be considered a good risk. When you create, it is hard to know if something will truly add value, especially if the success of what you create is driven by human behavior. You have to take a chance and test it out. I tend to think in worst case/best case scenarios. Read more>>

ELAINA THE POET | SPOKEN WORD SONGSTRESS & WRITER AND PRODUCER

When I think of taking risk , I think of ,one who has no other option in their own mind. One who almost feels obligated to go against what appears to be normal to the average individual. That’s how i felt, and still feel. When I started this journey for real, it was a Risk to abandon the safe way of thinking about my future and the way my life should have been planned out. However I took the risk to become a full time poet/ spoken word artist Because i knew my gift was different and not like anyone else. Read more>>

Shezetta Morris | Coach, Consultant and Counselor

Risk can be a challenging word for many people. But I believe that risk is really the trial and errors of life that help you develop the experiential wisdom to move forward. People think about alot of things. People want to do alot of things. But most people never get to the point where they feel like they can take the risk to do something. Many times people are afraid to jump over the risk bridge in order to accomplish something. But the risk itself is the fuel that helps build confidence, establishes fortitude and strength in a person. Read more>>

Yomara Gourdet | Food/Travel influencer & Photographer

In the course of our lives we will find many risks, some will be good and others will be bad, but if we don’t take risks, we will never know what will happen. That’s life, either you take a risk or you lose. You never know what’s behind a big risk. As I always say, great things come with a little fear. And that’s normal, it happens to everyone, including me, although I don’t always take risks but I could say that most of the time I’ve done it and let me tell you that it went very well. Read more>>

Maria Hoyos Hannigan | Artist

Absolutely in favor of taking risks! Human existence and survival on this planet are based on taking risks, because that is exactly what life is. It is not possible to live fully without trying to achieve our dreams, every decision we make, even if it has been the object of deep reflection, threatens our security, but it can also lead us towards our goals to some extent. However, the risks must be weighed and calculated, some skills must be developed, such as intuition, memory, the ability to analyze our environment and, especially, to know each other intimately. Read more>>

Kimberly Schafer | Director/Choreographer/Educator

My beliefs on risk is that you only live once so you have to take them. I have chosen one of the riskiest and unstable careers being a Director/Choreographer in the Theatre/Dance World. However, I would rather take the risks and try to succeed in a path I love rather than settling for something that doesn’t fulfill me in life. I have definitely had some ups and downs especially during the pandemic, but overall the benefits outweigh the negatives. Read more>>

Elsy Gonzalez | Program Director & Risk-Taker

My view on taking risks has to do a lot with my upbringing and the people that surround me. I come from a family that immigrated from El Salvador, with my grandmother coming to the United States in the late 70s and throughout the years, slowly bringing her nine children for better opportunities. Taking risks helped to keep my family together while finding better opportunities in a new country, surrounded by people and a language they were not familiar with. Learning about my family’s struggles has shown me that risks can be worth it. Read more>>

Cubs The Poet | Healer, Poet & Artist

Well prior to taking my first risk I do not recall it feeling like one. It felt like the “right” thing to do. It felt like life before was a study. Pulling in things that inspired me and learning to stay away from things that didn’t feed my heart, soul and mind. Reflecting upon my choices, I can now see and understand the intial risk I took. I dropped out of college my senior year, last semester, and became a full time poet. I had no plan. I had no source of income. I technically had no place to live, I squatted in my old dorm and even classrooms until I made enough money for renting a space. Read more>>

Trish Kahn | Fine Artist & Art Instructor

I have always been adventurous throughout my life by pushing myself outside my comfort zone.. Traveling overseas alone, challenging myself athletically by scuba diving up to 120 foot depths, hiking over boulders and skiing down very challenging mountains in Colorado are just a few of the risks that I have taken. All in all, these challenging endeavors have transferred over into my art processes. I feel that in order to grow as an artist, one must allow that freedom for change and trust the process. My work goes through many stages of addition and subtraction while remaining fearless and connected. to that inner stillness. Read more>>

Melissa Manning | Business & Wealth Strategy Coach, Podcast Host, & Serial Entrepreneur

There’s a quote I love by Jim Rohn where he says, “it’s all risky. I’ll tell you how risky life is…You’re not gonna get out alive…” I have been taking risks based on what my intuition tells me is right since I was a kid. When you trust your instincts and your capabilities though, what other people think of as a risk seems much less risky to you. Read more>>

Tony Vallés | Director & cinematographer

I think that without risk there is no reward and no opportunities. When I moved to New York I knew the risk of such a decision. I betted everything towards my career and education. I did not know if I was going to be able to sustain myself in a city like New York which is known to have an elevated cost of living. Especially in an early career, risks should be taken all the time as long as the risk is not life-threatening or career-ending. Read more>>