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.

Franklin Ndibam | Visual artist

Whenever I’m about to paint,for me it’s a risk because as an artist we all have the mindset of selling works we have created.. one of the way I go about painting is to just have the mindset of just painting not only just for sale but for the passion of painting. The more I paint I derive joy from it Read more>>

Andres Castro | Audio Engineer & Music Producer

I noticed that when I started taking risks and betting on myself, I felt true accomplishment, happiness and success. Often we’re taught to avoid risk, wether it’s in business, finance, or life but I think by carefully assessing challenges and “learning as you go”, we can discover our full potential. Taking risks, even when I may not have felt one hundred percent ready to take them, led me onto great networking opportunities, jobs and even great friendships. Read more>>

Patricia Salamin | Design Director & Visual Artist

Definitely the word Risk takes a big role in the process of having a successful life and career. Risking is everything for me specially taking the risk exposing your creativity and making decisions expressing yourself putting life into the spaces. Playing it safe is not my thing, I rather make bolder choices and expand my ideas and design criteria mixing materials, playing with forms and taking in consideration every detail. Read more>>

Arpan Rau | CEO of Outsail

I think about risk a lot. In addition to running Outsail, my hardware startup, I fly paragliders. Paraglider pilots intentionally leap off the top of a mountain, suspending ourselves from an overgrown parachute, and navigate turbulence to cover distance. There’s significant risks involved. Read more>>

Sara Shulevitz Vorhand | Criminal Defense Attorney

I was working as an attorney for the government. In fact, as a young attorney I started out as a Prosecutor in Miami and then switched to the opposite side as a Public Defender in Miami. Both positions were secure jobs with good benefits and a stable salary however, I wanted to be more independent and be able to earn more, it was a huge risk as a young attorney to leave a secure coveted position with good benefits, but I knew I wanted to be my own boss and I wanted the ability to be creative in my field. I started small in an office that was like a closet in downtown Miami. I came with one box with my diplomas and one set of law books. I was young, enthusiastic and full of passion to defend people. I took almost every case that came, many of the cases were extremely challenging and many of the clients were low income. I made payment plans and my services affordable. Eventually the hard work and determination led me to high level clients including celebrities. I am so passionate about my work and cases. Read more>>