Legend holds that Cornelius Vanderbilt had built a massive fortune in the steamboat shipping industry, but then realized the railroads were the way of the future and invested almost his entire net worth into railroads. The gamble paid off and made Vanderbilt one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs ever. But risks are inherently…risky. How do you think about risk and how has it affected your life and career? Some of our community favorites share their perspective below.

Gina-Marie Bethel | Entrepreneur & Web Developer

Throughout my career, I’ve recognized the importance of calculated risk-taking in achieving both personal and professional growth. There have been many instances where I stepped out of my comfort zone, taking on challenging projects or pursuing opportunities that seemed ambitious at the time. These experiences have been instrumental in expanding my skill set, building resilience, and fostering a mindset of continuous learning. Read more>>

Vika Costa | Artist

i think risk is one of the most important parts of our life. in my experience, every time i took a risk it was followed by new beginnings, growth and new opportunities. Read more>>

Sarah Martin | CEO/Celebrity Event Producer, Best-Selling Author, Real Estate Collector and Fine Art Collector

Risk-taking is not just a facet of my professional life; it’s woven into the very fabric of my being. I’ve made a habit of metaphorically jumping off cliffs, particularly in my role as the CEO of an Event Production Agency specializing in large-scale and corporate events. The nature of this industry demands making critical decisions amid high-stress situations, and this constant pressure has honed my ability to make swift and effective choices. For me, the term “adventurous” is synonymous with risk-taking. This mindset has been ingrained in me since early on, where I was known for taking calculated risks. A notable example was my decision at 21 years of age to marry my fiancé after a mere six months of knowing each other. Read more>>

Amber Jones | Content Creator + Podcast Host

I think risk taking is the only way you’ll get ahead in this life. Being stagnant and safe will deem the same outcomes every time. I’ve taken risks on businesses in the past that have failed, but each of those failures taught me something to take into my next venture. Read more>>

Natalia Perelman | Music producer, mix and mastering engineer. Public culture management.

Every time that I had to take a risk in my career it was because something I that I had been doing so far was coming to an end, something had to change, even though I might have not been completely aware of it back then. However, I don’t usually use “risk” in my vocabulary, since I’m a competitive person, I prefer to call it challenge, which is a very suggestive idea for me. I know that I’m not being very original by saying that accepting challenges or taking new paths in your career or life brings inevitable growth but anyways, that has proven right for me. Read more>>

Mario Farrag | CRO & Co-Founderr

I think risk is a very tricky word. Most of the time “risk” can be interpreted to be a bad outcome. I believe risk is very valuable because it can lead to success and unreal greatness. Most people are scared to take risks because they are too comfortable in the position they are in and scared to get out of their comfort zone, where it can actually help expose your real potential. Even if the outcome is not what you expected, it’s a huge learning lesson to do things differently the next time. Which can lead to a successful outcome. Read more>>