Risk is the most common topic that comes up in our conversations with entrepreneurs and so each week we ask entrepreneurs to talk to us on the record about how they think about risk.

Daniela León | Microinfluencer

Taking risks has been a gigantic and important part of my life. I try to always put myself out there, with a positive mindset, the right attitude, and just thinking that you only live once, so might as well make the most out of it! As well as, knowing that that risk might be an opening door for a great opportunity. I leave my comfort zone, a place where the desire to be better and strive for more barely exists. Read more>>

Ashley Carson | Jewelry Designer & Entrepreneur

Leaving the world of comfort and delving into the unknown is quite possibly what I can attribute most of my success. Most fear the unknown, and so do I to this day. I remember the sign in my first art studio in New York City that read something along the lines of artists knowing that safety is an illusion. I meditated on Saint Joan of Arc saying, “I’m not afraid, I was born to do this.” I studied other brave souls like Amelia Aerheart, Christopher Columbus, Richard Branson, and singer/songwriter Santi White “Santigold.” Read more>>

Torenzo Gann | Visual Artist

Living in our amazing world involves risk. And loss. Getting out of bed in the morning is risky. I might catch my toe on the corner of the bedpost. I’ve done that. “Ouch!” It hurts. Then other four letter words may fly. They have, while I was dancing the one legged cha-cha, 1-2 cha-cha-cha, “%&#@!” … etcetera. Read more>>

Jessica Fernandez | Luxury Real Estate Agent

Everything you do in your life is a risk. It’s a gamble. There’s no doubt you’ll grow through the process and become more resilient, providing a monumental teaching lesson. When people hear the word risk, they think thoughts of negativity, uncertainty, but when I think of risk, I think of success, growth, and confidence. Read more>>

Roxane Revon | Artist & Scenographer

I think about risks as a way to open and develop possibilities. As a stage director, scenographer or visual artist, I’ve thought of many shows, sets and sculptures that will probably never be materialized but, in order to develop and enrich my imagination, I need to take risks. I prefer to create and develop projects before being certain of their realisation, rather than stay in a role where my possibilities are only driven by others. As D’Artagnan says in “The three Musketeers : “difficulties don’t scare me, I only fear impossibilities”. Read more>>

Damian Otchere | Cinematographer

Taking risks in life are absolutely necessary. This one life that we have is the one chance that we have to pursue the life of our dreams. And people may not realize this, but the moment we are born, every day, decision, & conscious move is a risk. The day to day things we do are risks like driving our cars, traveling to different states or countries, and even choosing to NOT chase our passion are all risks. So I learned that if I’m going to take a risk, I’m going to risk big and go for what it is that I’m passionate about and taking that risk is exactly what got me here today. Read more>>

Aysha Bellamy | PR | Business Coaching | Artist | Disabled Veteran

Risk are needed and required, however making you assess each risk is vital to your success. That is a lesson I had to learn the hard way. Durning my childhood, I remained in high risk environments, which lead to operating in high risk business. I am grateful for the ability to take a risk, however learning how to assess which risk are worth being taken helps to formulate a great foundation for any organization. Read more>>

Monique Ford | Jewelry Designer

Risk is a part of life. Without taking risks, we can miss out on significant opportunities to achieve our goals and live our dreams. On the other hand, if we do not take risks, we can end up living with “what if…?” and “I should have…” and “I could have…” thoughts in the back of our minds. When you take risks, you increase the possibility that you’ll live out your dreams. And if you don’t take risks, you may never reach your full potential. Read more>>

Disco | Makeup Artist & Co-Founder of Kitpak

Risk is something that I don’t think about. Sure, there are pros and cons with every situation, but I always looked at it as the next step towards achieving my goal. Objectively, were some of my choices risky? yes. But when i was going through it, it just presented itself as “this is what you have to do to get where you want to be”. When I wanted to become a makeup artist, it never seemed risky to me as long as I was doing what I wanted to do. When I left cosmetic retail to become a freelancer, I had about $300 in my bank account. I honestly didn’t think twice because I wanted it so bad, and the lack of funding certainly motivated me to figure it out. Read more>>

Rob Bray | Singer/Songwriter/Musician

The way I think about risk is the same way I think about challenges. Am I competent? Have I succeeded at something like this before? Is there evidence to suggest that success is probable if I take this risk, or at least that failure won’t result in something detrimental? My risk taking is calibrated and incremental. Make sure I can land the single axel before I move on to the double axel, make sure I can land the double axel with consistency before I move on to the triple axel and so on. Read more>>

Robert Mazzucchelli | Entrepreneur, Co-Founder & Chairman of SportsEdTV

I think from many people’s perspective, I’ve taken a lot of risks in my life, especially in my career. I’ve started five companies over a few decades, not all in the same industry. And I’ve switched industries at a point in life when some people may have deemed it safer to stay put and enjoy the fruits of their success and reputation. But I’ve always been curious, adventurous and confident in my ability to figure things out and find a way to succeed. Read more>>

D’Lisha Johnson | Makeup Artist

Risk taking for me is taking a leap of faith. Of course you don’t know what the outcome is going to be,but In the end I’m always left with a lesson learned good or bad! Risk taking has played a part in my career because the things that I said I wish or I should have did, I just said I’m going to do it I’m going to be vulnerable and put myself out of my comfort zone and since then it has led me down some pretty cool paths Read more>>

Rachel Cossar | Co-Founder and CEO, Presence Expert and former professional ballet dancer

I love this question:) Life is a balance between safety, and risk. Depending on where you are in life, sometimes you need ore of one than the other, and sometimes, you need a bit of both. From growing up as a gymnast and then as a professional ballet dancer, taking the path less trodden was always a risk. Deciding to focus on a time sensitive career over college was a risk. Putting that kind of daily stress on my body was a risk. Read more>>

Ziana Pearson | Artist

I honestly feel like taking risks or ‘leaps of faith’ have been a primary motive in my art career, as it challenges my unlimited potential. Those challenges keep me inspired and also help me acknowledge my growth as a whole. Even in times I’ve been in introduced to a new experience or medium I remind myself that this is only the beginning, there’s always room to improve and capable of anything I put my mind towards. I feel like we’re all talented at so many things, it’s just the matter of investing (time, money, energy) and potentially breaking outside of your comfort zone to explore your creativity. I think taking risks lead to breakthroughs. Read more>>