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.

Chrislande Nelson | Content creator | Track | Fashion

Being a risk taker has always been in my blood and I believe I can credit that to being the middle child out of seven children. At times, the middle child can be forgotten especially in a big family so I had to find a way to be seen and not forgotten like Kevin in Home Alone. At the top of my head, one of the risks I took was deciding that I wanted to run track late in my sophomore year. Many people told me I should start track early if I wanted to be the best but that doubt became my motivation to push myself harder. while everyone else took practice as a recess I took it with vigor because I had something to prove to myself and others. It may not be the biggest risk to others but to me, it’s something out of the norm. Read more>>

Rawji | Artist / Songwriter

Risks are inevitable. There are ways to mitigate the possibilities of risk but avoiding risk completely never blossoms the inner growth that allows your goals to be captured. Many roles have been played in in my life / career that led to achieving quite a few accomplishments. Taking risk involves scarifcing nights with minimal sleep, taking the opportunities to do something out of the norm to achieve something I’ve never accomplished before, or maybe not having the complete confidence, but knowing a better outcome can be acquired. Comfort zones may provide a sense of security that can limit personal growth and opportunities. Without risk, one can never know how much more to life there is to be explored. While for some, risk is taking a leap of faith and for others risk are challenges that awaits. It’s important to also asses risk carefully and weigh potential outcomes and prepare for setbacks if any. Read more>>

Victor Sanabrais | Photographer

I have never shied away from taking risks. From an early age I learned that if I wanted to break through to another level, and elevate where I stood, I would have to calculate some risk taking into my game plan. Incorporating a “no fear” attitude, and focusing my efforts so that I was prepared for what is to come, win or lose, was always a mind set for me. I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and when I was a 24 year old rookie, just trying to get into the photography business, I moved downtown into the West Loop area. This was a big risk, as I did not have any steady income, nor did I have a customer base that would allow me to sustain paying rent, building a portfolio, and having anything left to eat. I jumped into the deep end of the pool, as they say. Learn to swim, or sink and drown were my options. I took on any photo related job I could find, and hustled every day of the week to land jobs that would pay me just to survive. Sleeping was a bonus I would reward myself with from time to time, but there wasn’t much time for resting. I had to tirelessly pursue doing sales, making calls, going to show my portfolio, take on assistant jobs, you name it, I did it and then some. I told all my friends, that one day, I will be discovered, and someone will see my talent, and open a door for me. I was manifesting this message 24/7, and kept pushing forward even through the darkest of days where I was truly a staving artist. And then, it happen! It was New Years Eve 1995, and I decided to invite all the models I had met while doing test shoots all year, to my loft to for a big celebration. At the time, loft parties in the city were super popular, and I invited all my friends to come join in the fun. As the party was in full swim, I looked around and I saw a guy sitting on my couch who didn’t seem to fit in. Many of the models seemed to know him, so I became very inquisitive as to who he was. I walked up to him and asked him who he was and who invited him. He said “Are you Victor? I have been hearing your name from many of the models, and would love to speak to you about some photography opportunities.” I was instantly surprised at what I just heard, and then he handed me his business card. It had a big gold embossed bunny head on it, and his title read – photo editor Playboy newsstand specials. I was in total shock, and I instantly looked at him and said “I have been waiting to meet you…” The rest they say is history. I had found a way to get my career started and with a brand that would soon open many doors for me. Taking risks had payed off. Staying focused, and putting in the hard work and long hours showed me that risk taking is not something to fearful of. I chose embrace it Read more>>

Sten Garcia | Entrepreneur Poet

I’ve always weighed risk against regret. I imagine myself as an elderly man on a rocking chair. What thoughts will I be thinking? What memories will I have? What moments in my life will I wish I had made differently? How much of my day will be filled with regret? Read more>>

Jose Felix Diaz | Former Legislator, Real Estate Lawyer, Tech Lobbyist, Investor, and Co-Founder of Miami Tech Summit

Though I am trained as a lawyer, I do not have the typical risk adverse nature that one would expect of a lawyer. I like taking big business risks, because I fully understand that is how the biggest deals (and fortunes) come about. I am lucky to surround myself with some of the top business leaders and developers in South Florida, and they are share a propensity for risk-taking. Read more>>