Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

Keith Nixon | Visual Storyteller & Consummate Reductionist

Having initially been somewhat risk averse, I now recognize my eventual willingness to take risks as a determining factor in establishing my trajectory. I think it worth acknowledging that risk, to some degree, is a privilege & largely dependent on access. Risk looks considerably different circumstantially; however, having had the fortune of taking a life-altering & career-defining risk, I am thankful for the opportunity to have done so. Read more>>

David Smith | Cinematographer

I had a successful career in the tech industry before deciding to ditch it all and go to film school. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to be or do, but I had a drive to make a change in my life and trust that if I just worked hard enough, I would come out the other side. It has been rocky at times, but with perseverance and openness to different opportunities, I’ve built a new career. Read more>>

Pauline Buhro | Makeup Artist

coming into the creative industry, I think you have to be ready to take risks at all times, which is really hard to understand at first. But I strongly believe, that taking risks will only truly show what is supposed to be for you!
My biggest risk taking so far, was for sure leaving everything behind in Germany and moving to Los Angeles. Read more>>

Erica Reitman | Biz Coach for Future Icons

I’m not sure why, but risk-taking seems to be built into the operating manual of my brain. I think it’s mostly because I’m deathly allergic to doing things the way everyone else in my industry is, and so “standing out from the crowd” has just become the baseline from which I always aim to start from. And while I do find this way of showing up in the world more comfortable for my bizarro brain, it’s also served as an incredible marketing tool for me as I’ve grown my businesses as an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Alexander Langsam | Writer / director

I really think that risk taking is one of the most important instruments for a person, particularly anyone following a creative or artistic passion. I know so many people who have great skills and drive, but their lack of risk-taking essentially stunts them. They get too focused on a limited worldview, a limited toolkit. Read more>>

Anna Hudson | Singer-Songwriter & Producer

I’ve never been the biggest risk taker in the world. I never dreamt of leaving my comfort zone. But as I have grown up, I’ve realized I’ve outgrown my comfort zone and I’m much happier taking risks than ever before. Playing solo shows for the first time and releasing music are two big risks I’ve taken lately as an artist, but they were (and still are) things I wanted to do for myself so I could grow and learn from the experience. Read more>>

Dr. Antwan Amadeus” Thompson | Multi-Platinum Music Producer/Musician

Taking risks is the only way you can live the life your dream of. I’ve taken many risks throughout my life, career and journey even still to this day its an on going thing if you want to be successful in anything you do. Lets just say if I didn’t take any risks the world wouldn’t have the Musician/Producer Amadeus today. Read more>>

Lisa Cera | Celebrity Stylist & Founder of 3 Public Relations Showroom

Risk taking is a crucial component of any career or business. I’m a celebrity fashion stylist who had a huge comfortable career on the east coast and I decided to risk it all for what I was passionate about, LA’s Celebrity Scene. In the beginning of my career, I faced numerous challenges, because of the risks I had to take to follow my passion. Read more>>

Quenton Blache | Cellist & Composer

I find myself thinking about risk often. I grew up hearing my mother talk about the concept of “calculated risk,” where you know something is risky but carefully assess the pros and cons, and conclude that the potential benefits outweigh the risks. I have taken this to heart throughout my early career, and find that it has helped me greatly in making decisions. Read more>>

Melissa Alvarez | Actor, Writer & Post Producer

I’d say my entire career has been about taking risks. I look at taking big risks as just part of my journey. I’ve always been pretty set in pursuing the life of a creative. Taking the time to really marinate on the grandiosity of the risk would scare me into not taking it at all! Read more>>

Chelsea Gilmore | Entertainment Manager & Consultant

Taking risks is essential to personal growth and achieving one’s true potential. It demands unwavering faith, belief in oneself, and the ability to embrace discomfort. When we step out of our comfort zones, we open ourselves to the possibility of reaching greater heights and realizing our purpose and destiny. Read more>>

Chiara Xie | Illustrator

I believe that being a freelance illustrator entails significant risks. Freelancing is an occupation fraught with financial uncertainty and anxiety. From a professional standpoint, developing and honing a personal artistic voice presents considerable challenges for illustrators. The more unique one’s visual style is in the market, the riskier it becomes. Read more>>

Liz Hake | Speaker, Coach, and Real Estate Specialist

Initially, I considered myself risk-adverse. But the more I think about it, the more I realize most of my success and growth is because I took a risk. I did the thing that wasn’t the norm. I was the quintessential “good girl” growing up; getting straight As, taking college courses as a high schooler, never missing curfew, and doing a bit of theatre on the side. Read more>>

Maddy Zambello | Writer, Actor, Director

Risk taking is probably one of the most important things you can do for your career, and for yourself. I think it’s natural for many people, myself included, to fear taking risks — risks are putting trust into uncertainty and the unknown, or doing something that pushes us beyond our comfort zone. The tricky part about life is that the best things come from beyond the comfort zone, so we have to face that fear of uncertainty. Read more>>

Morgan Taylor Jones | Singer, Songwriter, and Model

Risk taking has played a big role in my life and career. It’s ultimately gotten me to where I am today. Often, I most realize that during times of reflection rather than in the present moment. Risk has shown up in a variety of ways in my life – whether it was knowing from a young age that I would leave my hometown to move to the childhood city of my dreams (NYC) to pursue my passions; Read more>>

Amanda Reyes | Entrepreneur & Owner of Art Printer

Risks are necessary for progression and I like to think of them as opportunities. Multiple risks played an important part in how I became the owner of Art Printer. I was hired for a full-time position at Art Printer in the fall of 2012. I had been struggling to get a steady job post college (Brooks Institute of Photography class of 2010) due to the recession. Read more>>

Ethan and Luke Montgomery | Filmmakers

We have found that risk is essential to filmmaking (or any art-making), not because there is any benefit in intentionally taking risks, but because the absence of risks is indicative of an overly cautious mindset. When we wrote the script for our film “First Chair,” a mentor of ours gave us some very harsh feedback, and it really challenged us. Read more>>

Angela Joy | Stand Up Comedian & Producer

Risk taking is a HUGE motivation for me. I believe that we need to challenge ourselves and push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. For me personally, if I’m feeling too comfortable in life or what I’m doing, I get bored. So I try to take risks and do things that scare me. There is no better high in my opinion then doing something that terrifies you and coming out the other end! Read more>>

Dale Ting | Lifestyle entrepreneur

In poker, there’s a strategy called the semi-bluff. You have decent hand, but there’s a chance you’ll draw into a big winning hand, so you bet like you have the big hand because worst case, you have the decent hand. It’s not a full on bluff where you don’t have anything so you bet big hoping everyone folds. Read more>>

Katharine McEwan | Actress, Writer, Producer

As an actress and filmmaker, risk is a constant in my life. Francis Ford Coppola once said, “You can’t make art without risk.” I really believe that. Whether I’ve ever actually made art is not up to me to say, but I’ve certainly attempted to. And it’s that kind of film and performance and music that I love. Read more>>

Lauren Urasek | Content Creator & Creative Director

The definition of the word “risk” is a situation involving exposure to danger. I don’t really think many things are risks in your career if you believe in your abilities and know you’re on the right path. Living my life as a freelancer and artist without a steady paycheck may seem risky to others but I might view having a steady 9-5 risky because you’re reliant on one employer. Read more>>

Stacy Armand Patterson | Wedding + Event Designer | Fashion Stylist

I think taking the risk of going down the path of entrepreneurship, not having a stable job, or not knowing what each day or month is going to look like has definitely been scary, challenging, yet extremely rewarding, all at the same time. I had to step out of my comfort zone and become more confident in myself and the decisions I make. Read more>>

Unhae Park | 3D Artist

I took the risk of coming to the US as a foreigner to study Animation, if I did not find a job in time I had to leave the country after school. I was fortunate to find a job after school, but there was also a high possibility that I would not find a job and need to go back to my home country. However, I believe even if I had to go back to South Korea after school, taking the risk of coming here definitely gave me priceless life experiences and lessons. Read more>>

Derek Pratt and Anna DOnofrio | Owner and Artistic Director at Lightning Entertainment and Education

Risk taking is a must for any level of success, growth or authentic fulfillment in not only business, but in life. I have personally lived the most fulfilling successful life by being willing to take risks and walking my own path. Risk taking is a necessary step in growth and expansion. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. Just as a baby has to risk standing on two legs and falling in order to walk and run in the future. Read more>>

Sarah Shuman and David Ramos | Filmmakers

We think of risk as a necessary source of pressure for our growth. We love challenging ourselves and each other throughout our creative process. In turn, we challenge our ideas, characters, & stories and with every progression comes a certain level of risk to be managed. More times than we’d like to admit, risk has been an obstacle for us. In our most doubtful moments we think to ourselves, “What if no one relates to our art?” Read more>>

Memory Lanez | Recording Artist – Songwriter – Music Producer – Audio Engineer

I believe in the cliché, “no risk, no reward”. Taking risks can be frightening (and to some a financial burden), however, a part of taking a risk in life, is believing in yourself; walking by faith, not by sight. I have always looked at risk in a perspective of, either you succeed, or you learn a lesson; there are no losses. Read more>>