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.

Bharat Kothakota | Emergency Medicine Physician, Aesthetics Medicine

I think life is about taking some risk. As a physician, we are accustomed to a life where our jobs are secured, we know that we are able to comfortably provide for our family. So despite the hardship that goes into becoming a physician, we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I spent the first part of my career thinking this way. That led me to start thinking outside the box and look into entrepreneurial endeavors. What started out as a side gig has helped me transition to the next phase of my career. Read more>>

Darin Toonder | Actor, Acting Career Coach.

Taking risks is essential for growth and success whether it be in life, career or love. I definitely would not be where I’m at in my career as an actor without taking risks. A lot of those risks came from giving myself permission to put myself out there by reaching out to casting directors, directors, show runners, agents, etc. or by making bold acting choices in an audition or on set. Doing this was terrifying. But I have this saying “Safety is where pain can reside.” In my experience, life is always more painful playing it safe than it is to take a leap of faith. Staying in my comfort zone can hurt. Read more>>

Yanbin Zhao | Filmmaker & Artist

As a filmmaker working primarily with the format of 16mm film and within the realm of experimental cinema, I constantly find myself in the situation of taking risks. In many previous projects I worked on, I had to begin the process without knowing exactly what the films were about, which often led to enormous potentials but also huge risks in failing the projects. However, I believe that not only the risk-taking is a key element in the creation of my films, but also the core value of it. The spirit of willing to take risk is what makes my works the way they are today. I began to experiment with film emulsions in 2021 during my study at CalArts under the guidance of Charlotte Pryce. Read more>>

Karol Dias | Tattoo artist

Taking risks was and is fundamental to my work and career, there are many topics to consider, considering that a tattoo is something permanent, in itself it is a big daily risk Read more>>

Ania Krawiec | Interior Designer

The word “risk” often makes me uneasy. By definition, it means a situation involving exposure to danger, harm or loss. This can scare people away from taking chances in life, making them opt for a safe and predictable path. Instead of thinking in terms of “risk,” I prefer to look at life as a series of choices, without strict rights or wrongs. Each choice has its own journey. It took me a while to adopt this perspective, but it has made big decisions less daunting. When I face a major choice, I ask myself a simple question: “If I imagine being in the same situation a year from now, how will I feel?” Read more>>

Oscar Pan | Composer for the Screen and Concert Stage

Risks are crucial for growth. Composing music and creating any form of art constantly involve trials and errors, and each time a risk and creative challenge is taken, whether it’s small or big, it represents a step toward progress. Over the years, my music has taken on various forms, and each shift required me to step out of my comfort zone. For example, when I delved into atonal music for the first time, I had to let go of the traditional rules and structures I was used to. And when I started incorporating electronic elements alongside acoustic sounds, I had to teach myself a lot about music technology and sound design. Read more>>

Rashawn Simmons | Actor/entrepreneur

I feel like the only way to really get a head in life is to take risk! We all come to a point when we realize it’s time, wether it be a big job promotion in another state, starting a business or like me moving from VA to LA on a very small modeling contract. You don’t know what that other side looks like but it’s on you to take that risk to see! And more than likely you come out better than if you had played it safe Read more>>

Neha Dharmapuram | Performing Artist & Communications Strategist

Embracing risks is the essence of a fulfilling life. Fear, when allowed to lead, becomes a barrier to reaching our highest potential and leaves us yearning for the richness of genuine experiences. Stepping into the unknown, taking chances, and facing our fears head-on opens doors to new opportunities, growth, and self-discovery. Without risk, life becomes a monotonous existence, devoid of the exhilarating highs and valuable lessons that come from boldly leaping into uncertainty. By confronting fear and taking calculated risks, we break free from limitations and fully immerse ourselves in the vibrant tapestry of life, where true fulfillment and self-realization reside. Read more>>

WEN GU | Artist & Life Experiencer

I believe there is not a completely secure option. Everything comes with a greater or lesser degree of riskiness. And high risk is often, along with opportunity, transformative. I used to work in the financial industry and had a decent income. I faced a lot of career risks when I switched to become an artist. In the process of working as an artist, I also often face the risk of failure when faced with the expression of different topics and the use of media. Even in the process of each sketch, there is the risk of drawing “bad” content. Read more>>

Tasha Reign | Entertainer

I like to take big risks, because I believe big risks = big rewards. I come from a mindset of abundance. The better it gets, the better it gets. The higher the risk, potentially the better the outcome. I have taken risks in my career such as joining the entertainment industry in the first place. That risk has paid off for me. I’m grateful for that. I know I’m privileged. But, I also know that no matter what I do, I’ll be good at it. And most importantly, I trust in God’s plan. Read more>>

Kim Polinder | Relationship Coach

I don’t like risk-taking in any form. Perhaps I’m abnormal as a business owner in that regard. Security and stability have always been a high priority for me. When it came to switching careers from an IT engineer to a relationship coach, I took the path that involved the least risk possible. Meaning, I kept my day job while completing my two masters degrees and building my coaching practice. I was hustling while I burned the candle on both ends, but the peace of mind it offered me was well worth it. Read more>>

Michelle Carney | Model & Actress

I was born and raised in Ohio and now I’m a model and actress living in Los Angeles, so you could say risk has played a significant role in my life. For most of my life, I assumed I would do well in school, meet a nice man, and work a decent job for a couple of years before having kids and settling down in the suburbs. A predictable life completely devoid of risk. Instead, once I graduated from Columbia, I found myself selling my things, packing a suitcase, and becoming a nomad. Gone was all stability and predictability, replaced with the thrill and pride of consistently doing things I never thought I’d do. Read more>>

Rasato Ma | Illustrator & Graphic Designer

I might risk seeing it as an opportunity to re-examine myself. For me, choosing to study abroad, experiencing and exploring new environments, communicating with others in a foreign country as a non-native speaker, and even choosing to go to London to continue following my dreams after graduation are all adventures and challenges. Taking risks sometimes seems painful to me but it is actually like creativity, which cannot be born in ordinary and calm situations, but requires impulsiveness, madness and emotions. I intend to talk about adventure in my creative career. Read more>>

Katherine Vondy | Writer & Filmmaker

The biggest risk I’ve taken to date was probably quitting the finance job I had in the early 2000s to go to film school at USC. I moved to Los Angeles sight unseen in 2004, and somehow, I’ve been here ever since. That decision has shaped my whole adult life. I suppose there’s an alternate timeline where I stuck with the finance job and am still living in New York, but I find it really difficult to imagine that bizarro version of my life. So much of what’s important to me—my friends, my creative projects—wouldn’t exist in that version, and that would make me a completely different person from who I am now. Read more>>

Destiny Freidin | Actress

I think risk is 100% necessary in terms of achieving your goals in life. And if there’s no risk, there’s most likely no reward. Especially in the entertainment industry, every single day is essentially a risk that you could either fail, or not book another audition, or get another rejection. However, I think with taking the risks to fully dive into your passion it makes the end result, when you finally get to the point that you’ve been looking forward to for so long, even that much more satisfying. Read more>>