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.

Michael Snow | Professional Risk Taker

Risk is like fashion. You may say you don’t care about it or don’t want to think about it, but you’re dealing with it every time you get dressed in the morning. Whether you make your choices based on comfort, to make a statement, or without even trying it’s happening so it’s better to just get used to it or even better make the most out or it. Every day is a question, nothing is certain, all you can do is take your best shot. Read more>>

Ellis Zhixuan Yu | Multidisciplinary Graphic Designer

As a designer, risk-taking is part of our daily job as we keep pushing the limit of the visual language we use and the creative process we undertake. We are exposed to different media, tools, and trends every day, and within those, there are unlimited potentials for us to find our new voice. Read more>>

Phil Svitek | Filmmaker, Producer, & 360 Creative Coach

The question “What would I do if I couldn’t fail?” is often posed as a way to explore one’s aspirations and goals. However, this question can actually be limiting because it assumes that failure is something to be avoided at all costs. It can lead to a focus on only safe or easy paths, rather than taking risks and pursuing true passions. Read more>>

Allie Galasso | Yoga Instructor and Work Wellness Strategist

I’d like to consider myself a bit of a cautious risk taker, I believe it is so important to jump out onto the edge once in a while. If it weren’t for the leaps of faith I had made years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I was working a part time job and teaching Yoga on the side for a while so I could make enough to live my life and travel. which is my fave thing ever! My desire was to be a full time Yoga Teacher but I wasn’t feeling confident that I could pull it off, or actually be successful in it. Read more>>

Anna Klassen | Screenwriter

As a screenwriter, there’s a fine line between taking educated risks and playing it safe. When I first gained traction as a screenwriter I was working a full-time job as a journalist. I was writing scripts on nights and weekends, and two of my scripts were making the rounds of agent desks and producer offices. I was taking a ton of meetings with industry folk, and I was at a point in my budding career where I either had to no longer take the meetings or quit my full time job and go all in on screenwriting. Read more>>

Jeff Couch | Professional Food and Beverage Photographer

Risk taking is essential in order to move past the status quo. The risks you take need to be weighed against the desired outcome which is part of the strategy you employ. Taking or not taking risk affects your ability to achieve your desired goals and objectives. I feel as you get older your experience helps define the risks you take. Read more>>

Silvia Imperatrice | Junior Producer

There’s an Italian saying that goes “Chi non risica non rosica” which translates to “Nothing ventured nothing gained”. That’s true of my life and my career. I woulnd’t have moved to LA to pursue my dream if I was scared of taking risks, I wouldn’t have ventured in the entertainment business if I didn’t firmly believe that with great risk come great success. Read more>>

Chantel Nicole | Recording Artist, Show Host and Content Creator

Personally, I cannot say for certain if I am a risk-taker or not. I approach opportunities after weighing the pros and cons. For example, my decision to temporarily forego my education and a stable career to pursue my passion for music is in itself a significant risk. Although I possess the necessary education to thrive in the corporate world, my love for music is too strong to ignore. So now, I work multiple odd jobs to fund my music so that I could fully commit my time to creating. I did that knowing that I would have to sacrifice social events and vacations Read more>>

Roxanne Jackson | Artist: Ceramic Sculptor

Taking risks has been essentail to my growth. In one of my ‘previous lives’ I was a river guide, nagivating the wild terrain and whitewater of various rivers in California, Alaska and Nepal (among others). A common practive was to ‘scout’ rapids; we would pull the raft to the shore upstream and hike down to read the rapid, to better navigate our path through it. Read more>>

Chanice Ball | Commercial Model, Content Creator & Video Editor

I’ve just always wanted more for and from myself. I believed that if others could achieve their dreams, then why couldn’t I? I had a strong desire to live life on my own terms and I knew that in order to do that, I couldn’t be afraid of taking risks. Risk-taking plays a huge role in both my life and career. I have been granted hundreds of amazing opportunities all because I simply did something outside of the status quo. Read more>>

Hoi Lam Poon | Illustrator & Visual Development Artist

I grew up in a traditional Asian family where caution and being conservative were the norm. Pursuing a career in the arts was considered risky and unstable, in contrast to more popular and secure paths. Despite this cultural stigma, I was fortunate enough to have a family that supported my passion for art. Instead of choosing a stable but monotonous career, Read more>>