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.

Addy Baddy | Artist / musician

I think being an artist is about going out on a limb and expressing yourself. That’s always a risk. It puts you at risk of being judged by others, but that comes with the territory. People will always have some opinion about what you do so I try not to make music for anyone but me. I try to simply express myself as truly and openly as possible and let go of the fear of judgement because you shouldn’t stress about what you can’t control. Read more>>

Samantha Alonzo | Performer, Model & Esthetician in training

Taking a risk is important in moving forward with your dreams, passion, career choice, or life path. As a colleague of mine, would always say, “Do something every day that scares you.” A most notable risk I took, was auditioning for the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor at the age of 17, which changed my life and helped motivate me to pursue the career that I’m currently studying for. Read more>>

Atiyeh (Tiya) Amiri | Founder & Lead photographer

I am known between my friends as the risk taker. I do not think I would have been where I am without taking risks and fail in some of them and succeed in others. At many points I said I have to see if this route will work and what if I lose everything and have to start over? and I did, I had to start over at some points because the decisions I made were not right. I had a lot of “told you so”s by my people around me but the ones who believed in me never doubted me and told me to go for it and they supported me when I failed and helped me pick up the pieces and go even stronger and bigger. Read more>>

Jessica Blue | Voice Director & Producer

When I do something that scares me, I know I made the right choice. I believe taking risks helps me to grow and evolve. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but I’d rather have tried and failed, which offers its own lessons and learning, vs. never having tried and staying stagnant in the same place. In 2013 I chose to leave the corporate world and a financially stable job of 13 years, and move my whole life to Los Angeles to pursue my dream of voice acting. Armed with only a great support system, I had no job prospects and no local agent. I can’t imagine what my life would be like now had I not made that move. There’s been plenty of ups and downs, challenges and opportunities, and everything has led me to where I am now, for which I’m extremely grateful. Read more>>

Steven Prince | Writer

Risk is par for the course. Anything you set out to do is going to involve some level of risk. With creative work that that risk involves putting your work out there for the world to see, not knowing how it will be perceived. In that regard, risk is just part of following a creative path. Read more>>

Levi Lane (Viligir) | Music Producer/DJ

I think about risk often, both in my personal life and in my business life. Risk is essential to working towards your goals and being better than you were yesterday. If you don’t take it, you will never leave the ground. But if you take too much, you will crash right back where you started. For me, I like to take opportunities that push me a little bit beyond what I’ve done before. It is important to not jump to far from home base but also maintain a steady push towards bigger goals that require more risk. I see people in my industry spending thousands of dollars on that “perfect” music video or piece of gear when in the end, it won’t help their brand in the short term. Read more>>

Alex West | Actor, Award Winning Filmmaker & Thought Leader

We all know the old adage, “ high risk, high reward”. We are all wired to seek comfort and security, but this is counterproductive to growth and success. You have to close old energetic portals in order for new portals to open or appear. Something must be sacrificed or left behind before the universe agrees to write you a check for your troubles. Read more>>

Nas Nixx | Photographer, creative director and director

I think taking risks is so important and I think the reason I’m where I’m at today. For example I worked at JC penny portrait studios and I hated it. I made good money but It sucked the creativity out of me. I quit then worked at a juice bar which I liked way more. During this time I was shooting a lot more images and finally found a community in LA to work with. This is around the time I started getting more traction with my art and ended up getting a job for Jeffrey Campbell. Once I got this one photoshoot job I quit the juice bar job because I saw the potential I had.  Read more>>

Banjo | Observationalist

“If you’re not doing something different, you’re not doing anything.” – Sam Phillips Founder of Sun Records | person credited with discovering Elvis Presley It’s an excellent guiding light when attempting to knock the tinsel off the town. Read more>>

Charlette San Juan | Theatre Artist, Producer and Stage Manager.

In 2019, I took the biggest risk of my life and uprooted my life to pursue my dreams in America. My dream is to become a Stage Manager and have a fruitful and sustainable career in theatre. Pursuing a career in theater, especially as a Stage Manager, is incredibly rewarding but can also be challenging due to its competitive and unpredictable nature. In the theater world, risk-taking is often part of the journey. It’s about taking on new projects, collaborating with different people, and navigating the ever-changing landscape of performances. Read more>>

Sandalina Sattar | Talk Show Host, NYC Event Host, Tik Tok Content Creator, and Working Full-Time in Finance

Mustering up the courage to take calculated risks in life has been the most crucial component of my journey thus far. My life in the present is a culmination of moments where I’ve taken a bet on myself to tread down “the path less traveled.” Strategically positioning yourself to turn ideas from your imagination into a reality requires a leap of faith – which can oftentimes be scary. At the root of it, the fear of failure is what holds us back from taking risks. But I welcome the possibility of failure with open arms, since the alternative would be living a life of complacency and regret (in my case at least since my brain is always buzzing with ideas). Read more>>

Izzy Robertti | Photographer

I think risk is something as a photographer that you just need to take. Not even just as a photographer but as an entrepreneur or creative. If you aren’t taking risks, you simply aren’t doing enough. There is always going to be a risk that people don’t like your work, don’t like your edit, and sometimes don’t even like who you are! What are you going to do? Be scared about what others think or the risks that come behind it? Taking that risk you were scared of taking could have been the best decision of your life. In my case, I took many risks to get to where I am today. One of them was when my downstairs neighbor who had a backyard was having a barbecue this one summer. Read more>>

Ryan Noufer | Filmmaker

Risk is essential to creative success. As a filmmaker, I’m continuously trying to push the boundary of risk further and further. To go after that taboo idea or awkward conversation is hard enough to do with yourself or even with a friend in a private setting — but when you decide to make a film about one of these topics, and involve a crew, cast, all this money, you start to feel the gravitational force of risk wanting to pull you away from the dangerous idea. But you just have to make something that feels incredibly honest to your creative impulses and sort of disregard the peanut gallery at a certain point. I think that’s when art becomes irresistible. Read more>>

Chrys Phillips | Writer – Author – Director

The old saying, no risk no glory or no guts no glory, seems adequate to explain my thoughts on taking calculated risks. Honestly if you’re not passionate enough to risk failing or losing what you’re striving for then you’ll never get it! You must go for what you need and be flexible enough to alter your path as you reach an end goal that you desire. The risk is the chance to achieve what your goal is, otherwise it’s just a normal exercise if it’s that’s easy. The glory is the prize, take calculate risks weigh up how far you can go risking your investment and your process and then go for it! I took a big risk selling everything I owned twice to be able to live and create in America and it’s epic! Read more>>

STINA | Artist and songwriter

I feel like the funny thing about risks is that when you really want something, tend not to think too much about it and just do it because you want it to work out. When I was 19 I got accepted to a great music university in London, I had never lived or really traveled outside of Sweden by myself but still when I got this news I never really thought about the risk that came with doing the move I was just so so excited to learn more about something that I am very passionate about. I am a strong believer that everything will work out one way or another. This might come from me having had a very secure and protected upbringing, that I know that whatever happens, I can always turn back home and start over, knowing that, then risking everything doesn’t seem so scary. Read more>>

Jim Morrison | Writer/Director

I once cut a giant hole in the back of my home. I also bought an expensive video camera that I could barely afford at the time. Okay, about the hole. With some construction experience, and youtube tutorials, I cut an opening in order to install a set of doors and stairs that leads out to the backyard. The work turned out to be sturdy, and up to code. And still holds up to this day. WIth the camera, I made a few films that played at film festivals and got some decent attention. The camera is sort of obsolete now, but the films aren’t. And the festival experience is something I will always remember. Read more>>

Angie Hughes | Founder of Wepa Beauty and Motivational Speaker

In my journey, I’ve learned a crucial lesson: risk is an unavoidable part of life. Initially, I viewed risk as a gateway to potential negative outcomes and believed that playing it safe was the key to avoiding adversity. This mindset was rooted in my fear of the unknown and a comfort in familiarity. However, my perspective shifted dramatically as I faced a personal crisis that mirrored a professional turning point. My hair, which I had always straightened with harsh treatments and chemicals, began to fall out, leaving me at a crossroads. I was faced with a choice: continue with my damaging routine, risking further hair loss, or venture into the unknown by embracing my natural, curly hair. Read more>>

Kevin Chang | Line cook

A bit over a year ago, I quit my job as a software engineer and moved down to LA from Silicon Valley with the vague notion that I’d find a job in a kitchen to explore a passion for cooking. At the time I was a pretty risk-averse person, so it took me two years of staying in an unfulfilling job to finally make the move. From there I was fortunate enough to end up cooking in a small restaurant that was featured on the LA Times’ 101 Best Restaurants list for 2023. The experiences, mentorship, and friends I’ve been graced with all came thanks to making that “risky” move. Read more>>

David Bracetty | Director, Photographer

Taking a risk as a creative, to me, means betting on yourself. If there is work you want to be hired for and be known for, a company needs to see that in your portfolio. There will be pressure that you will put on yourself as a creative by spending money, hopping on a plane, or renting that gear you need. But this is needed! You need to know for yourself that you can handle that pressure and actually execute the idea how you saw it in your brain. Once you prove it to yourself and then share it with the world, you rinse and repeat until the market determines you are good enough to earn the business. Read more>>

Ana Roman | Producer, DJ, Generative Artist, and Creative Technologist

risk is VITAL to everything I do. I see risk as a direct correlation to learning new skills. At the tail end of 2019 I felt very stuck in a creative crisis – I nearly gave up on music making and dj-ing. But then I started reading about AI, Machine learning, and generative art. I knew something was going to change. Then the paradigm shift happened. I was forced to take a leap into those skills during the pandemic. In late 2020 I re-branded my music project called skulptor by applying AI, creative coding, and different data sets to my art and music. By lat 2020 I had learned how to train my own face and my own image through AI. I taught myself java and how to build different algorithms and data sets for my creative output. Read more>>

Priscilla Ortiz | Artist

Throughout my creative career I have taken risks in my work by experimenting and blending classic oil painting with new media and technology. This willingness to embrace risk and innovation has not only defined my artistic style but has also allowed me to push the boundaries of traditional art forms. One of my most notable projects involved integrating augmented reality (AR) technology into my paintings, creating an immersive and interactive experience for viewers. By combining classic oil painting techniques with AR elements, I aimed to bridge the gap between the tangible and digital worlds. Read more>>

Freak Daddy | Musician & Multi-discipline Creative Visionary

I have built an intimate relationship with risk and it’s power to transform me and my art. My current project Freak Daddy began in 2018 with my breakout single Confetti which was the first glimpse of my struggle with gender identity. It was featured on the HBO Max show The Sex Lives of College Girls and served as foreshadowing for what would come next. After singing and working professionally in the music industry for 15 years I came out as a transgender man and was secretly exploring HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I knew I wouldn’t be able to access the healthcare and support I needed in my hometown of Nashville, TN so I sold everything I had and drove myself to Portland, OR in January of 2020. I had very little community or support. Read more>>

Alan-Timoteo Villon | Content Creator

Life is all about taking risks, you only get one shot at life so might as well live it up and do the things that light your fire. As an individual who always played it safe, I hit a point where I wanted to start challenging myself and putting myself in uncomfortable situations in order to grow. That’s when I decided that I no longer wanted to only consume content, but I wanted to be a part of the community. So I worked hard, stayed consistent with posting, starting networking with other creators, went to events in order to gain best practices to succeed, and most importantly, I believed in myself. Before I knew it, I was no longer an audience member, I was a player in this industry. Things that made my uncomfortable at first, became comfortable. Read more>>

Tommi Rose | Actress, Singer/Songwriter, Director/Producer, Screenwriter

I always always take the risk. I live by it actually. I always say to myself “I’d rather regret something I DID do than something I didn’t do.” because thats all life is about. Stepping out of comfort zones, trying something you haven’t tried before. experiencing as much life as you can. That’s the thing no one tells you about doing things that scare you.. eventually nothing really scares you anymore. Read more>>

Jeff Silverman | Music production, mixing & mastering in stereo and Dolby Atmos 7.1.4,, songwriting & multi-instrumentalist.

When you decide to step out on your own instead of working for a company or in an established position, there is always a risk. You need to have faith that what you are offering is something different and worthy that clients will need. The first risk is not having a guaranteed income. If you can’t find the clients, you don’t have money coming in. You have to work through challenges to create and build your brand. To this end, I consider myself my best investment. My approach to self-investment balances both smart and risky paths. Read more>>

Stewart Yost | Director and Cinematographer

I think risk goes hand in hand with art, to not only put yourself and your work out there, but to make a career out of it. I started as a cinematographer and over time had a deep passion for directing, taking that leap and becoming a director is probably one of my biggest career risks I’ve ever taken. Most directors don’t want another director to be their cinematographer, but it was the best decision I ever made and even though it is insanely difficult I have never regretted taking that risk. Read more>>

Jack Arthur Wood | Artist, Curator, Writer and Art Handler

Risk taking and unconventional approaches have always been in my decision making. I have pretty intense ADHD too, so a degree of randomization is built into most of my doing. I may not always choose risk, but it is always there for me, lying in wait. An old friend, once famous for being naked, told me to wake up with the question “What haven’t I tried yet?” I always liked that and have tried to remain curious. Risk is a condition of curiosity. Read more>>

Talmadge Spicer | Life Coach

Risk, my friend, is the spice that flavors the otherwise bland dish of a conventional life. Let me lay it out for you – I don’t just think about risk; I embrace it, dance with it, and sometimes even wrestle it to the ground. Taking risks has been the secret sauce in my journey, both in life and my damn exciting career. Back in the day, when I was drowning in student loan debt and feeling like a certified failure, I realized the traditional path was a one-way ticket to mediocrity. The risk of stepping into entrepreneurship became my beacon of hope. Yeah, it was a leap of faith, but hey, sometimes you gotta jump off the cliff to build your wings on the way down. Read more>>

Kyra Hurlbut | SAG-AFTRA Actor & Social Media Agency Owner

Risk is something that I’ve always been scared of, and I believe is what a lot of us fear. We want safety, security and to have a feeling that everything will be okay. But the truth is, nothing good comes from staying comfortable. This is something I tell myself everyday. As an artist and business owner, I challenge myself everyday to take risks. I’ve had to switch my mindset around risk a lot recently in order to move forward and have new opportunities arise.  I am a very much type A personality who likes to have a solid plan and minimize risk factor. Read more>>

Sadie Pegues-Hall | Editor-in-Chief Meet The Woman Behind The Business Magazine

I think it is important to take certain risks in your life and career, especially when the underlying reason for not taking the risk, is because of a fear of failure. It was certainly a risk for me to start a magazine that was geared towards such a specific, targeted audience. I was asked if I thought it was too niche and if enough people would be receptive to the idea. To many it may seem like a narrow concept, but to me the need for a magazine for black women, small business owners, that gives them a platform for visibility and exposure far outweighed the risk. Also, to answer the question of whether or not people would be receptive to it was easy. Read more>>

Hannah Knight Leighton | Artist

It’s imperative and inescapable. After graduate school in 2021, I moved to LA to work as an artist assistant in the Pacific Palisades. I moved there knowing only one person- my cousin who lives in Redondo. I have now been here two years and am proud of the connections and community I’ve been able to foster. Knowing when and how to tame fear is something that comes to artists out of necessity. You have to be fearless to follow your passions and stay true to your aesthetic values. In a world that constantly wants to shape shift and commodify your work, you have to be strong. Risk-taking means knowing when to pause, reflect, and remove yourself from toxic situations. Read more>>