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.

David Lopez | CEO of Credstart & founder of The Nomad Ranch

In my career and life, I perceive risk through a somewhat unconventional lens. Rather than viewing risk solely as potential loss or failure, I see it as a compelling motivator that pushes me beyond the mere desire to succeed. This perspective stems from an acute awareness of the ever-present possibility that circumstances can change unexpectedly—the proverbial other shoe dropping. Read more>>

Taryn Winters | Owner, designer

When I started my business, I took risks all the time. I think it’s impossible to move forward without taking risks. From reaching out large department stores to share my linesheets with them, to creating a production of my capsule collection without knowing exactly when and where that stock would be going. Read more>> 

GREG DONIS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | SHOWRUNNER | DIRECTOR

For me, risk taking has changed over the years. As I got experience and credits under my belt, I became much more calculating in terms of risk management. A good example, in 2010 I was living in Vancouver Canada, I had an amazing concept – or so I thought. Read more>>

Sebastian Watzinger | Film & Media Composer

Risk is an essential part of growth, both personally and professionally. In my 25 years as a film and media composer, I’ve learned that calculated risks often lead to the most rewarding opportunities. Read more>>

Blac Unikorn

To be honest, I’ve always been kind of a risk taker since a young girl. However, taking risks has its pros and cons because you live your life on a rollercoaster until things kind of balance out. This is due to me taking a chance on myself and my endeavors while having faith in the unforeseen events that may occur. Read more>>

Ana Aizer | Photographer

I think a lot about the impact that taking risks had on me on both a personal and a professional level. I started off my career by “playing it safe”. I wanted to be a part of the film industry and though the thing I loved the most was photography, I studied production because I though that was the safest path economically. Read more>>

Amanda Gramm | Artist & Future Entertainment Lawyer

I think of risk as exciting, and what makes the end result feel rewarding. It’s a good feeling to know that something wasn’t guaranteed, but you made it happen anyways. Everything I’ve pursued has had some risk involved, otherwise I don’t think it would’ve sounded that interesting. Read more>>

Hanyun Zhang | Indepedent Filmmaker, Archiver, Outdoor Explorer

Risk “grows up” with me. Risk always appears to be bigger at the moment than it is when I look back after years. Not attending class was a risk that frightened me when I was 6. Falling in love with all the outdoor sports such as horse-riding and diving was a risk when I was 12. Read more>>

Madeline Miller | Career and Leadership Coach for Gen Z and Millennials looking to break the pattern of perfectionism and people pleasing

Risk-taking has been a huge part of my career. For several years, when everyone else was moving forward with their job titles/salaries, etc., I felt like I was going backward! But those experiences and choices paid out absolute dividends in more ways than one. Read more>>

Mary Otis | Writer

I think that risk is inherently tied to inspiration in that the pursuit of any art form requires risk, but that which inspires you and deeply provokes your curiosity can be so powerful that it eclipses the challenges. Or at least makes them worth it! It can feel daunting to claim oneself a writer, to go all in on an endeavor that might require years before there are tangible results. Read more>>

Eunseo Ryu | Motion Designer & Illustrator

To me, taking risks is an opportunity for growth. Every risk I’ve taken in my life has taught me at least one lesson, whether I wanted it or not. To my younger self, risks seemed nothing but nerve-racking—until I immigrated to the United States at 11 with my family. Read more>> 

Emmanuel Okpara | Web designer & specialist

Taking risks has made it easier for me to understand how business works not how it should work. I started up as a basic designer and over time I realized if I continued the same way there will be no difference between me and other designers, so to stand out I needed to invest 90% of my capital, if not all my money to upgrading my business. Read more>>

Elena Lysenko

I used to think that risk was not about me. But over the past 4 years my life has changed too dramatically. I changed continents, left my favorite job, and a beauty studio that brought in good income. All because my husband and I really wanted a child, but my body was very weak, and the doctors could not help me. Read more>>

Hadiza Hinish | Director, Writer, Actor

I consider risk as the most common factor in any endeavor involving growth. Whether I’m preparing for a role, and wind up discovering things about myself that create an unbalance in the way I thought I knew myself, or I’m directing and I need to encourage a way for my team to narrow into the story, or even as a writer, when I pen things on the page that make me squirm because I can’t believe I was fearless enough to expose the most private of my thoughts. Read more>>

Anthony Parson | Emmy Award Winning Sound Designer & Film Director

Taking risks has been a cornerstone of my journey, both personally and professionally. For me, embracing risk is not just about the potential rewards but also about building confidence early on. The act of taking risks when you have little to lose can be incredibly empowering. Read more>>

Ani Carol & Jasmin Mnasi | Co Founders at Kara Content

We view risk as an essential part of growth and innovation. Taking risks has been a pivotal part of our journey, starting with the decision to quit our full-time jobs to pursue our entrepreneurial dreams. Read more>>

Mooni Love | Sound healer, tarot reader

Taking risk are scary, it was for me leaving your 9 to 5 job the security of getting paid on a certain day. All I have to do is show up and work. I took a risk on myself, which required me to work hard and put thought into what I wanted to create, being my own boss which required me to be self discipline. Read more>>

Michael Celestino | Owner

Risk-taking has been a significant part of my life and career, deeply influenced by my parents and their entrepreneurial journey. Watching them take the bold step of starting their own business instilled in me the confidence to embrace risks. Their experience taught me that failure is not the end but rather a valuable learning opportunity. Read more>>

Dominique Benedict | Owner of Breakfast At Dominique’s

Without risk, there is no reward and the entire purpose of Breakfast At Dominique’s is to inspire more people to take risks and create their own legacy. I’ve never thought about any decision as a risk quite honestly. Read more>>

Sion Kim | Human & Artist

Risk has played a big role in my life in general. I would credit risk as a big factor in how I’m able to freely create like I do now. Risk is sort of trusting what you don’t see at the moment, but believing enough that there’s something out there more for you. Read more>> 

Christina Massey | Artist

As an artist, often the biggest risk you can take is to change things up. To do something different, experiment and stray from what you are known for or has been selling well but perhaps not fulfilling you creatively. Some artists get pigeonholed into one style or series and feel immense pressure to continue making the same thing over and over again, especially if it has been commercially successful. Read more>>

Maggie Overbaugh | Photographer & Makeup Artist

Risk taking in a creative field is imperative in order to find success. Whats the one quote? Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised! No quote has ever resonated more than that as a photographer/mua. There’s these little sparks of ideas that every creative has , like a light switch has gone off. Read more>>

Tim Janssens | Composer, Music Producer, Music Video Director, Photographer.

I don’t really think about risks, life is short, and either you chase your dreams or you don’t. Most people even get afraid when they get close to success. I started my music career in Belgium, and never really had any success there until I started approaching labels in other countries. We are talking late 90’s, so using internet to promote your music wasn’t really a big thing yet. Read more>>

Maya Khalil | 3D & Motion Graphics Artist

My journey as an artist has been a series of risks so far. As an Egyptian artist who was born and raised in the Middle East, I felt that it was best for me to move to New York in 2018 to continue my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Motion Graphics. Read more>>

Judy Wilkins-Smith | System Executive and transformational coach,Systemic Wrk and Constellations trainer and facilator and author

If you had asked me this in 1995 I would probably have laughed at you. I wasn’t a risk taker then. Or so I thought, although I should have seen the clues. Switching from a job I didn’t love to one I really enjoyed and marrying a widower with two small children involved some risk taking. Read more>>

Joseph Wendrich | Actor

I think as actors we are constantly taking risks, or at least we should be, both in the lifestyle and the craft itself. For me the biggest risk I took was in committing to being an actor. Once committed, everything else just became a test of how far I am willing to push myself. Read more>>

Patrick O’Kane | Touring Drummer, Producer, Tech

I think you should always follow your gut. Even if that means taking a “Risk” I would say my entire life was taking a risk. I played sports in highschool and was going to go to school for athletics and gave up my scholarships to work and figure my life out which was a big risk. Read more>>

Ghawam Kouchaki | Photographer/Filmmaker

Early in my journey as a photographer, I faced criticism for being too distant from my subjects. I acted on advice from several people to get closer and it improved my photos but also helped me discover my unique style. Read more>>

Maya Rosalia | Singer/ Songwriter

As an artist, its important to continually push yourself to explore new horizons and demonstrate personal growth. Taking risks and embracing the unknown is essential. When I first debuted as an artist at the tender age of 12, I created music that I believed to be trendy. Influential figures in the industry, who were more successful than I, often dictated my choices, and I felt compelled to heed their advice. Read more>>

James Custodio | Singer & Artist

I think risk is necessary in order to succeed. I am always one to believe that in order to float, you need to swim in the deep end of the water. Without taking risk, you place yourself in a comfortable position. With comfortably comes complacency, without the need to ever progress. Read more>>

Terrance Daye | Poet, Filmmaker, TV Writer

More often than not, as an independent director, I am operating as my own secretary, producer, marketing team, graphics designer, copy editor, assembly line, etc. Some days it feels like my job is more clerical than creative: spreadsheets, power points, grant applications, summaries and tons of reading… Read more>>

Emre Gokalp | Classical Guitarist

Taking risks often means choosing the harder path over the easier one. Despite the challenges, I believe it’s always worth the effort. The nature of performing involves dealing with risks and going against our natural instincts. Read more>>

AJ Causey | Tour & Artist Manager

When considering risk, it is essential to weigh the potential rewards against the potential losses. I always take into account the long-term implications of my decisions and consider strategies for recovering from any setbacks. Read more>>

Dominic Lorenzo | Director & Artist

Everything I do is with risk, there is no other way to work. Things need to get done and risk is just a part of that equation. I work with emotions, so if I feel something then I know something. Even if I’m uncertain, that doubt is an indication for me. Read more>>

Ran Qian | Photographer

Risk has been a fundamental part of my journey as a photographer. Transitioning from filmmaking and media to photography meant starting from scratch, embracing new challenges and opportunities for growth. My proactive approach to risk-taking led me to seize opportunities that were uncertain but promising, like when I reached out to a French photographer I admired. Read more>>

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