We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Joel Valdes | Writer & Director

Before doing filmmaking full time, I had an office job that was comfortable but left me feeling too drained to dedicate time to following my dream. Quitting that job was a very risky choice, but I’m so happy with my decision and all the doors that have opened for me now that I dedicate all my time to my craft. I now get to work with many driven and like-minded people to tell stories that are important to us. Read more>>

Emma Glass | Founder & Head Coach at Luxe Leadership

I believe it’s very important to be willing to take risks as an entrepreneur! Women are, in general, more risk averse and have deep rooted fears that are holding back a majority of women from earning 7-figures! From taking on the responsibility of hiring a team member to making big asks or scary pivots – that is what sets the leaders apart from the herd. I find that I may be the black sheep on this one, to be honest, I love a good moment outside of my comfort zone in both my career and life. Read more>>

Lee Walters | Painter

Risk to me is a relationship that I have had to develop over a long period of time. Almost like that of an intimate relationship, risk often involves a lot of highs and lows. You learn which ones not to take part in, which ones to leap for and which are just plain toxic. To develop an understanding of any relationship one must be willing to get out there and experience by taking chances. To gain knowledge of oneself. This involves many ‘failures’.. but ‘mistakes’ are also fertile ground for you to pick yourself back up and realize which direction to head in. With time I began to see more clearly when a risk was worth taking or when I was pushing it too far. Read more>>

Adrienne Simon | Executive Director & Clerk

I think of risk taking as being a necessity. If you never take a chance how can you succeed? I’ve taken risk my entire life whether it be in my personal life or career. When I decided to take a risk and pursue my vision I had very little support, but I kept going. I took financial risk and often times would spend all that I had in order to see events through or to simply help those in need. The thing is every risk I’ve ever taken has taught me some type of lesson. It’s not failure if you take a risk or chance, it’s failure when you don’t. Read more>>

Jenny T. Wang, PhD Wang | Clinical Psychologist, National Speaker and Author

Risk used to be something that terrified me. It was something that my parents, immigrants from Taiwan, warned me against. It seemed to offer only downside and potential failure. However as my career has evolved, I have learned that risk is a crucial part of our evolution. Without risk, we potentially play it too safe. We become too comfortable. We miss opportunities that help us gain skills and grow. Risk has become a discipline and practice that I try to include in all facets of my life. Sometimes, risk takes the form of trying a new hobby or learning a new skill. Other times, it means setting boundaries or pursuing an unknown opportunity. Read more>>

Emily Mock | Founder of For the One International

When starting our nonprofit organization in 2018, I had no idea what the details would look like. What I did know was there was a calling on my life to bring aid to the hungry children of Panama. I clearly heard God tell me to start the organization and He would be there every step of the way. Four years later and God has guided this mission every single day. When your passion and calling is clear, you start moving forward and the details all work itself out. The risk is worth it! The mission is worth it. Life is too short to play small. We must all take many risks to fufill our purposes on this earth and be all who God has created us to be. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Read more>>

Ceci Mitre | Fashion Photographer & Food Blogger

What I think about risk is that you only have one life and not going for the things that you want will make you have a life that you don’t want. For me personally, leaving my 9-5 job meant not having that extra income but having the freedom to do what I love every single day of my life and being home with the kids made it worth it. A lot of people struggle with the idea that you have to wake up every morning and look for opportunities but quite honestly, that is the most fun thing to do as a business owner. Looking for people with the same mindset as you is liberating and you get to make life long friends and business partners in the process. Read more>>

Kimberly Dominguez | Balloon Artist & Accountant

I strongly believe life is all about taking risks and getting out of your comfort zone. Every business has a risk. There are really no instructions on how to run your business because you learn as you go. I was so scare to start my business because like many; everyone is scare of failing. However, we cannot go into a business with the mentality that we are going to fail. I’ve made plenty of risky decisions, some that have caused me to make silly mistakes but I have always pick myself back up and moved forward. I learn from it so that the next time I come back bigger and better. I’ve seen this quote many times, “every risk comes with experience.” Read more>>

Bridgette Jordan | Interior Designer-Real Estate Investor

In business, I believe that there are 2 kinds of individuals; ones who play it safe and those who take risks. When I began my journey in design, I was the “play it safe” queen! The only thing I was willing to invest was my time, and because I loved what I did, I did not properly manage it. It wasn’t until I realized that “my time” was also “my money” and that spending too much of it in one place was starving my business. My company was a team of 1 and that 1 was me. Imagine all of the roles associated with running any business. Read more>>

Darius Martin | CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR

Life is all about risk, to start a business is a risk itself. How calculated your risk can be determines on your preparation but, for most business owners we have no clue just an idea with aspirations. Driven to make our dreams come true. I took a big risk dropping out of college, not working the regular way but, it has rewarded me the opportunity to be able to shake a million hands, travel, provide for my family, and build a name for my brand, adding the connections along the way that has lead me here. With a company that I love and a concept that’s going to revolutionize the way we use social media. Read more>>

Krystle Hodge | SafetyKay LLC Founder & CEO

I have always been a planner, an organizer and not much of a big risk taker. However, starting my own business this past year and being the first entrepreneur in my family has been one of the biggest risk I have taken to date. I am proud of the risk I am taking with business because it already has opened the doors to opportunities I could not have imagined had a sat back and played things safe. The thing I am learning about risk and putting myself more out there because it allow you to grow, become more resilient and confident in achieving future goals. Read more>>