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.

Ruby Cloutier | Interior Designer | Home Stager

I look at taking risk as something positive, even if it brings failure. Taking risk are essential in order to move forward and upward. Taking risk has played a huge role in my life and career, and it comes with the ups/downs. In the past, I attempted to try many different types of business related to design and they were failures, but that did not stop me from trying because I am not afraid to fail. It’s all about timing and you never know what your audience is going to connect with unless you keep going. Read more>>

Rick Steinburg | Artist and Musician

Taking risks in creating artworks has been a crucial part of my process in the last five years since I retired from teaching. However there have been times earlier in my life where it was important to minimize risks. The years of establishing my teaching career and raising children required a different balance. The playfulness that is at the center of my taking risks to create art and music played out in being playful and spontaneous with my children and with the elementary art and music students that I taught. Read more>>

Amber Long and Kenneth Douglas | Owners

Faith is the substance of things not seen in the physical. We always had a clear Vision of were we wanted to take the company. We never let road blocks are anything detour us from our mission. We stayed Solid into the fruit’s of our label manifested.Read more>>

Dr. Tarina Desai | Physician

Risk can be scary sometimes but necessary. Without it, you don’t know which opportunities can bring you happiness or closer to your goals. I have taken quite a few risks in my life- all of them for happiness and some unknowingly brought me closer to my goals. One of the most important risks I took was when I decided to go to medical school. I had never actually thought about studying medicine but there was an opportunity for me to go abroad and study in Europe for two years of medical school and then complete my final two years in New York City. Read more>>

Chris Holmes | Owner of Soul Productions, LLC

I feel like risk-taking is a part of my everyday life and career. You can’t really get the things you want out of life by playing it safe. It’s all about getting outside of your comfort zone. When you get out of your comfort zone that is when you grow the most. That is also the time when you find out more about yourself, what you are willing to take, and how you can use innovation and creativity to get out of things. So I think taking the risk is a part of your growth and is necessary for you to accomplish your goals. Read more>>

Heather Rasowsky | The Fluffy Flower, Owner

I like to think there is a difference between being a risk taker and taking a leap of faith. In general I am not a big risk taker. It’s nerve-wracking! I am realistic in knowing that some things will work out great and some things won’t go as planned. I always have a plan and put the steps in place to execute my vision, but there comes a point in the planning process where you just have to take a leap of faith and see how it goes. I started my business in Houston in 2015. Read more>>

Patrick McNerney | COO – 3D Design & Engineering

Risk is absolutely critical in business, as it is in life. There is no worthwhile opportunity that does not come with risk involved. Risk is the price paid for freedom of choice, which also includes freedom to succeed or fail. Whether we realize it or not, every time we make any decision there are risks taken into consideration, and a conclusion reached. For example: going to the grocery store involves the risk of your car breaking down, getting into a wreck, or getting a ticket. Read more>>