Risk is the most common topic that comes up in our conversations with entrepreneurs and so each week we ask entrepreneurs to talk to us on the record about how they think about risk.

Diamond Capreé | Young Independent Artist

For me the biggest risk I’ve took thus far was moving to Houston. I’m a girl from a small town. I took this leap of faith for me, for my happiness but most of all my dream to become an artist. It’s been a stern struggle and a complex battle. But I’m living, I’m surviving and I’m dreaming. This risk put my back against the wall. Impelled me to get aggressive about my goals and where I want to be in 5 or 10 years. It’s a journey still traveled. It’s a journey less traveled. Read more>>

Darwin Duncan | Owner of Mercury Mobile Detailing

Risk is a requirement to get anything out of life and it is in every decision you make, regardless of if you know it or not. When you wake up in the morning and decide to do nothing for the day, you assume little to no risk. In turn, you get nothing out of that decision besides some rest, well needed or not. When you decide to clock in at your day to day job, you assume a small amount of risk in the sense that you will receive compensation for the work that you are doing, oftentimes at a lower value than the work is actually worth. If you decide to start your own business, chase a dream or even go after a lofty goal, you are assuming the maximum amount of risk. Read more>>

Shante’ Holden | Lead Business Operational Coordinator & Airbnb Superhost/ Consultant

The very common quote “without risk there is no reward” is one that greatly resonates with me. Not only does it apply within my career but in my life as well. At the age of 17 I moved to Houston from Japan without ever visiting, with no family or any friends in the city. This was by far one of the most rewarding decisions that I made but felt like a huge risk and almost a mistake at times. After 8 years, I have made Houston my home, started a professional career in Health Administration and started a Short Term Rental business as well as a Consulting business where I teach people how to start their own Short Term Rental business. When it comes to taking the risk I like to asses the situation and weigh the outcomes but I try to remember the bigger the risk the bigger the reward. Read more>>

Adina Appelbaum | Immigration Attorney, Financial & Online Business Coach for Immigrant Families, Social Entrepreneur

I was fortunate to learn the value of taking smart risks, adaptability, and going outside my comfort zone at a young age from my father. This spirit led me to go live in incredible places like Cairo, Egypt for a year after graduating from college as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and Quito, Ecuador, where I met my husband. I have learned many lessons about the incredible rewards that risk can bring in life, and how important it is to follow what feels scary and exciting. As a social entrepreneur, continuing to take risks and live in the zone of uncertainty has allowed me to also create impactful new initiatives for social change. A large theme of what I teach my business coaching clients is how to embrace uncertainty, master money and business mindset, and take risks despite fear to create mission-based businesses, bring their soul purpose into reality, and make the impact they’re meant to make in this world. Read more>>