Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

A.j. Forget | Nomadic Chef, Writer, & Photographer

My personal mantra is to always follow the path of most resistance. For me, risk and struggle are the greatest signposts that you are headed in the right direction. When you start to relax into the comfortable career, when you start to settle down, you’re actually slowly giving up on your dreams, trading them in for something a little bit easier. Not that there’s anything wrong with settling down, but your dreams do not live in the same place as comfort. I used to be a lot less ambitious. When I finished college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had a degree in environmental science, which I got almost accidentally, because I was taking science courses in every discipline out of pure curiosity. It was the height of the recession, so work was hard to find, but I eventually landed a summer job out in Oregon watching birds. Read more>> 

Chantill Lopez | Co-founder of The Embodied Business Institute, Author, Podcast Host, Nervous System + Organizational Development Consultant

I wouldn’t have always answered this question this way, but yes, I’d say, ultimately, I’m a risk taker. I think taking risks has been a subtle but consistent recurring theme in my life and in my career: step TOWARD what’s hard, scary, unknown, and uncomfortable because…why not? Apply to all the colleges I don’t think I’ll get into? Sure, why not? Move to Hawaii and help start a business at 24? Okay. Follow my passion and refuse to work for someone else ever again? Mmmhmm. Start my own business at 25? Seems right. Open a second business at 27? Yup. Read more>>

Cameron Hamilton | Hairstylist, educator, mom

In my life I have never considered taking risks to be a negative. I consider risks to simply be unknowns. when you approach things with curiosity and focus on process rather than outcome, you eliminate most of the perceived risk. I went to Cosmetology school on a whim because I thought salons were magical places, not because I knew I would be good at it. That risk has become a meaningful career with longevity, success and community I could have never predicted. I think the biggest risk is assuming that you can control or predict with certainty the outcome of any situation. My ability to reframe the idea of what risk is has created endless opportunities and connections I would not have experienced if I was shut down by fear. Read more>>

Kristen Douhan | Doctor of Physical Therapy

Risk. What an interesting four letter word. What do I think about risk? I think it is scary. I think it is worth it. I think no reward happens without a little thoughtful risk involved. Risk has played a huge role in in my life and my career and has lead me on my current journey. After I graduated from college with an Exercise Science degree with an emphasis in athletic training, I worked in various different positions and finally settled in a clinical assistant role in a physical therapy clinic as well as working with USA Rugby Men’s National Teams. I evidentially was able to secure a full time job as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Colorado Rapids Soccer Team in the MLS. A dream job I would have considered it at the time. However, the combination of these three experiences lead me to learn about holes in my knowledge. Read more>>

Natasha Trujillo, Ph.d. | Licensed Counseling & Sport Psychologist; Author

I try to think about life from both a gains and losses approach. Any life event, desirable or undesirable, will have gains and losses associated with that. Inherent in both is also risk. So, I think that risk is nearly everywhere, and part of the work in life is to figure out which risks are worth it, to what extent, and how you can maintain a growth mindset and learn from the risks, regardless of their payoff. I also try to look at risks from a process standpoint instead of just a results perspective, because we can’t always control all of the variables that lead to a given outcome. Read more>>

Heidi Baskfield | Youth Mental Health System Fixer and Film Producer

I love taking risks and find it as a strength. Being willing to take risks, both big and small has been instrumental in shaping my career. Most of the time really good things come from the risks, either in the form of amazing outcomes that helped move work to an important next chapter. Or, there was a big learning from risks taken that didn’t pan out. Either way, having a high degree of comfort in taking risks has been helpful, not a hinderance. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that timing plays a major role in effective risk taking, especially when bringing teams along for the ride. Trying to move too quickly fractures healthy teams and can be highly problematic. So getting teams to at least put their toe up to the edge before shoving them out of their comfort zone is important. Read more>>