There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Grace Gatto | Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

I love talking about risks! I started my business in February of 2017. In the few months prior to starting, I took some big risks that actually ended up being the catalyst for giving my business a shot. In October of 2016, I made a very spontaneous decision to pack up my bags, take a corporate job, and move to Boston. I had never visited Boston before accepting the job. I said yes, packed up my car, and drove 30 hours. I was so excited and thought I was surely making the right move. I lasted 4 months in Boston. I disliked my job, was away from beautiful Colorado, missed my family and friends, and had no time for taking photos, which was something I loved doing. Read more>>

Stephanie Fugazzi | Hairstylist

I think if my parents knew how I would be, they may have named me ” Risk”! haha Risk an essential part of growth. I see risk as an opportunity rather than something to be feared. In hindsight, life itself is a series of risks; while some choose the path of least resistance, its often those that embrace the more challenging options that achieve the greatest results.
I remember being at a low point in my life, and receiving an unexpected call. Offering me the chance to style and sponsor one of Colorados Pro dance teams within just two days. Despite the challenges, I said yes, knowing this point could be a turning point. It was a vital moment in my career that showed me there was so much more to hairstyling than just cut and coloring. Read more>>

Devan Penniman | Printmaker and Creative Problem Solver

I am a fairly anxious person, constantly imagining worst case scenarios and somehow it has worked out that reality feels less scary. Taking risks even something small has led me to where I am now, but there are three that really made a different. The first risk was in 2012 when I decided to join Americorp for the summer, where I took down trees with a chainsaw even though I had zero manual labor skills. This risk led to me moving to Colorado, eventually graduating with a BFA and finding a love of letterpress. The second was in 2017 when I decided to hike 1000 miles on the PCT, two months, living outside, walking, eating and facing my fears. This led to me doing a Tedx talk, starting my own business and furthering my confidence in what I am capable of. Read more>>

Ann Jones | Author & Communications Director

Taking risks has been a big part of my life, shaping not only my personal growth but also my professional achievements. As a woman who has gone through the challenges of leaving an abusive marriage to reclaiming who I was made to be, taking risks has been at the cornerstone of my healing and transformation. Leaving an abusive marriage meant I had to step into the unknown, facing financial and emotional uncertainties, but it also marked the beginning of a journey toward safety, self-worth, and independence. The risk of staying was outweighed by the need for a life free from fear and abuse for my children and I. I had a change to reinvent myself. Read more>>

Parker Scott | Photographer & Videographer

I think especially in the film / photo industry it is all about taking risks. Over the years of running the business you have to take risks often, whether that be starting free work to hopefully open more opportunities or taking on different types of shoots that you don’t have much experience with. Overall, it has definitely helped my career get to where it is now and I think as a business owner you need to take risks to progress further. Read more>>

Josiah Arment | Model, Actor & Performer, Entrepreneur

Life is all about taking risks! Without taking any risks life stays the same with no movement. I found my career in movement. I found it in momentum. I think when we do things we never thought we could do before or things that are out of the “norm” we really start to become a new version of ourselves that can do things we didn’t think possible. It brings out underlying talents that laid dormant not knowing what we have until we took a risk. For me it was trying something I never did before – modeling. My dreams were to become a rockstar and an actor, I had never even considered modeling. It wasn’t until I was reached out to by multiple designers in both Denver and NYC that I decided to take a risk! Now it’s something I couldn’t imagine giving up and now I even co-own a billboard in NYC! Taking risks leads to unimaginable amazing things! Read more>>

“morbid” Mark Dalton | Artist, Studio Owner and Full-time Student

I think that there is no reward without risk; nothing relevant anyway. No one ever did anything meaningful in life without compounded risk. Even getting into the tattoo business originally was a risk, it has been a consistent risk staying in the art world and it is even a greater risk reupping my formal education currently in the Fine Arts scene. From the way I see it, we can’t take any of it with us, so we might as well roll the dice on the long shot while we have the shot. Read more>>

Jill Simonds | Fractional Executive Leader

Risk-taking has been a constant throughout my life and career. Growing up in an unstable home environment, I learned young that nothing was guaranteed, and sometimes, the only way to move forward was to take a leap of faith. When life feels unpredictable, you develop an intuitive sense of when to take risks because you’re already accustomed to navigating uncertainty. In many ways, my early experiences shaped my approach to risk in my career. I realized that the greatest rewards often come from the willingness to step into the unknown, even when it feels uncomfortable. Whether it was starting my own business, Savvy, or helping other entrepreneurs scale their ventures, I’ve always believed that calculated risks are the key to growth. If I was not willing to bet on myself, how can I expect others to? Read more>>