We asked some brilliant folks from the community to talk to us about how they think about risk and the role risk has played in their lives and careers.

Kyle And David

(By Kyle of Pleiadian Dream)

Eleven years ago when I was twenty-two years old and had recently graduated from Brooks Institute with a degree in photography, I was working in a juice bar while my classmates were getting jobs in prestigious companies in L.A., San Francisco, and New York. For eight hours a day they were now taking photos of shampoo or soda bottles in small, windowless studios. Their eyes that used to sparkle when they would look through their camera at what they loved — were now dull and lifeless.  Read More>>

Katie Sturgis

I think most great things and true growth in life involve risk and uncertainty. I also think staying stagnant and becoming complacent is just as risky as jumping forward and trying new things. I love to say “do what scares you” (I’m a mountain biker so, very applicable) and “use fear as motivation.” Fear is your body’s natural response to protect you, but sometimes it can coddle you instead, so you have to find a good balance in order to maintain healthy growth. Read More>>

Sarah Seibold

Risk, for me, isn’t about chasing danger – it’s about stepping into uncertainty with intention. I’ve never been drawn to a path that’s linear or predictable, and that means I’ve had to get comfortable making decisions without guarantees.

In Ice Cross, for example, risk shows up in every race – not just physically by way of the technical course or the speed, but in the decision to show up giving 100% effort. You often travel far internationally for a single weekend, unsure of the conditions, the competition, or how your body will hold up.  Read More>>

 Ryan

Risk taking in my professional and personal life has always been how I relate to the world. Whether in business or relationships I always just dive right in and see what happens on the other side. When my boyfriend at the time (and current business partner) introduced me to fermented foods, it completely changed my digestive system. I have celiac disease and had not been very strict about my diet before I met him. Read More>>

 Kishan White

The man who invented the parachute didn’t know it worked until he jumped. Taking risks has played a big role in regards to growth. Read More>>

Sara Turbyfill

I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so part of me always knew I wanted to start my own business. I know there’s risk involved when starting your own business. However, I remember my parents being at all of my basketball games growing up. Even though they had to return to work immediately after, they could step away for a few hours because they owned their own business. I knew then that I wanted the same freedom one day. Read More>>

Denise Shannon

The opposite of stagnation for me is taking risks. The worst thing I can imagine in life is to stay comfortable where I am at. I believe that the only way to grow and become a better person is to take risks, even if I have no idea what the outcome might be. Every step I have taken in my personal life and career has been about stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things or learning new things.  Read More>>

Kennedi Dutson

Oh my, I think the idea of “risk” is so insanely important to talk about when it comes to your career, especially when you are your own boss. The whole idea of creating a business is a risk, and its scary, but oh boy, is it so worth it. I am currently finishing up my second year at Southern Utah University. During my first year here I went on to pursue a music education degree, wanting to give back and show band kids what it is like to have a safe place and home away from home during high school. Read More>>