We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Svitlana Prouty | Artist Painter

To chose to be a professional artist in its self is a risk. While at the time I did not fully understand this risk, I knew that my art was what brought me happiness. The biggest attraction to me was the freedom to make my own path and schedule. At the time I was making my choice to become a professional artist I lived in Ukraine where the social pressures to earn money in excess was not a factor like it is many countries. What I did see was many people going making the motions to go to work every day but not really being happy in what they did or accomplished. I knew I did not want that life. Read more>>

Kristina Mckean | Owner of The Elephant Project

I started my career in a very different field than I am in now. I began in interior design and gradually found a love for product development. For many years I worked as a product designer for Old Navy. However, after a trip to Thailand where I witnessed elephant abuse, I felt called to do something to help. It was a huge risk for me to leave my job and start this business. There were so many unknowns and risks that came with starting a business. Read more>>

Jessica Armstrong | Entrepreneur | Success Coach | Real Estate

How we think of risk is the most important part in how you are able to leverage it. The term “risk” carries a lot of negative connotations, it fires up fear and insecurity. Like other terms such as “failures” I have started using new words and empowering “risk-taking”. Instead of looking at the risks, I look at the opportunities, the possibilities. Not risk taking but opportunity making. We of course need to weigh our losses, the risk and the way I look at this is very matter of fact. We know what the potential loss is, most of us are programmed to go there first. It is our survival pattern. Read more>>

Christopher McKenney | Surrealist Artist

Risk-taking is an integral part of my artistic expression and the way I approach life in general. As a surreal artist, I believe that taking risks is essential to pushing boundaries and creating something truly unique. Throughout my career, I have taken many risks to achieve my artistic vision, often venturing into the unknown and unexplored territories of the mind. Read more>>

Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz | Award-Winning LGBTQ+ Creators and co-founders, On Airplane Mode

To us, taking risks in life has lead to personal growth, new opportunities and greater happiness than just sticking to the status quo. We are always looking for ways to step outside of our comfort zones and challenge ourselves because doing that has lead us to the most special experiences of our lives. One of the biggest risks we have ever taken was when we saved up for two years, quit our jobs, and moved to South East Asia in 2019. Read more>>

Tycho Dwelis | Author and Artist

Yeah, being a self-published author and freelance artist is definitely all about taking risks. It can be tempting to stick with a stable job and a consistent paycheck, but for me, the thrill of creating something that’s truly my own is worth the uncertainty. Of course, there are sacrifices that come with that, and one of the biggest is the financial side of things – it’s tough to make a lot of money when you’re just starting out. Read more>>

Jake Streissguth | Farrier & Entrepreneur

I think taking risks in business is a critical part of running one. Without taking the risk to put yourself out into the world to provide a service, you can’t make any money. Without risking that you’ll fail, you’ll never learn to succeed. I believe that I was ready to risk everything in order to be successful. Personal life, Reputation, free-time, or whatever it took to be successful. Read more>>

Catherine Berra | Author and Optimist

One of my counselors at Columbine High School, way back in the day, had a unique comment he’d always use when we were unsure of our own talents. Those two words were, “Risk it”. I believe those two words have really stuck with me through the years in so many positive ways. I look at taking risks as similar to the “YOLO” or “you only live once” in that we do truly need to make the most of our gifts and talents and the time we have in our lives. Read more>>

LaTina Boyd | Influencer & Content Creator

Risk taking is a must! I feel as though you never get what you want out of life without taking risks. There is no such thing as a life with no risk! Some risks are greater than others of course but I look at risks as necessary evils. Risks help you grow even when you do not achieve the outcome that you are looking for, there is still a lesson to be learned. I have never regretted a mistake that I have made because once I realize that the mistake was made I will analyze it. Read more>>