Shoot your shot? Take a chance? Society bombards us with messages, phrases, examples and stories of how taking risk is the key to success, but is anything ever that simple? We asked some of the brightest folks we know to tell us about how they think about risk. We’ve shared their responses below.

Jade Spurr | Content Creator & Actor

I think that the idea of risk is subjective to the individual. What might be really scary for one person is a walk in the park for another, and vice Versa. It all depends on your mindset towards fear and challenge. For me, I have learned that I become miserable when I settle for less then what im passionate about. Even if less means safer, more comfortable, and easier then the challenge and fear of walking through the dark to my hearts desire.  Read more>>

Lainey Schiek | Psychic, Astrologist & Usui Reiki Master

Risk has played an amazing role in my career as a business owner. I tried and failed at multiple career paths that were considered “safe” such as nursing and advertising. I never felt ready to risk it all and pour myself into my own work full time until I started Fated Healer, my psychic, astrology and reiki business. It was at that moment I decided the way I served others through my work was more important than my sense of safety. So far, it’s worked out! Read more>>

Bernadette Spillane | President and Founder of Horse Sanctuary

Taking risks has been the biggest determination of the success we have found in everything we have done. That and the ability to make decisions. Following your heart, your passion will lead you through a life of fulfilling challenges and accomplishments. Taking a risk means you don’t have all of the answers, you may not be the most qualified on paper, you may not have the most experience but what you do have is an inexhaustible determination and energy to have your dreams come to fruition. Read more>>

Vivien Schapera | Teacher, Healer and Author OR Leader, Pioneer and Mystic

The capacity to take risks is a make or break capacity for me. I am both a leader, and a pioneer, so lucky me! I get a double dip at risk-taking. I can honestly say that my entire life is built on taking risks … and this has worked out exceptionally well for me. Read more>>

Jimmy Carroll | Co-Founder and Business Development Director of Pelorus

As climber, Conrad Anker once said, ‘Risk is the cost of living a full life. If you want to have a meaningful existence, you have to be willing to put yourself out there.’ I think about mitigating the negative outcomes and understanding the environment – both in the physical world and in business. Some of the riskiest things in life can be prepared for to minimise the risk. By preparing you can upskill yourself and increase your chances of success. Read more>>

Amy Grace Zientarski | Entrepreneur-Owner~Cleaning Business, Realtor & Apparel Designer

Risk is necessary in all aspects of life and is mainly disguised as change. How you choose to adapt to the change and the level of risk to take outside of your comfort zones is ultimately what defines our path in life. I am an absolute risk taker and if you ask me, it’s almost always a HELL YES…I would rather take the risk than to always wonder the horrible afterthought of WHAT IF…If I did not believe in taking risk and change then I would still be what I call STUCK; and that is the worst possible place to be; Read more>>

Dina Grishin | Life & Career Coach

I never really thought about taking risks in my business/ career until I did an end of year reflection exercise. I got a journal ready for the new year, and it started with reflections on the year gone. It had the questions like ‘what was your highlight/lowlight?’ but then it asked me ‘What was the biggest risk you took this year?’ Read more>>

Krista Olson | Wedding Gown Alterations

Growing up in Wisconsin, risk-taking was often avoided. My family had a knack for planning everything out, postponing my exposure to risk. My high school years were filled with the feeling of failure, even over small mistakes. As a result, my avoidance to failure stopped me from taking risks until I moved away from my hometown for college. In this new environment, I was exposed to my peers taking more risks to discover life. Taking a note from my peers, I grew the desire to build the foundation of my identity by being open to taking little risks. Read more>>