Legend holds that Cornelius Vanderbilt had built a massive fortune in the steamboat shipping industry, but then realized the railroads were the way of the future and invested almost his entire net worth into railroads. The gamble paid off and made Vanderbilt one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs ever. But risks are inherently…risky. How do you think about risk and how has it affected your life and career? Some of our community favorites share their perspective below.

Keith Graham | Marketing Manager & Food writer & Blogger

Risk-taking is intrinsic to achieving greatness in my career. Calculated risks have been instrumental in my professional growth, driving me to expand my horizons, innovate, and adapt. I approach risk with thorough research and a proactive strategy, viewing it as a catalyst for advancement. I’ve learned that the most rewarding achievements often involve challenging the status quo and venturing into the unknown. Risk is not a barrier; it’s a gateway to significant accomplishments. Read more>>

Trinity Rouse | Fashion Model & Student

I view risk as an opportunity of greater impact. Whenever I am presented with a risk, I always look at the pros and cons of it, and whether the pros align with my goals and values. I think the word “risk” has such a negative connotation because there is always a negative outcome attached to it, but to make a positive change we have to look any situation with a optimistic viewpoint. One “risk” I took a year ago was to represent my cultural heritage as Miss Philippines at the Wichita Asian Festival – which was my first ever pageant. Serving as a community representative required a significant amount of time, work, and dedication (on top of being a junior in high school at that time). Read more>>

Anna Dean | Contemporary Artist

One of my favorite quotes is by Goethe, “At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you.” I believe that to be true. When you visualize what you want, and put all your energy into that goal, somehow the universe realigns itself to support you on your new journey. Early in my career, I was not so much of a risk taker. I chose the path of Arts Education rather than Fine Arts because I felt like it was a safer career choice – I was guaranteed a weekly paycheck, benefits, etc. But, at some point, I began to realize that the public education system was not investing in me. I was just a cog in a big machine, and public education wants standardization – they do not want someone who stands out. So, I began to wonder… Read more>>

Kandyse Morales | Empowerment Coach

Risks are the single most important thing to advancement in your life, relationships, and business. We get told as children that we need to be careful, watch out, and make good choices but all of that just really beats it into our heads that risks are bad. As we grow up we get more careful and make the safe choices until one day we find ourselves stuck or complacent in our lives. We become unhappy and have no idea how we got here. The answer is because we stopped taking risks, we stopped going after things that scare us. Risks have pushed me forward in my life and my career and they can for you too. Read more>>

Laura Rodriguez | COO DNVR Realty

Risk is an intrinsic part of the real estate business. From market fluctuations to investment decisions, there’s always an element of uncertainty. However, my perspective on risk is that it’s not just about taking chances but about calculated decisions. In my early days, I viewed risk with caution, perhaps even apprehension. But as I delved deeper into the industry, I understood that the biggest rewards often come from stepping out of one’s comfort zone. So, instead of shying away, I began to embrace risk as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. Taking risks has played a monumental role in my career. For instance, during a market downturn, while many chose to play safe, I took the bold step of investing in properties that showed potential. Read more>>

Jane Rothfeld | Author and Spiritual Teacher

In July of 2020, my husband told me we had seven weeks of living expenses and then we were broke. He was the main earner in our household and took care of most of the bills, still, the news came as a shock.
It was the summer of the pandemic and he had been job-searching for fifteen months. He had a Masters degree and twenty years of experience in his field: we thought he’d find a job. But after fifteen months of intense searching and applying to jobs for which he was qualified to a tee, he had had no responses. There was complete radio silence from the job world. We were in the midst of what I call a “rug pull.” Though it was a slow pull at first, nonetheless the rug was being pulled from underneath us. I call it the “rug pull” when the things that form people’s lives and realities are yanked away. Read more>>

Christopher Gulick | Kinetic Sculptor and Barnyard Engineer

I was born from an artist. I say this because my mother was an artist.
Mom was my first and primary mentor.
I learned all the basics from her, light source, shadow, depth, in 2d, and 3d, by the time I was in 3rd grade. So, regarding the word RISK…I simply work.
The only things being risked are time, energy, money, and…SANITY.
Many times, I have told myself, “I QUIT”. Then I wake up the next day and say, “Hey….I gotta GREAT Idea!’ Read more>>