How do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career? Check out responses from hidden gems from our community below.

Cody Walker | coaster cowboy politician

There is something to be said about seeking council but at the end of the day the risk is yours. If you dont own the risk from the beginning you will be setting yourself up for failure with 100 excuses to fail instead of 100 advisors. There has always been a lot of noise around me as I risk everything. The risks I have taken in my life have generated so much noise from people that just wanted to see me fail, so they can say “I told you so,” or that are jealous of the success my family continues to have because we risk it all and outwork them and stick to the vision. This has shaped my life where I can see a person that is a producer and I can see a drag on my business. Read more>>

Edna Lugo | Professional Home Organizer & Podcaster

Risk taking plays a huge role when owning your own business. If you’re like me it feels like everything is a risk. Am I making the right choices, doing the right things to grow my business? It can be scary and uncomfortable and almost feel impossible some days. I try not to overthink it anymore and look at risks as opportunities to learn and grow. Great things never come from staying in your comfort zone! Read more>>

Lowel Pierce | Freelance Director of Photography

I think the willingness to take reasonable risks is important in any career but even more so in a creative and artistic career. While working as a TV news photographer for Ch 13 in Colorado Springs I got an offer to take a job in Saudi Arabia shooting film for an American/Saudi media company in Riyadh. I had been planning to apply for a job at Ch 9 in Denver and stay in the local TV news biz but decided to roll the dice and accept the Saudi job instead. I had never travelled outside the US so I wanted to go see the world. It turned out to be a great opportunity and adventure that changed the course of my life. Read more>>

Lisa Euthon | Commercial Real Estate Appraiser, Aspiring Outdoor Enthusiast, & Reclaimer of Dreams

I don’t think there can be movement, growth, or transformation without some level of risk and I am not sure if risk can exist without hope. There was a time in my life when all I could see was pain and hurt. I think if my heart wasn’t created to beat or my lungs to breathe, I would have said the risk to keep going wasn’t worth it. Somehow I did keep going but in a state of numbness. It was a small smile from a stranger that sparked hope in me that there was goodness in the world and I wanted to find more of it. Read more>>

Jose martinez | Graphic designer & 3D super fan

I am a firm believer that in order to grow and stay ahead of the curve, take risks from time to time. We begin to grow and carve new paths once we are out of our comfort zone. But also know when to take risks and when to stop, take a step back and assess your situation. Read more>>

Emily Oyer | Private Chef

Taking risks can be tricky but it could mean the difference between happiness & sadness. I took a huge risk by stepping out of the restaurant industry and creating my own business as a Private Chef. Best choice I’ve made this far in life. Read more>>

Clare Dunn | Artist/Songwriter/Producer/Rancher

I think about risk as a positive. Every great advancement in our society and world history, has started with someone taking a risk. To look beyond the way things are, and dare to see something that could be. For me as an artist, I always have loved artists who have taken risks with their music and I aspire to do the same. Read more>>

Lea de la Orienté | Drag Queen

Drag is all about risks. And the biggest risks pay off the most. In my art, I’ve learned to trust my instincts—if I feel a certain way about a performance or number, no matter how risky, I’ve learned to trust that usually the audience will have the same reaction to it. When I build a performance or look, I’m always thinking about what’s the best way to mesmerize and trigger emotion. It takes a lot of self-reflection and self-discovery to do that. And it’s risky because I’m always confronting how much of myself I should reveal on-stage. So I guess you could say everything I do involves a level of risk and uncertainty. Read more>>

Heather Schultz | Intuitive Tarot Reader & Music Artist

I’ve never been a play it safe type of person and I’ve always flown more so by the seat of my pants. When I graduated high school most people followed the societal standards of going to college, getting a degree, finding a normal 9-5 job, get married, buy a house, have a family, etc. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of those things, especially if those things make you happy. But that wasn’t the path for me. For me, I followed my passions to the city of Angels and pursued the starving artist path as I decided to blaze my own trails working in the music industry. When you’re an artist you wind up wearing many different hats: singer, songwriter, performer, social media intern, nanny, dog walker…. the list goes on. Read more>>