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.

Alley Kocinski

In terms of art, I believe just about all risks are worth taking. Everything feels like a risk in art – from deciding whether I should add or change something in a painting and risk regretting it, to sharing my work publicly and risk receiving negative (or no) interactions, to paying for space at a gallery or art fair with no guarantee that anything will sell. And each of those things have happened to me on occasion. But much more often the risks have paid off! I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere as an artist if I hadn’t taken those risks and I continue taking those risks now. Read More>>

Allison Buffum

To me, risk-taking is an essential part of growth and innovation, especially in the context of entrepreneurship and creation. While everything may feel daunting or uncertain, embracing risk allows for new opportunities and progress. The key is to trust yourself and your vision so deeply that the potential downsides seem small in comparison to the rewards. Having that confidence sets you apart and empowers you to push through fear and doubt, ultimately helping you turn your ideas into reality. Read More>>

Dustin Knock

Risk used to be a daunting thought to me. It took a long time to break myself from the thought that I had to know everything in order to qualify for things. You never have to know one hundred percent of the answers to take the leap. You do however have to be able to recognize when you have gained enough applicable skills to take those big risks. Read More>>

Leigha Somma

Taking risks has always been a daunting and scary thought when it comes to decisions in my personal and professional life. What if I make a mistake? What if I fail? Those two questions, and many more doubts, flooded my mind and kept me in places, environments, and relationships far longer than I should’ve stayed.  Read More>>

Ana Dahl

I make a pointed effort to think about risk as a positive and not a negative. I have this mug that says “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”I like this idea that success could be just around the corner. You could own your own business, you can be great at what you do, you can help support a whole community of people. I know where my passions lie- in helping people, in understanding behavior in our dogs, in creative thinking, and in art. By taking a risk I can put all of these together to find fulfillment and offer my best self to the people around me. Read More>>

Talia Bond

Risk has always been part of who I am. I believe we’re all born with it in our DNA—some of us just learn to lean into it more than others. For as long as I can remember, I’ve taken chances. As a kid, I bet on friendships, on pets, on adventures that sometimes got me into trouble—but I kept going. Read More>>

Stephani Gutierrez

Risks are a must in business. Risks build confidence even though you feel like a failure any risk that is taken is to see what works and how you can make improvement and grow. No business can grow if you think small and stay within comfortable limits. Every risk that we have taken was for the benefit of my family and being able to be a stay at home wife and mother. Read More>>