What role has risk taking played in your life or career?

In our experience, most folks, including ourselves don’t have enough of an understanding of risk and the role it plays in our lives and careers and so we have made a concerted effort as a team to have conversations about risk with our interviewees. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Artem Shestakov | Photographer

I love risk and honestly I think that in order to get some extraordinary photos, every photographer who travels the world, needs to take on various challenges and embrace danger and discomfort to find that perfect shot. Too early, too far, too cold, too tired, for me it’s just become a new normal. Read more>>

Ryan Mannix | Musician & Songwriter

Risk taking is the name of the game when it comes to improvisation. The music we love to make live features lots of risk-taking and experimentation. Sometimes you fall on your face, but that’s ok in the pursuit of something special. Read more>>

Dymetra McCaskill | Interior Designer

The best way to describe how I feel about taking risk is literally happening in real time. I recently made the decision to resign from my 15 year career as a flight attendant from one of the largest airlines in the country. Read more>>

Hayden Gilmour | Photographer & Filmmaker

I think Risk is truly the biggest factor in chasing after your dreams, especially when it comes to establishing a career in the film/photo realm. If you aren’t willing to risk it, the chances of making something happen for yourself are slim. Read more>>

Matt Dowling | Artist, designer, author.

Having grown up in a ‘risk-averse’ environment, the idea of taking chances, actually embarking on a journey that may result in…..nothing but wasted time and effort, is new to me. My parents both worked very hard within a system which encouraged falling into line and playing by the rules. Read more>>

Caroline Lawson | Photographer

Taking risks is the main reason I’m here today. On a larger scale, it’s a risk to even get into a creative industry since there is no guarantee of success or financial stability. Another risk that has created a huge impact in my career was the decision to quit my job in order to pursue freelance product photography full-time. With more time being focused on working and growing my business, I’ve been able to get more work than ever. Read more>>

Kayla O’Connor | Artist & Yoga Instructor

I would say I have a slightly above average risk tolerance than the average person, which I firmly believe has brought me to where I am today with Mind & Company. I have this belief in the back of my head that your goals and aspirations will only show up to the degree you are willing to show up for them. Read more>>

Michela Parisi | Owner, Connected Brain Counseling. Therapist and Neurofeedback Specialist

I find this question so interesting, because we all have our own relationships to risk that are deeply rooted in our upbringing and intertwined with the narratives we have running through our heads each day. Read more>>

Hogan Flix | Photographer & Videographer

When I think of risks I think of all of the big risks I’ve taken and not taken. Even if the risky decision turns into a failure it still becomes a lesson, so why ever choose the conservative decision if the outcome of taking a risk will move you further in life, especially if you succeed. I want to know at the end of my life I gave it everything I had and not regretting the risks I wish I took. Read more>>

Jhonattan Arango | Muralist & Fine Artist

Risk is everything. I’ve gotten well acquainted with risk. For a lot of my life I would play it safe. I was kind of a good boy; I wanted to be a good son, a good employee, a good student, etc. I didn’t willingly take a lot of risk because that would probably mean breaking away from the mold and venturing into the unknown side of behavior. Fortunately life had better things in storage for me. Read more>>

Angela Gentile | Entrepreneur, Hype Woman and Wellness Expert

Taking risks is essential to growth. And since growth is very much a part of my value set, I tend to look at it as necessity, welcoming it in rather than avoid it. The way we see risk and embrace risk or become risk averse is about our mindset. Some see risk as the unknown and fearful. Read more>>

Jon Moore | Photographer

Risk can be a tricky one for a lot of people. They way I look at it, you’ll never know the precise, absolutely, positively-correct moment to take a risk. So why wait? Take the risk. When you accept that failure is always a possibility in everything you do or in any choice you make – risky or not – it’s a lot easier to take the plunge. Read more>>

Cynthia Cazañas Garin | Filmmaker and Professor

Taking risks makes us grow personally and professionally. Progress takes place outside of our comfort zone. I left Cuba right after college graduation when I was 22 years old. I won a scholarship to get my Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television at Emerson College in Boston Read more>>

George Bates | Artist

Risk taking is essential. It either open doors, or leads to deeper learning. I’ve never had a job. I’ve always been some sort of freelance creative resulting in an entirely unanticipated career path. It began in formally in freelance Illustration in 1990 with my first officially published work in the New York Times Book Review (Art Director-Steve Heller) and branched out from there. Read more>>

Davionn Johnson | Owner, CF-L1

There are risks in all aspects of life. There is no need to be afraid of risks, instead, it is more important to identify potential risks and apply some sort of risk mitigation to reduce the chances of risks actually occurring. Read more>>

Bryant Harmon Jr. | Podcaster & YouTuber

When I think about all of the greats who have come before me, I know one thing for sure. Risk and risk-taking was inevitable, it had to be part of the formula to get the solution and results that were produced. I think risk is something we all should embrace. If it is calculated risk, even better. Read more>>

Kate Pendry | Medium and Spiritual Architect

Risk was a concept I have always felt resonated with me and who I am, yet growing up, watching my parents take risks was not followed by much success. Instead, it indicated consistent moves, instability and a feeling that nothing was ever mine to keep. So as an adult, I wanted to take risks and think outside the box but decisions and choices in how to do that successfully and wisely were extremely confusing. Read more>>

Cody Devine | Professional Wrestler & Colorado based Realtor

This is actually one of my favorite questions. My whole life after high school played out based on taking risks. Before I started doing professional wrestling I was extremely introverted and I would go out of my way not to be noticed or heard. I had all these really cool dreams and ideas but always thought I would never pursue them because I did not want to stand out. Read more>>

Courtney Weber | Pelvic Floor Therapist & Birth Doula

Leaving the conventional healthcare system to start a private practice definitely felt risky initially! My co-founder and I worked as occupational therapists in outpatient and hospital settings for a few years before venturing out on our own. There was a small sense of security that we were in it together, but it was still scary. Read more>>

Connor Berkompas | Theatre Artist

Risk is a vital part of theatre-making. The ‘liveness’ of theatre is in itself a risky experience. I love it when theatre artists capitalize on the ephemerality and immediacy of the art form- at any moment something spectacular could happen, or something could fail spectacularly. I am interested in creating work where there is huge potential for failure. Read more>>