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.

Laura M Clark | Author and Mountaineer

Heading to the mountains always carries with it risk, as the mountains don’t discriminate, and they don’t care how much experience you have or if you’re having an off day. Since I’m usually solo, there are times I’ve needed to give myself a pep-talk and remind myself to trust my equipment and my skills. You wouldn’t know it by looking at my accomplishments, but I’m rather risk averse. I do a lot of pre-planning before heading to the mountains to avoid a failed attempt, including researching topographic maps, potential routes, and weather patterns. Sometimes I get surprised however. I’ve turned around dozens of times when I didn’t think I had the right skill level for the terrain in front of me, or when I felt there had to be a safer way to make it to the summit than the route I’d put together. Read more>>

Monica Curiel | Artist

In the realm of art and design, risk-taking holds significant importance. Creative growth is impossible without embracing risks. As an advocate for my work and practice, taking risks becomes an essential part of both my business and creative processes. While risks should be well thought out, they must also be seen as opportunities for growth, learning, and ultimately, success. Without venturing into the unknown, there’s limited room for innovation and the chance to stand out in a competitive field. In my career, calculated risks have been pivotal, opening doors to new possibilities and pushing the boundaries of my creative journey. Read more>>

Christie Aschwanden | Science journalist, author, podcaster, public speaker, executive director of a nonprofit

If we knew all the outcomes in advance, life would be really boring. Uncertainty and risk are an inherent part of life, and I try to weigh risks by imagining the possible negatives and positives in a given decision and making the choice that best aligns with my values. I’ve found that failure can be a powerful teacher, so I’m often very willing to take a chance at something that might fail if I think that I will learn something from the experience no matter how it goes. When I was starting out as a journalist, a mentor advised me to figure out what I wanted to do and then go do it. That’s essentially what I did, and I was fortunate that it worked for me. Read more>>

Nix Grimm | Artist

I think about risk as a way to grow and to challenge myself. It definitely pushes me to think or do something in a different way and to branch out. It’s pushed me to not be scared and just go for. Be it a project or event. Read more>>

Dustin Moon | Portrait and Commercial Photographer

There are certainly times where I think about how wild it is that I’m a full-time photographer now. I’ve been running my photography business since 2019, but didn’t go full time with it until the summer of 2021; coming off of the pandemic and leaving a secure job with steady income seems insane to me now. There was a lot of anxiety and second-guessing in that first year. Things have settled now, and the business has grown with each year that has come and gone. I feel incredibly fortunate to be doing something I genuinely enjoy for my job now, and I’m so glad I took the leap. All of the most worthwhile things I’ve done in my life all carried a degree of risk; going full-time freelance in a shaky market will probably rank in the top-3 big swings I’ve taken. Read more>>

Chazz Glaze | thought & movement coach

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been pushing myself to the limits of my comfort zone…and beyond. Beyond the adventure of it all, I discovered something invaluable: I can trust myself to have my own back. From being the first person in my family to go to college and figuring out out-of-state tuition to moving halfway across the country to a state I’d never even visited because I just KNEW I wanted to live there to leaving a “secure” job to start my own business, I have had to show the hell up. I had to put in the work. I had to remind myself of my why when it got hard. I had to promise myself I’d make the best of any outcome that resulted. Read more>>

Brandy Ray | Musician and Facilitator

I’m a big proponent of approaching life and opportunities with a growth mindset and that goes hand in hand with taking risks. When I first started playing in a band, I hadn’t really sang on a stage since I was very young. It took a lot of courage to go for it, but I truly believe that taking the risk and failing is far more important than saving face and never knowing what you might accomplish. I’ve had numerous amazing experiences because I’ve taken calculated risks and combined them with drive and effort to achieve a goal. I’ve also learned countless lessons from both the opportunities that taking risks has provided and the moments when the risks may not have been as fruitful. Read more>>