Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

Shakka Ranks | Director & visual artist

Playing it safe is the easiest way to stay stagnant in the filmmaking world as with any other industry. Taking the entrepeneurial route is a risky task in itself. By Taking risks, I have put myself in a position to capitalize on new opportunities, and at times, set me back a few paces. But the trade off is often better, more times than none. Theres never really much reward without risk. Read more>>

Aniya Monaé | Fashion Photographer & Film Director

Risks are vital to people in the world of work. Nobody gets anywhere by playing it safe; they become stagnant. In artists’ careers, and specifically my career, I feel like risks are what give us our individuality. I wasn’t able to really establish who I was or my brand as an artist until I took a large leap at what I wanted my photos to look like. Especially doing fashion photography and concepts, I had to be willing to go outside of my own box, and then outside of the world’s box. Read more>>

Troy Potts | Coffee Roaster

I’ve had several businesses throughout my career, including a printing company and a couple restaurants. In 2006, the franchise that was associated with our restaurant closed, and cost our family the business. My wife, Melissa, and I had two small boys at the time, and to support my family, I took my first job working for someone else since graduating from the University of Georgia in 1996. Read more>>

Rohith Guttamidhi | Actor/Director

Growing up in Hyderabad, India, I was immersed in a society that highly valued conventional career paths such as IT, engineering, and medicine. Pursuing a career in the arts was often regarded as impractical, with a prevailing belief that it couldn’t offer a stable livelihood. However, my heart was drawn to the world of art, especially the transformative power of movies that evoked deep emotions and a sense of humanity within me. Read more>>

Clifford Jones | Founder of Slab Jones Trucking LLC

In business, you’re always afraid of risk. Every decision you make can make or break your career. The biggest risk in starting my business was finding the perfect truck. If I had selected the wrong truck, it would have affected my business making money. For example, if the vehicle had mechanical issues and didn’t meet code, I would have to pay more money to fix it and still pay a monthly truck note and monthly insurance. Read more>>

Teala Stampley | Actress

Taking risk is a necessity to living life truthfully and authentically. I took a risk two years ago and quit my corporate job to pursue a life of purpose and meaning. Taking that risk landed me to living the life of my dreams and pursuing my acting career. Risk always comes with consequences be them good or bad. Was it all worth it to quit my job and take the risk of falling flat on my face? Read more>>

Esteban Selva-Castillo | Photography & Videography Media Company

You have to risk it for the biscuit. Taking risks has always led to growth for us. We feel it’s beneficial to always challenge yourself and push your limits as often as you can. Read more>>

Shonda Moore, MBA, RN | Owner of Sassy Silhouette

The concept of risk taking has always intrigued me, but being a young parent really put the brakes on my daredevil spirit. I started my family pretty much straight out of high school, so for me, life has been a delicate balancing act, ensuring the tightrope I walked on was safe and secure for my kids. Read more>>

Jahleill Deloacth | Web series executive producer

The way I think about taking risks is you’re either going to succeed or fail. Risk-taking is the key to my creative career in producing. The risk myself & the team takes in creating a season determines how we get paid and viewed. It’s challenging sometimes because you never know what idea will be the risk that succeeds. Read more>>