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.

Jayla White | Photographer, Videographer & Content Creator

When you’re starting a business risk is something that comes along with it. That’s the first thing everyone who is trying to build a business need to realize. you can’t get to where you are going without taking a risk. I knew I wanted more out of my life. I was in school and working and work was conflicting with my business. it was either my 9-5 where I was making $9 an hour vs my business where I was making over $150 an hour. I had to choose me and trust in God to provide, because it wasn’t worth the $9 an hour. Deep down inside I knew it was meant for me to start my own business I didn’t have anything else I wanted to do or anything else I loved as much as I love more than my business. Some risk may be good and some risk may be bad but you can’t be successful unless you do what makes you happy. Learning to take a chance on me was the best thing I’ve ever done and I would do it over and over again. Read more>>

Kelly Chase | Business & Mindset Coach

I used to play it safe. For years I settled for a corporate job that wasn’t lighting a spark within my soul. In addition, I settled for the beliefs “you have to work hard for your money” or “you have to work hard to be successful”. So, I worked multiple side jobs while working full time, constantly in the go-go-go, hustle mentality which led to extreme burnout. Mid 2017, I took one of the first biggest risks of my life and left the 9-5 world to grow my health coaching business I had started a few years prior; little did I know, I left the 9-5 to grow myself, to find myself again. Late 2018, after months of staying in on the weekends to read personal development books, listen to empowering podcasts about mindset hacks and business strategy, in addition to journaling, practicing self care, affirmations, exercising, and truly hone in on myself versus going out on the town; I took the biggest risk to date and took a leap of faith to be a cast member on what turned out to be a number 1 rated reality show on Netflix. Read more>>

Sade Ariel | Actor, Model, & Runway Modeling Coach

I think in order to take risks you have to have a good amount of confidence and faith. For me I’m taking a risk by going after may dream to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. When following your dreams and taking risks you don’t have any type of certainty that it will turn out good. You just trust yourself and your higher power that everything will work out for you. Read more>>

Kizzie Crawford | Associate Real Estate Broker, Transaction Trainer & Director

I’ve always been a thrill seeker and risk taker. I have been known to participate in activities such as jet skiing, swimming with dolphins, skiing, and skydiving, just to name a few. Therefore, taking risks in my career has been  second nature to me. I’ve always thrived to be the best at whatever I do, which makes me want to always challenge myself to do more. Moving to Atlanta 13 years ago as a single mother with a 3 1/2 year old son was the beginning of my risk taking in my career.  Starting from scratch with a toddler was hard to say the least, but I knew I needed to put myself in a better position to take care of my son. It turned out to be the best decision I could have made. I found a great job and found a great man who is now my husband. 10 years later I decided that the good job was not enough for me so I decided to start my own real estate business. Leaving a corporate job was definitely scary, but I stepped out on faith and took the risk. Read more>>

Darrius Stephens | Dancer & Choreographer

I think risk taking is essential in for the type of work that I do which is dance. I love taking risk just to see the outcome and to make people think and act differently. The role that risk taking has played in my life is ive been on shows. Ive been able to travel and meet new people. Ive been able to educate and add a different thought process, so it’s been a really big role in my life/career and its a great thing i think so far. Read more>>

Doneilea Williams | Director & Producer

Being alive is a risk, taking risks are the only way to find out the true purpose in life. Life is full of obstacles and challenges. Most see taking on a challenge is risky, but sitting down playing it safe and take what’s given to you is the ultimate definition of defeat and lack of growth. Film has been my ultimate challenge and growth. Read more>>

Judah Gay | Music Producer & Recording Artist

I believe in my industry if you don’t take risks you will never be successful. Especially here in Atlanta which is an industry driven city where there is a lot of competition. One of the biggest risks I had to take in my career was going to school. At the time, my mom wanted me to pursue a degree in law or medicine since I always was smart and had good grades. My dream school was Full Sail University, a notable art/media school located in central Florida. Given the big names that have graduated from Full Sail, the school’s tuition is very expensive and my mom had little faith that I would be able to attend. My high school guidance counselor even advised me not to go. He suggested that I stay in Georgia and try to take advantage of the HOPE scholarship. Read more>>

Jasmine Holland | Entrepreneur & Licensed Insurance Agent

The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. No one has ever became successful by playing it safe. Risk takers, in my opinion, are the minority. Most people are naturally risk averse which is beneficial primarily because they’ll face less competition. It also eliminates the possibility of looking back and asking , “what if?”.. Even if you fail, you’ll walk away with more experience and become more knowledgeable in areas that was once foreign territory to you. Taking risks forced me to accept the idea of setbacks. I don’t view setbacks as road-blocks, I view them as detours. Even if I fall short of my goal, I’m back to the drawing board mapping out another plan. I understand now that everything will not turn out exactly how I anticipate it to and that’s completely fine. I’ll live to fight another day. Read more>>

Lakia Williams | CEO

I have always believed that, a life without risk is a life not worth living! The things you regret the most in your life, will be the risk you decided not to take! It takes courage and perseverance to be able to be successful in life! I constantly remind myself, “That you don’t have to be successful to get started, but you do have to start in order to be successful.” With understanding this, you just have to be willing to sacrifice your normal habits, daily distractions, and the situations that are standing in the way of your success. I realized at a very young age that I was a risk taker! I wasn’t afraid to sing out loud, dance in front of a crowd, or do something spontaneous. As far back as I can remember; I have always been outgoing, unique, and courageous. I knew that I was capable of creating the life of my dreams. Read more>>

Lyric TheArtist | Artist, Figurehead & Visionary

Personally for me, risk taking has always been apart of who I am. I view risk taking as the choice to stay the same or try something out of my comfort zone. Taking risks as a sign of growth & confidence within self & not being afraid of what you can potentially become. The role that taking risks has played in my life is that it’s given me a sense of “What’s the worst that can happen?”. Meaning that when I’m trying something new, I go into it with the mind state that I already been doing “this”. & if it works out keep doing it better than the last. If I fail, I just know what not to do on the next go around. The role risk taking has played in my career is its exposed me to different things all around. It’s helped me figure out what works for me & what doesn’t, but most important, it helped me be able to just create different types content & just put it out. Read more>>

Julie Skrzypek | Director, Creator & Collaborator

I think about Risk the same way I think about Love. Like love, thoughtless risk is destructive. I have undoubtedly had my fair share of those types of risks and reaped those losses over the years (maybe more than I’d like to admit). I’ve been guilty of romanticizing risk. I’ve romanticized it to a point where “Risk” isn’t “Risk” at all. But! What if risk isn’t an “ideal”. What if instead, it’s your quality of life. What if instead, it’s how you make your every day decisions. I like to believe an essential element of any artist’s medium is risk. How can we expect to make anything worthwhile if we are only willing to “survive” the situation? Don’t get me wrong, with risk there is certainly devastation and embarrassment. But with those things (and the willingness to accept and learn from the outcomes) – Risk can quickly transform itself into lessons. I think it’s important to say that with taking risks, I’ve always come out the other end better, a little smarter for the next go round. Read more>>

Ashton Combs | Artist, Songwriter & Producer

I think that risk is an inevitable part of any journey that leads to success. I would even say the risk is the cousin to success and failure. Risk has played a vital role to my success. I took a huge risk starting over and moving from Nebraska to Atlanta. As much as I was unsure about the risk of moving I allowed it to fuel and push me to take that step to the next level. Risk is unequivocally a vital component to accomplishing your dreams. High risk equals high rewards. Read more>>

Johnnie “Juicy” Long | Master Cosmetologist

If it makes sense for your business JUST DO IT!!! Calculated risks have always been my greatest leverage when it comes to my growth in business. My business flourished when I left working in a traditional salon, and opened a suite of my own. Read more>>

Taryn Wharwood | Author, Poet, Emcee, Motivational Speaker & Curator

Risk taking to me, is centered around faith. Not necessarily religiously, just spiritually. It is a matter of overcoming the negative things we tell ourselves to fulfill whatever purpose we are here to fulfill. I believe that my purpose is to create. Through poetry, through performance, through entertaining, through spoken word. Being aware of my purpose, I constantly battle within myself about taking risks. The fear of judgement or misunderstanding and the simultaneous feeling of magic and power. If i hadn’t taken the many many risks that I did and continue to, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today. Read more>>