There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Nia Pennington

My art evokes a sense of childlike dreaming and wonder, telling stories of my journey and the communities I belong to. What sets me apart is my ability to capture the magic of everyday moments and transform them into vivid, imaginative expressions. I am most proud of the way my art resonates with people, evoking emotions which and sparking memories or simply just making them smile. I feel like any creative can agree the decision to make your creative passion a profession is not an easy feat to take on. As rewarding as it can be, it comes with so many peaks and valleys. But that’s just life in general right? Read more>>

Reeyon Rouse

I believe taking risk every now and then is a healthy part of life. All the photoshoots I’ve done and the connections I’ve made have been because I took a risk to reach out to a complete stranger in the hopes of creating art. I love trying new ideas and concepts and even that is taking a risk. Because you never know how things are going to turn out, which for me is apart of the fun. I love seeing how I can improve it. Trying it over and over until you have perfected the process. Read more>>

Honii Phillips

I appreciate the opportunity risk taking gives. You never know the end result until you actually do it! Taking risks started my career! I used to be a radiologist assistant and I had such a disrespectful experience with a manager I worked with that I said, “you don’t belong here” speaking to myself. Around that time I was doing hair for people I knew and I’ve always been a creative person so people always told me “you don’t need to be behind no desk at the hospital! You need to be in cosmetology school and do something with that gift!” So after me and my manager bumped heads I made the decision the sign up beauty school! Read more>>

Sean Flood

Oh man, I feel like I’ve been rolling the dice since I got started. I sold my car to get some sound gear to start my first band. I played in a cover band for about 8 years with my best friends. The dice roll worked out beautifully. We played thousands of shows and made some money on the way. When that career was in it’s twilight, I rolled the dice again moving to another state fresh into my tattoo career. I was just 5 years in. Any tattooer who has tried to relocate across state lines knows how risky that move can be. Me, my wife and daughter came to atlanta with like $1700 and a dream. 6 years later, that dice roll also worked out very nicely. So to say that I am comfortable taking risks is an understatement. Then again, I’ve always bet on myself and the belief in myself makes the decision to roll much easier. Read more>>

Chelsea Nott

I think another word for risk is opportunity. I don’t think about my life and career so far as having taken a lot of risks so much as having taken advantage of every opportunity I was given. I think for me, some of it is honestly anxiety about what could happen if I don’t take the chance to do something, so a lot of times I do things out of excitement to learn or try new things. But a lot of it is also intuition even though that sounds weird. I trust my gut on everything, and there are definitely some things that my gut says “this is definitely a risk and maybe not a great one” versus other things that my gut says “this is worth any possible stress or chaos that may come with it because it could be an incredible opportunity”. Read more>>

AMUNHOTEP

By embracing risk, I have expanded my creative horizons and cultivated a sense of resilience and perseverance. I’ve learned throughout my experiences that failure is not something to fear but rather an opportunity to learn and grow. I have never been one to shy away from challenges or play it safe. Instead, I always approach these challenges with curiosity and determination. It’s in these moments of uncertainty, that you discover your greatest strengths and unlock your true potential as a creative. Every new project, collaboration, and challenge presents a chance to step into the unknown to test your creativity’s limits and push beyond what you or others may think is possible. Read more>>

Daphne Laborn

Risk-taking has been essential in my journey as a clothing brand owner and photographer. When it comes to investing in new expensive lenses as a photographer, it’s about weighing the potential improvement in my work against the financial commitment. Each lens purchase is a calculated risk to enhance the quality and versatility of my photography. Similarly, dropping different collections as a clothing brand owner involves predicting market trends and customer preferences, which involves a level of uncertainty. Taking these risks has not only broadened my creative horizons but also taught me resilience and the importance of adaptability in pursuing my passions and building successful ventures in both fields. Read more>>

Harley Brown

I actually like risk because even if the risk doesn’t go in your favor, you have the experience and also you can say you know rather than always wondering what could’ve happened. At the end of 2019 I took a major risk and moved 11 hours away from my home state of Maryland to Atlanta, Georgia because I felt that was the place I needed to be . That risk paid off so well as I was the most successful and productive I’ve ever been. Even my beginnings as a content creator were all about me taking risk with new skills and that paying off tremendously by gaining supporters that have followed me throughout my entire journey. Read more>>

Sam Qavah John

I believe that risk has been what has defined my very existence. Every step of my journey involved some level of risk. Whether it was moving to this country on my own at 19, self-publishing my written works, or betting everything on myself in pursuit of my art and craft. Risk is everything to me. It is what drove me to take a shot on myself when no one else would and reach levels of greatness far beyond anything anyone had for me. I have bet on myself more times than I can count. More often than not, that is born out of the reality that I simply didn’t have the backing of institutions, people, or systems. In hindsight, I am thankful for it. Read more>>

Tyler Jordan

Risks are scary, because they take you out your comfort zone. It’s not a clear path, so you are essentially taking a gamble. Taking risks has caused my career to elevate beyond its origins. I’ve developed new connections, increased my finances, and ultimately built a brand. Read more>>

Jordan Jarrard

I had been working as a craftsman with my dad doing finish carpentry in custom residential properties for most of my adult life. Through this I discovered the love of working with my hands and the joy of seeing a piece come together. I started building furniture on the side but hadn’t had my “big break” so to speak. Weeks after finding out my wife was pregnant with our first child, I was approached by a prominent interior desiger from Atlanta to build a custom bed frame for the television show, This Old House. After that, a few jobs trickled in and my wife told me to strike while the iron was hot. We were terrified. How many jobs could I get? Read more>>

Kisean Smith, CPA

I am very risk-tolerant, meaning I am willing to accept risks in exchange for potential rewards. Taking and managing risks is crucial for a successful career. Managing business risk involves striving to achieve rewards while minimizing necessary risks. This aspect of business is what I enjoy the most because it involves a lot of problem-solving, which is essentially what mitigating risk is. Decisions about where to allocate resources, such as expanding operations, investing in new technology, or entering new markets, are all part of this process. Starting a business is the easy part; the challenge lies in continuous process improvement and growth. However, this challenge is also the most rewarding and fulfilling part. Read more>>

Amanda Bradley

I think taking risks is vital in this industry! When I was 21 I decided to move from upstate NY to Los Angeles to pursue stunts. At the time I didn’t necessarily see it as a risk but just a step I needed to take. I didn’t have much money saved up, and I didn’t know anyone in Los Angeles, let alone in the industry. My friends and family shared with me how “crazy” it was for me to do and warned me what might happen when I didn’t succeed. Many people told me that I needed a backup plan and I always hated that. I never once considered any possibility of a backup plan because I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. If I hadn’t taken that risk, and many other risks I wouldn’t be where I am today! Read more>>

Becky Berry

In a world that judges us by outcomes, I focus on going after what speaks deeply to me and pursue that whenever I can. That makes taking risks easier. Plus, full disclosure, I was born a risk taker. 3 examples come to mind. First. When my son went into middle school, I decided to go back to work and I wanted to do my own thing. Always a risk. I was a full-time volunteer at this point, focused on making sure that school communications went out to our families in as many native languages as possible (we had 12 different languages in the school at the time). The ESL teacher always included me in meetings about the effect on immigrant children of entering a new school. Read more>>

Steff Martin

Risks is the only way to the reward. Risks are associated with being uncomfortable. No one who has accomplished anything has ever done it without taking risks and being uncomfortable. Read more>>

Andrew Fincham

If I’m not taking risks than I’m not moving forward. I have a tendency to get really comfortable with where I’m at… this honestly ceases productivity in a big way for me. So I have to be proactive in taking these risks and pursuing the things that scare me the most. Recently for me that was making the choice to make a feature film. HUGE task and insanely long process but I know for a fact there will be so much growth from it! Read more>>

Kelli Stargell | Care Manager and Consultant

For many years I was a risk manager, and every working hour was related to taking a risk and making a final decision with my career on the line. During that time, I knew the work I was doing was not for me. I was good at my work it but, I felt uneasy when I had to make a big decision and cross all the “T” and dot all the “I’s”. I was a faithful fifteen employee that was as good as it gets in the world of banking and risk taking. One New Year’s Day came, and my resolution was that I needed to find what makes me happy. I took several months to weight out the risk of staying put and be secure or to take a risk and prune my life to recreate a new life. I decided to become licensed as an Accident, Life and Health insurance agent and learn something new. Read more>>

Ngolela | International Cut & Sew Couture Fashion Designer and Versatile Stylist

If there’s one thing that comes with being an entrepreneur, it’s taking risks!! As cliché as it may sound, you’ll never know the outcome of something if you don’t go for it. Years ago, I was invited to show a collection at Liverpool Fashion Week in the UK. At the time, I had never been to the UK before and never met the organizer (she found me on social media). As excited as I was to be invited, all the “what ifs” popped into my head. I had to pray, block out all the things that could go wrong, and have faith!! That paid off in a major way because not only did I make it to LFW that year, British Vogue reached out to me after to do a profile on me, and I also got invited back to Liverpool Fashion Week to be the opening designer!! Read more>>

Andre Trimmings | Father & Creator of Divine Timing Watches

I personally feel that risk is necessary in everything we do in life. I took a risk in relocating for college which introduced me to many of the people I partner with now. I took a risk in moving across the county, which helped lead me to the idea to create Divine Timing Watches. To me, every time I took a risk I either advanced myself or I learned a lesson that I could use to keep moving forward in a smarter way. Risk is always going to be a part of life, taking some time to plan and executing that plan helps make the risk seem smaller every time. Plan you work then work your plan. Read more>>

Maria Koronellou | Actress/Model

I’m all about taking risks. After all, no great story is made without taking a leap, right? As we grow older, it’s often the things we didn’t try or were too scared to pursue that we think about the most. How can you know if something is right for you or if you’re good at it if you don’t give it a shot? Stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing your limits is how you learn and grow. When I moved from Greece to New York, it was the biggest risk I’d ever taken—starting over in a huge city, knowing no one, and figuring things out as I went. Was it scary? Absolutely!
Was it worth it? Without a doubt! Read more>>

Lexus Garner | Artist/Singer

Taking risks has been a significant part of my journey, especially as SadGirl Lex. The idea isn’t just about success but about overcoming the pain and challenges that life has thrown my way. Losing my husband and navigating life as a widow has forced me to take risks—emotionally, creatively, and professionally. I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone, push through the sadness, and channel it into my music. Every time I take a risk, it’s like I’m rising above the grief, turning it into something powerful and meaningful. Read more>>

Lecasshius Stargell | Record Executive

Risk Taking is Almost the number one objective in any entrepreneurial pursuit. However, in the entertainment business its critical to a point where you have to almost become delusional. I Always knew I had a love for music and arts , but didn’t know how to exactly monetize it in the earlier stages of my career which brought financial fear and ultimately almost altered my choices. If I hadn’t taken that risk to leave college for what i was studying, I would have never figured out how to monetize the very thing I would’ve done for free for the rest of my life. Was it risky and financially challenging? Yes, But what isn’t. Always take the risk, bet on yourself, and put your best foot forward. Read more>>

Samantha Langworthy | Small Business Owner & Teacher

Taking risks is something that a person is going to go through many times in their life. It’s pretty inevitable as we take risks everyday just walking outside our front door or walking across the street. I feel we shouldn’t be afraid of taking risks in our lives because those risks can ultimately change our entire future or our career path, whichever our mind is set on, for either good or for bad. More so, I think the reason why people are afraid of taking risks is because of the fear of the unknown. We don’t really know what’s going to happen if we take a risk so a lot of times we’ll take a step back and not take the risks causing us to miss out on something that could potentially be life-changing. Read more>>