Taking Risk is essential, but how much, when and why? Taking risks effectively is as much of an art as it is a science and we’ve asked some of the brightest folks in the community to tell us about how they think about risk taking.

Djuan Shaw | Musical Artist as Lxrd S

Taking risk is a big part of life and was a big factor of the career I chose . It’s not guaranteed that you will succeed so ultimately you have to take a gamble on yourself and roll the dice. However , i feel that if you have a strong enough reason and the will power to keep going , no matter how uneven the odds you’ll turn out prosperous. Read more>>

Brandon Sherman | The Home Loan Guru | BMW Influencer | Real Men Wear Pink 2022 Nominee

Taking calculated risks in life and in your career are a major part of the “becoming” process. I have found that stepping outside of the box and leaving our comfort zone, stretches us to become better in life and in our career. In risk taking we ultimately learn that we are stronger than our fears and competent enough to meet the moment! One of the major risks that I took was back in 2005 when I decided not to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. That decision was not an easy one because I was leaving a job where I was thriving as a commercial lender at a local bank for 7-years. Read more>>

Jakwellyn Douglas | Musical Artist

Risk is inherent in every aspect of my life. As a black transwoman there is risk every time I walk out the door so honestly its something I’m very comfortable with. My first career was as a circus performer. I was an acrobat and gymnastics coach and risked my life daily doing things that I loved. That led to me becoming quadriplegic and having to relearn to walk and use my body. That changed the way I look at life and at myself. It made me ask questions like “What’s really important in my life?” “What’s worth risking and what isn’t?”.  Read more>>

Jordan Hosey | Business Developer

By default, I am an enneagram 8 which means the challenger. I strive for taking strong stands on things and often, they are risky. I do not typically take unfiltered risks, but risks that most won’t. I take a complex problem and create solutions for them with my heart worn on my sleeve. My passion is what drives my risks, and when you are seriously passionate about the risks you take, they mostly turn out with a great reward in the end. When I have taken risks based on data only, meaning I’m emotionally not invested in the vision, it never works out as the derivative is still missing. I’ve learned when you are passionate about your cause, no amount of risks can sway you from pursuing it, and that’s when you know you’ve made the right bet. Read more>>

Imani Beal | Makeup artist & Henna Brow Tech

One thing about me, I will take a risk. As a business owner, you have to be comfortable with taking different risk for your business in order to be successful! Read more>>

King Iven | Celebrity DJ & Creative Entrepreneur

Without risks, the unknown will be impossible. Risks and being uncomfortable is what drives the leaders of the world and it’s what drives me. I personally believe in organized and minimized risks that turn into great success. One can have an idea and implement certain steps to bring this idea to market based on past experiences and expertise that will minimize risks. Yes, there are some losses when taking on risks but the ROI on risks are even greater when you make the unknown known and your idea is being accepted my many. I implement risks in every move I make, not only to stay ahead of competitors but to gain the highest rewards possible. Read more>>

Alia Azmat | Counseling Psychologist, Muslim Woman, Researcher, Educator

Risk-taking is the at the heart of my professional life and current career path. I am currently taking the plunge and committing to being a psychologist in private-practice as a full-time job. Prior to this, I did a year-long fellowship with the Center for Victims of Torture with limited torture rehabilitation experience. Prior to my Ph.D. I worked at an industrial supply company before deciding I could/should use my research and people skills to benefit the communities I felt held by at the time. For me, risk-taking is a natural part of living a full life — it is scary to start something new but also thrilling to learn about yourself in a new environment. Read more>>

Kyndall Peterson | Creator

Risks are ESSENTIAL throughout your career, and more importantly, throughout your life. Within the past two years, I’ve realized that every decision we make is based in either love or fear. When we constantly make decisions because we fear leaving our comfort zone, we’re anxious, or our ego is too fragile, we leave opportunities on the table. So, I constantly have to remind myself to push through fear, make decisions rooted in love, and of course, take the risk. There are always amazing things on the other side of fear. Read more>>

Samone Folmar | The Box By Swank Owner www.theboxbyswank.com

The Box would NOT be here if I had not taken risks! When I hear the word risk I instantly cringe because I’m a tried & true type of individual so just stepping out faith & creating The Box was a risk to me. I never started a business before, I didn’t know everything but I have a vision & started creating a plan. You have to consider the possible risks involved but don’t let them scare you out of your dreams! Your dreams are with the risk! Read more>>

Vee Allen | Fitness instructor, Gymnastics coach, & Poet

I think of risk as being a necessary evil. It can be as frightening, as it is rewarding! Even if things don’t quite turn out as I’d predicted or hoped, I still gained some experience and knowledge. Sometimes, just the feeling of knowing you tired, can be empowering. With that, I’m able to be more confident and less afraid of going for the next goal I’m out to accomplish! Because risk, unlike impulse, is a planned and measurable thing, I feel I’ve done well in analyzing and solidifying decisions for myself. Read more>>

Eula (b.k.a. Reesey) Berry | Chandler & Accountant

I believe how a person goes through life depends on the the type of risks they take. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward (maybe not always, but definitely a lot of times). There’s nothing wrong with living a quiet and safe life but when you take risks, you open yourself to a whole new world of experiences and opportunities. Risk taking has been rewarding for me. Of course, there may have been losses but it’s all in how I perceived those losses and turned them into lessons that really helped shape how I moved forward. Read more>>

Sunaé Long | Expressionist Artist and Designer

I think about risk as a business partner. It’s an investment; a factor in every decision you make from the start and throughout your career. Risk isn’t a challenge I’d shy away from just because of its title or meaning. I started my business on taking a risk. Not knowing if my art would be supported or admired. Not knowing if sales would be made or if events would be successful, it’s all apart of faith. Taking risks has allowed me to enter spaces and hold conversations i never knew i would. It’s allowed me to gain confidence in being myself & asking the important questions. Read more>>

Kayla Williams | Singer-Songwriter

I believe when it comes to achieving your dreams, it is 100% necessary to take risks. One quote that resonates with me is “Before something great is achieved, your comfort zone must be disturbed.” I’ve learned that to accomplish my goals, I must step out of my comfort zone and take risks. I can’t be afraid of failure, but accept and learn from it. If something doesn’t go as expected, I use that as motivation to keep going. Taking risks has led to positive results in my life/career that I would have never imagined. Read more>>

Dale Donchey | Dad! Coach! Longtime Barista! Bagelman!

Everybody always thinks of risk in business as the financial risk, whereas the goal is to never hit zero, how do I keep from doing that? I think if you rule your decisions by that you can become guarded, and stop making the decisions that make the risk worth the reward. The scariest risk is always gonna be your emotional risks – being open to review and criticism every day. If one person in your business creates an experience that someone hates, they don’t want to talk with that person – they want to talk with YOU. Your failures can become multiplied by a single interaction or mistake, not where you are or want to be. Being able to determine if you’re willing to take those risks is really the biggest concern when starting a business. Read more>>