We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Kaden Lymon | Photographer

I embrace the idea of risk taking because I don’t see anything I do as a risk. By its’ nature, a risk is something that could result in the loss of something. I am a firm believer that whatever happens was supposed to happen, so I tend to not think of the positive negative outcomes of any given situation. I do anything for my success, and if things don’t go as planned I take a lesson out of it. When I get told no, I am unfazed by that response. There is nothing that feels like a risk to me, as I only focus on the reward aspect of my decisions. Read more>>

Tatyana and Taryn Blackwell | Permanent Makeup Artist

Risk means stepping into the unknown and depending on our faith and intuition for guidance. We embrace risk-taking because it leads to significant rewards that await us beyond spontaneity. In the early stages of our business, we didn’t experience an immediate growth in client bookings but we knew that we needed a home to make our clients comfortable. However, we made the decision to transition into a suite and pay weekly rent when we didn’t even have one client booked, which turned out to be the best next step. Read more>>

Cherish Mullins | Small Business Owner & Entrepreneur

A risk is a factor, thing, element, or course that could cause harm or loss. If you are afraid of the unknown, you might feel cautious or unhinged when considering doing something different or the thought of change in general. Life does present us with obstacles, but taking on new challenges and ventures makes you braver and brings forth new opportunities. In my experience, taking necessary risks and leaps of faith are the keys to overcoming our fears and reaching outside our comfort zones. Read more>>

Maria Parrish | Actress, Model & Songwriter; Mia B – Singer

I think that there are certain risks that are necessary in this line of work, but it’s more important to remain true to your values. At the end of the day, character and integrity matter most to me. I have definitely taken physical risks in my career. When portraying a character, I don’t hold back. I’ve also taken financial risks. But one thing I refuse to do is take risks that will demoralize my character. My values and principles are too important. Read more>>

Ben Battles | Automotive Photographer, Educator & Historian

Starting your own business is a scary, scary prospect. It’s a risk that weighs heavily on you, especially if you’ve had steady income at a 9-5 for 5+ years. In my case, the decision to take my business on full time was not made by me, but by my previous employer. With no prospects immediately available, I took to my “side hustle” and focused all energy on myself. Over 2 years later, that decision has been by far the most rewarding one. Of course, my scenario will not always be the case for others. I want all of the aspiring entrepreneurs know that the biggest risk you can take is not taking a chance on yourself. Read more>>

Tanya Povolny | Found of EcoLogic and Ecological Land Management Specialist

My approach to risk has been profoundly influenced by my upbringing as a third culture kid, growing up in various countries around the world. These early experiences exposed me to unique challenges, teaching me that change is a constant in life. From a young age, I learned that embracing a degree of uncertainty can foster adaptability, a quality I’ve carried with me throughout my life and career. Read more>>

Kevin Earl Taylor | Artist

I believe making art has a lot to do with pushing beyond the comfort level and embracing the opportunity to make mistakes or absorb failure. Once something starts to become routine, I’ve always taken it as a cue to push further. Without risk, there is no reward. Read more>>

Amanda Lenker Doyle, CSA | Casting Director & Producer (Film/Television)

When I reflect on all of the various choices I have made throughout my life that have brought me to this moment, it feels as though each and every one was inherently risky…though I prefer the word aspirational. In 2006, I moved from the middle of Ohio to Los Angeles, CA when I was 22 years old with basically no plan but to try to break into the industry I so desperately wanted to participate in. I had no family on the West Coast, so my friends who I moved from school with became my true family. Read more>>

Mallika Singh | Production Design and Filmmaker

Risk has a certain addiction to it because, by nature, it plays against the odds. I think, we, as people regulated by routine, don’t realize how in many small ways, the odds favor us, and therefore risk-taking becomes a conscious choice. I think there’s a thrill to it, a chance that the risk you take may or may not work, but gosh, when it does, it is fabulous. Filmmaking is risk-taking, because everything right from a frame hanging on the wall to a character taking two steps forward after murdering their fiancé, is a choice intended to make the story work. Read more>>

TW Pilar | Fine Artist Exploring Aesthetics

Risk is important. Diving into something unexplored is vital for innovation, growth, and development in all things. The biggest risk I’ve probably faced is walking away from an almost decade long career as a pastry chef, saying goodbye to the comfort of steady pay and healthcare, and deciding to finally pursue my passion in visual arts. That choice was everything. I lost everything to create something new for myself. Read more>>