Shoot your shot? Take a chance? Society bombards us with messages, phrases, examples and stories of how taking risk is the key to success, but is anything ever that simple? We asked some of the brightest folks we know to tell us about how they think about risk. We’ve shared their responses below.
Richard Lewis | Photographer & Serial Entrepreneur
It really took a long time for me to fully understand risk and know that I’m naturally a risky person. I think “risk” is very important to understand because it plays such an important role in your life. I believe at one point everyone has to risk something and how you handle that situation determines the type of person you are. If your not really running any risk in your life then your just playing it safe, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all, I’m just not comfortable like that. Read more>>
LloydB Media | Director & Cinematographer
Choosing to enter the entertainment industry was a risk. its a risk I was always willing to take though. There’s many talented Directors, Photographers, and Cinematographers, but I knew I’ve always had a creative vision that the world needs to see. Word of Advice, every time you take that risk, even though you may not reach your goal, you’ll always learn something. I look at risk as learning opportunities. When I’m faced with obstacles that I feel may be a risk, sometimes ill take my chances and sometimes I won’t, either or comes with a learning opportunity. Read more>>
Nicole Tiovanni | Master Strategist & Relationship Expert
I believe that taking risks are a major part of building success. Some of the most successful people in history made history by thinking outside of the box and going against the societal norm. I’ve been taking risks since I was a child. But even at a young age, I understood the importance of CALCULATING RISKS. I would always consider th
Aurelia Vanderburg | Entrepreneur
Risks have navigated my professional life. The curse is that I believe that I can do ANYTHING I want without any regard to what ANYONE says. I don’t know where this attitude came from, but I certainly embrace it. When it comes to making career moves, I consider any and everything. My thought process is that “it’s at least worth a conversation 😊.” Read more>>
Jasmaine Sumpter | Photographer/ Social Media Manager
For the longest, my family has always looked at me as the risk-taker out of the group . Whether it be in my personal life or in my career. The funny thing is, I never looked at myself as a risk taker, I looked at it as taking advantage of every opportunity presented to me. Before taking a “risk”, I weigh my options (pros and cons) and I make the best decision possible. This year, I have taken many risks such as moving from South Carolina to Atlanta and starting a new job. Also, I decided this was the best time to invest in myself and take my business seriously, because the opportunities in ATL are endless. Read more>>
CHANEL MACK | Actress, Producer
A saying that I live by is “Always Bet on MACK” . Had I not taken a risk and believed in my ability, I wouldn’t be here today. I’d rather take risks and fail, then never take risks and regret. Read more>>
Lynne Moyer | Founder + CEO, Luminate Marketing
So many things are said about risk: it should be calculated, mitigated, avoided, or taken only when worth the cost. Ironically, the only real way to know if taking a particular risk is a good idea, is on the other side. That’s what makes it a risk and not just a change. Read more>>
Mon Day | Artist
I believe the risks you take in life builds one’s confidence to be more dedicated towards their holy grail. It takes courage to step out of line and take the risks majority will not take. The outcome of a risk one is avoiding, could be the risk they may have needed to make. For me, taking risk has given me larger opportunities at achieving my goals. Almost acting like a cheat code, allowing me to open doors I was blind to in the beginning. Read more>>
Maxine Wint | Fashion Designer and Photographer
Deciding I wanted to go to art school was a very big risk. I feel like in the black community STEM is highly pushed on kids that we forget that there are other paths in life. I couldn’t attend a traditional university because I knew how creative I was and I didn’t want to let my talents end up as a hopeless dream I never got to fulfill, plus I wanted to actually be interested in going to class everyday. Read more>>
K’La Rivers | Spiritual Practitioner & Creative
Risk has been one of the greatest tools to learn more about myself. We are conditioned to associate risk with something bad on the other end of the decision. I believe with running a business, especially a business that is focused on spiritual work, I have had to heal my relationships with the idea of risk. Risks don’t have to be reckless. I believe for a long time I made that association and when I did take risks they were coming from a place of not caring about being reckless. Read more>>
Just Woo | Public Figure & Content Creator & Fashion Blogger
Life is full of risks. At this point I would rather take the risk and learn the lesson and get the answer to my questions than not take the risk and be left wondering what could’ve been. To be your best self, you got to be willing to take a risk or two or a 100. They make life exciting and help guide you in the right direction. They can be scary, but life is too. So might as well try something different. Taking risks has played a huge role in my life, from working a regular job to now getting brand deals and living in the penthouse of my dreams. I risked it all and came out with more than I could ever have expected. I’m scared to not take a risk now. Read more>>