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.

Marisol Escobar | Content Creator

Risk taking is mandatory. If you want to get the most out of life you need to take risks. There is no way around it. There is no success without risks and even if you don’t get the outcome you were initially looking for, you will still get something in return; whether that’s the experience in itself, a lesson or a blessing. Read more>>

Candis Layton | FNP-C, Master Aesthetic Injector

I started out as a Labor and Delivery nurse. I worked in women’s health for about 16 years. I found that the long hours and heavy lifting took a toll on my body and family. In 2017 I went through a pretty messy divorce and found myself a single mom of 5 beautiful children. I did a good bit of soul searching and with the help from a friend who was a plastic surgeon I changed career paths and entered plastics/aesthetics and went back to graduate school. As you can imagine this was a huge burden for me and my already burdened children. We decided, as a family, that long term this was the best path for our family. Read more>>

Kourtni Brandy | Pro Makeup Artist, Business Mentor, and Influencer

Taking risks has transformed my life for the better. Growing up in Chicago, I started doing makeup at 14 and quickly built a loyal clientele, becoming one of the youngest makeup artists around. By the time I turned 20, I felt God was confirming that I had reached my full potential in Chicago, so I took a leap of faith. I packed only my clothes, makeup, and my dog and moved. People thought I was crazy; they just couldn’t see the vision I had. Sometimes, taking a risk means not having a solid plan but simply trusting God’s guidance. I arrived in Atlanta with no plan, no clients, friends, or family, but now, a little over a year later, life here has been incredible. Read more>>

Marian Urdaneta | Entrepreneur

My journey illustrates the complex relationship between risk and personal growth. Amid the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, I took a significant risk by quitting my stable job, driven not by fear but by a sense of readiness and opportunity. My experience shows that embracing uncertainty can lead to innovation and success. 1. Recognizing Opportunity in Adversity: I didn’t let the pandemic paralyze me; instead, I leveraged my skills to create a new business model with food trucks in the company that I was working setting up completely safe for our costumers (a touchless operation online), demonstrating how taking risks can result in unexpected solutions. Read more>>

Pretty Ri$ki | Atlanta Rapper

My name Pretty Ri$ki speaks to who I am as a whole. I love to take a good risk even if it doesn’t go the way I want it to. A lot of times people won’t take the steps to elevate themselves because it is too risky, but in reality — you have nothing to lose. This is an opportunity to rather improve from where you are right now. Yes, it can be scary but you can learn what will and won’t work for you and will allow you to see where you need to put more time and effort. Read more>>

Pak Castillo | Film Actor/Writer/Creator

At first, my plan was to play it safe and have a contingency plan. I wanted to work and save as much as I could to reach a point of financial security before taking the plunge. Having a backup plan was always part of my process, driven by the fear-based notion that I might end up as a “starving artist.” Although I never personally experienced that stereotype, the stigma around being a professional creator or artist—the idea that it means living with little money—was deeply ingrained in me from a young age. Read more>>

Felicia Inspire | Executive Producer | Philanthropist | Life & Business Coach

Risk-taking has played a crucial role in my career, especially when I began producing my own TV show centered around beauty makeovers and people sharing their life stories. Stepping into the world of television production meant venturing into the unknown, making decisions that carried uncertainty, and investing time, energy, and resources without guaranteed success. However, I believed in the power of storytelling and the impact that sharing personal journeys could have on viewers. Read more>> 

Mike Digg | Music Artist & Business Owner

I believe taking risk is just as important as your product. Most great things dont come easy. .Sometimes the risk could just be being confident enough to show up. No risk no reward. Read more>>

Detric Kovu | Choreographer, Martial Artist & Photographer

The role that taking risks, has played in my life has been a major one. At times when I reflect on my journey it’s a bit overwhelming; when taking into account all of the different challenges I’ve faced when the odds were stacked against me. I guess you could say I truly live by the term “No Risk, No Reward.” I mean honestly to sit down and speak about the things that I’ve experienced and been through, to even you know, be where I am today. It would take hours, maybe even days to really unpack these experiences with details and possible questions that could be asked. Read more>>