Taking Risks: how your perspectives affect your life & career

Legend holds that Cornelius Vanderbilt had built a massive fortune in the steamboat shipping industry, but then realized the railroads were the way of the future and invested almost his entire net worth into railroads. The gamble paid off and made Vanderbilt one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs ever. But risks are inherently…risky. How do you think about risk and how has it affected your life and career? Some of our community favorites share their perspective below.

Terry Lamar | l.elemen247 (Sk8luv33) – Music Producer

I believe that risks are apart of every journey that’s never happen before. Risks along with sacrifices are necessary in life because they allow us to see and feel how bad we want our dreams. If this was not the case, everyone would be successful in general without much work or effort. I feel that the chances in life are by design in which whoever overcomes them receives the reward on the other side of making the necessary risks and sacrifices in time. Read more>>

BIG NEM | Filmmaker, Comedian, Artist

Well being 6’9″ and coming from a sports family, I started out as a basketball player. The odds of making it in basketball are one in millions and I happily took that risk. I assessed my assets being that tall, worked on my game, noticed I was good and kept getting better until I was the best ranked player in Canada for my grade. The risk assessment was still low but good. Unfortunately my career ended fairly early in my 20s because of injuries. Read more>>

Rakia Smith | Makeup Artist & Social Media Content Creator

Taking chances is one of the most crucial ways of helping me advance in skills and gaining experience. My biggest risk was stepping out on faith and moving away from what made me comfortable. I knew that in order for me to change and grow my business I needed to experience more. Moving wasn’t easy but it was worth it. I am grateful for my supportive family. Read more>>

Ross Blakeman | Floral Designer

Becoming a small business owner is a risk of its own, a risk that I was willing to take but I believe it comes to you at a current time in your life. In 2020, graduated from college with my degree in Business Administration, where I specialized in Human Resources. I landed my first job very quickly after and in an industry I knew hardly anything about. I left home and moved away to start work. Soon after about a year into it, we found out my Dad had stage 4 esophageal cancer. Read more>>

Kerry Braithwaite | Independent Artist (Yolo Ru)

Since moving to the U.S. from Trinidad and Tobago with no other family here stateside, my family and I had to not only quickly grasp the English language but also their custom ways of doing things in schools and in our daily lives. When I started doing music the only place to build my craft was in a garage with no heat during the middle of winter and very little money for equipment, Read more>>

Robert Paraguassu | Animator

Taking risks is everything as an artist. Risk lead to both failure and success, both are necessary. If your art doesn’t make you a little nervous or scared, it isn’t going to work. Read more>>

Andrea Early | Sommelier

Being a first generation student, without many resources taught me to be cautious and careful with my decision-making. Because failure wasn’t an option. I fell in love with wine while in grad school but didn’t know if I could make a living from it. At the time, I saw the wine industry as a risk…Something like a dream job that felt out of reach. I went on to become a therapist. I joined the military. Read more>>

Nabila Pranto | CEO of Perspective Beauty + Influencer

Without taking a risk, you won’t know what may or may not work for your goals. Taking a risk allows you to challenge yourself and that’s how you learn and grow. For me I’ll take the chance because you truly never know what’s behind that door. I decided to quit my 9-5 to pursue my dream of becoming a successful influencer and makeup brand. While it hasn’t been the easiest journey, I’ve seen a lot of success that I didn’t see before putting my all into this. Read more>>