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.

Alexander Lev | Professional Wrestler

I took a risk moving out of my parents house and dropping out of college to pursue wrestling and while for a time it seemed like the worst decision ever I kept working and I still am working harder and harder to achieve my goals and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and this is just the beginning Read more>>

Meredeth S. Jones | Franchise Executive, CFE & Body Positive Boutique Owner

I am what you call a “wanna-preneur!” I want to be an Entrepreneur. but I am risk adverse. This business has forced me to step outside my comfort zone and take a risk. I am still very cautionary when it comes to how I approach my business, but I have flexed mental muscles I didn’t know I had! Sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet and sink or swim and I am too stuboorn to sink. Read more>>

Melinda Watts | Recording Artist and Content Creator

I think risks are absolutely necessary in my career! I’ve been stretched and challenged over the last few years and wouldn’t have found the success that I have had I not taken the risks and believed in myself! Read more>>

Louie XO | Rap artist

Taking risk / investing in myself has played major in my music career, spending a little extra on promo when I think is it worth it and it end up being one of the best moves I ever made. Taking risk is something I preach to my artist & music friends all the time Read more>>

Dr. Greg Satterthwaite | Artist, Educator, Speaker

As an artist, creating and bringing a musical idea to life is risky because artistry is not always accepted or understood, resulting in the possibility of feeling creatively rejected. To be a masterful musician requires a tremendous amount of practice, dedication, discipline and fortitude. It takes sacrifice to develop into the artist you want to become. Making these investments into yourself matters. They help propel you into accomplishing your goals and dreams. My artistry is a reflection of my life experiences in the United States, as a person of Afro-Caribbean descent. When I perform and bring forth a body of musical work to the public, my work is a reflection of me, my ideas, my talent, and who I am as a pianist and person. Read more>>

Jay Kim | Founder and owner of sticknwrap

Risk taking is a crucial factor when owning a business. Without it, there’s no room for growth and learning. As a business owner risk taking has given me many opportunities that I would not have imagined. Such as how much my brand has expanded as well as the sense of community it has given me and others. The biggest risk I believe that I have taken thus far would have to be taking part in events in addition to collaborations and new ventures such as apparel. A lot of time and effort goes into this event. We all understand that the turn out may not be ideal, but every year we are always pleasantly surprised by the results. Read more>>

Ayeola Omolara Kaplan | Abolitionist & Surrealist artist

Risk is at the center of my career because I am an artist. Art is an incredibly subjective medium to rely on for financial stability. However, I found that there’s no real way for me to dedicate myself to my art fully and also work a part time job. Instead of splitting myself into different boxes, I pooled myself into art in hopes of proving that the idea of a “starving artist,” was just that, an idea that I did not have to subscribe to. When I first started considering art as a career path, I had to reckon with the fact that I wasn’t very good. Generally, you have to have a high level of technical skill to “make it” as an artist, and that was something I lacked. I also didn’t know what I wanted to say with my art. Read more>>

Chirag Patel | Photographer | Videographer

Risk is nothing but an outside chance that you give yourself to be out of your comfort zone. Sometimes it may not work, if you are not completely dedicated but most times you will succeed, if you pursue it with your heart and soul, and are ready to give it all. Perseverance is the key to conquer the risk. Read more>>

Precious Osuji | Creative Leader

I love this question. What good is it to not take risks? Why not, when in this ever changing world, you can dare to be different. I believe taking risks is an essential part of business for one core reason. The more of a risk taker you set out to be, the more of a believer you begin to become. Being a risk taker helps one embody their own trust in one self and allows for the guidance of their intuition. It helps one measure their good or bad judgement. Risk takers are the ones who understand that there are infinite ways of doing things, and that these ways are truly just waiting to be paved. Sometimes the desired or the attained outcome can only be achieved by risk. So you have to go for it in life, you have to be daring and you must be willing. Read more>>

Draco Drako | Executive producer & nail tech

My whole life I been I risk taker. From not being able to have kids to having 4. We really take a lot of risk putting our all into the show no matter the outcome Along as we take risk and keep going ain’t no telling what and where we will be Read more>>