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.

Young Scratt

All “risks” are necessary. I had to risk being uncomfortable & stepping outside of my comfort zone to excel higher in my career. I’m also a father of 3 I had to risk not spending time with them to travel for music purposes so that resulted in me missing out alot in their growth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Born February 13. Young Scratt knew at a young age he wanted to become a rapper and began rapping at the age of 15. His early influencers included T.I, Gucci Mane, Drake, and Yo Gotti.  Read More>>

Dr. Janet Bentley-ewers

Often when people think about “risk” and taking risks, there is a level of anxiety and fear that arises in our bodies and souls- the heart starts pumping faster, the pulse quickens, and our thoughts turn to what can go wrong, not right. But the Bible says that “we are not given a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power and a sound mind.” For me, that means that whatever we are going through in life, including things that are considered risky, like starting a business or a new creative venture, the fear that comes will not be overridden by the love, power and sound mind that God provides. Risk-taking is a natural part of a successful person’s journey, but the difference is that as we go along that journey, we are trusting in God for every decision and every action we take. Read More>>

Grace Valentine

In my career, since I’m an author I chose to rarely and basically not at all take instagram ads on my social media. Even though I have a large following and this would financially help me today, I believe that people lose trust from authors or those giving advice who are willing to take ads on Instagram all the time.

And moving to ATL was a risk for me! I was starting to get more speaking gigs, especially in college towns and felt like both God and my career were calling me to be more centrally located in Atlanta. My parents thought I was crazy, but now see what I see. It’s been amazing for my career to live in this thriving city. Read More>>

Jasmine Fletcher

Risk-taking is essential for growth. I see risk not as something to fear but as a necessary step toward success. Every big opportunity comes with uncertainty, but I’ve learned that calculated risks those backed by research, strategy, and intuition often lead to the biggest rewards.

In my career as a hair vendor and mobile bartender, taking risks has been a defining factor. Whether it was launching a new product, pivoting my business strategy, or investing in ideas before they were proven, every major breakthrough came from stepping outside my comfort zone. I believe that risk is the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. It’s about betting on yourself, trusting your vision, and adapting when challenges arise. Read More>>

Jowan “wan” Lewis-kearse

I think risk taking is important in life. Risk to me is like exercise in a way because it can get you out your comfort zone, build you up, and teach you a lot about yourself. I enjoy taking risks, usually calculated, in order to create new limits and experience things I hadn’t before. Taking risks has helped me to do just about everything I’ve done and even the times that I took a risk and failed I was still able to learn, reevaluate, and proceed accordingly. . Read More>>