How do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career? Check out responses from hidden gems from our community below.

Ren-Chih (Allen) Chen | Video Editor

Taking risks is inevitable but doesn’t necessarily mean making decisions recklessly. It means accumulating enough information, planning, and then taking a leap of faith. Deciding to study abroad is a risk I took years ago, and deciding to make a turn in my career by becoming an editor is another example. I was born and raised in Taiwan and initially aimed for a life/career in cinematography. Due to the limitations and all sorts of aspects regarding the industry structure in Taiwan, I chose to explore further in the state. During this pursuit, I discover my love for editing. Therefore, I aim to learn and contribute to a much more well-established market here in the state. Read more>>

Maria Bryant | Founder of The Hair Haven Salon/ Multi Cultural Stylist

I view all risk taking as a part of life. I don’t think that you can be successful without it. We would all just be content and just living day to day and that’s not me. I believe that if I’m going to bet on anyone, I should definitely bet on myself. It’s always more to life and it’s always more work to do. I don’t think I’ll ever be complacent. Which is a good thing because I will always have something to look forward to. Read more>>

Brittany Raquel | Tax Software Provider, Club owner, Day care Owner

I’ve never been afraid of taking a risk. I always encourage people to go for it. I moved from Alabama to Houston Tx not knowing anyone pursuing my life purpose. I only had $2000 to my name! I thought if I would’ve let fear take over I wouldn’t be where I am today! I landed 2 storefront tax office locations months from touching down in the state of Texas! I feel Without taking risks, you may become complacent, stagnant, and unable to reach your full potential. Read more>>

Shavonia Jones | Actress

I have always believed that taking risks was essential for growth and success. I recall the time I left my stable job in the corporate world to pursue my passion for acting. It was a risky move, but one that ultimately led to discovering my true calling and fulfillment in my work. Taking risks have been the defining factor in my life and career. Every time I have stepped into the unknown, I have emerged stronger and more resilient. When leaving my corporate job, I decided to take a leap of faith and enrolled in the School of the Arts at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City to hone my skills. Despite the uncertainties and challenges, I was determined to follow my heart and live a life filled with passion and purpose. My leap of faith has opened new doors, and I am now turning my dreams into reality. Read more>>

MACKENSON HENRY | Actor, Model, Writer

Risk is an opportunity to grow. Thomas Jefferson said, “with great risk comes great reward”. I live by that. Everything I’ve achieved thus far began with a leap of faith. I left all familiarity in Orlando, and came to Atlanta for a fresh start. What began as a dollar and a dream has since become wealth and a budding career through investments and bold actions. In other words, risk. Read more>>

Randy Hicks | CEO+Founder

In my own career journey, taking risks has often meant stepping out of my comfort zone, whether it was transitioning from a corporate role to entrepreneurship or investing in a new project. Each of these decisions involved uncertainty and the possibility of failure. At the same time, they also opened doors to new opportunities, allowing me to develop a diverse skill set and a deeper understanding of my own capabilities. Most employers are simply not going to pay you for what you truly bring to the table. I realized this after a couple roles in corporate America left me feeling underappreciated and undervalued. It was then that I realized betting on myself was the absolute best thing I could do to move forward and pursue everything I’ve ever wanted. Now I approach everyday with vigor, passion and relentless drive which has put me in position to achieve at a high level and empower others. Read more>>

Crystal Carter | Entrepreneur & Beauty Business Coach

Risk-taking has been a fundamental part of my life and career. I view risks as necessary steps toward growth and achieving my goals. Without taking risks, I wouldn’t have been able to transition from a traveling hairstylist to a business owner providing affordable hair products or to an educator helping other women start their own dropshipping hair businesses. Read more>>

Taryn Hill | College Student & Micro Content Creator

Risk and reward are intertwined, especially in personal and professional development. By embracing risks in various aspects of life, like financial investments and creative projects, I’ve found that I can achieve success and personal growth. Content creation, for example, has offered me numerous opportunities for personal growth, connecting with others, and acquiring new knowledge. Read more>>

Enoch McKie

I am a firm believer on betting on yourself. If you want to exceed your current circumstances, it requires risk. Accept those risks, go into them with open arms knowing that you will learn from any mistakes you make. Leave no room for doubt, because doubt will only slow you down and eventually turn you around to the life you knew before. Read more>>

Riyah My’Ani

When it comes to risks, I feel as though you should always run towards the thing you’re scared of. Life is too short, and you’ll never know what’s lying on the other side of that fear if you don’t take a leap of faith. Taking the risk of putting myself out there on YouTube and social media has brought me several opportunities. It has led me to meeting amazing people, breaking out of my comfort zone, and assisted me with getting on the path to where I aspire to be in life. Read more>>

Aaron Rathbone

I started my adult music career in Nashville working with BMG Music Publishing on the creative side of the songwriting business. Signing and developing writers, recording top-quality demos of their best songs, and networking with labels and producers to land radio singles was the game, and I had a very high tolerance for risk at that time, bordering on reckless even. No idea was bad, anything was worth trying, and I didn’t think very hard about long-term impacts in my 20’s. I just swung for the fence with my decisions (more like impulses lots of the time), and looking back I missed opportunities by not taking a longer view. As I left the recording industry behind and moved back home to purchase my father’s business, Dirt Cheep, I had a LOT on the line. I had a young family and employees depending on me, vendors that depended on my business, customers that looked to us to help them create music or deliver their message to their audience… not to mention the financial obligations associated with a mature business such as leases, credit lines, endless invoices, and day to day operations. I became severely risk-averse, almost to a fault, as pendulums often swing to their extremes before settling into a methodical pattern near the center. Looking back I missed opportunities by being too careful, and I worried far too much about the minutia that didn’t matter in the big picture. Today I think I’ve found that methodical center, and regarding how I think about risk, I’ve found wisdom in Jeff Bezos’ framework of ‘one-way’ and ‘two-way’ door decisions. For reversible choices—the two-way doors—Bezos advises swift action. These are opportunities to learn and adjust course if needed. However, for consequential, hard-to-reverse decisions—the one-way doors—he emphasizes careful deliberation and thorough exploration of alternatives. Bezos also highlights the importance of ‘disagreeing and committing’ in team dynamics. This approach fosters decisiveness while respecting diverse viewpoints. It’s about trusting your colleagues and fully supporting decisions once they’re made, even if you initially disagreed. Crucially, Bezos warns against compromise for compromise’s sake and resolution through stubbornness. Instead, he advocates for seeking truth and making informed decisions, even when it requires more effort. This framework has helped me navigate risks more effectively, with less stress, balancing quick action with thoughtful consideration where it matters most. We successfully navigated the challenges of Covid and continue to thrive in these uncertain economic times, and I think the one-way and two-way doors approach has helped make Dirt Cheep nimble in the marketplace and successful combining the priorities of a successful brick-and-mortar retail store with delivering what our customer want most. Read more>>

Keosha Parker | Entrepreneur + Gov Official

I believe personally believe in taking risk, I’ve taking countless over my career. Just by up and leaving my hometown at the age of 24, on a one way flight from Michigan to Atlanta. But what seems as a no brainer for me, may be a decision that another wouldn’t dare think to take. Read more>>