Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

David Hernandez | Music Producer and Engineer

Risks are necessary in the sense that nothing is ever really promised. You could seek other alternatives in life, safer routes, even. Yet, some freak accident could happen to you tomorrow that turns your world upside down. So why not try something out of the ordinary? Especially if it calls to you as music did for me. Read more>>

Jessy Dodd | Photographer, Pet Talent Agency Owner, Animal Non-profit Owner

I believe that if you have a passion for something, even if it’s a risk you should go for it. Not everything has worked out with my career, but at least I’m not wondering “what if”. During the pandemic, I couldn’t photograph people and do portraits, so I decided to put all of my creative energy into my Pet Influencer and Acting agency @poshpetstalent. It was definitely a huge risk for me. It was a way for me to stay connected with other dog owners and learn about different pet companies. And learn about pet photography which is totally different than human portraits. I started my dog’s Instagram page @mishkathetiny. I’m hoping to grow and expand and partner with bigger companies. As of now we have partnered with over 40 designers and pet brands on Instagram. A few of the agency dogs are set trained and know over 50 tricks!. Read more>>

Jonathan Yackley | Rise Up Industries

I think about risk like investing in mutual funds. It could work out well for you, it could work out poorly, but if you consistently make calculated decisions over a long period of time, you will almost certainly be better off than if you just buried your money in a bank account. I’ve taken a number of risks in my career–most notably relocating to South Asia where I was involved in multiple projects and social enterprises for nearly a decade. The most important question I asked myself about those risks was, “Will the desired outcome of this risk honor my goals and values?” This question helps guide one away from shallow risk-taking like ‘get rich quick’ schemes and into risks that help us approach our deeper desires in life–risks like taking more enjoyment in less material possessions; standing with someone wearing a ‘scarlet letter’; laughing at someone’s joke that fell flat because you know how that feels; telling the truth when silence is so much more convenient; advocating for an unpopular decision at work because it is what you would do if it were your company. Read more>>

Nick Payne | Co-Owner (My brother is the other owner, Anthony Payne)

Taking risks is an essential part of being successful in life. And with taking risks, comes the fear of failure. This is something we experienced firsthand after we graduated from college. Our whole lives we worked to make our dream to play in the NFL become a reality. We started playing football at the age of 5, got recruited in high school, and both earned full-ride scholarships to play at Sacramento State. After our college careers, we worked our butts off for an opportunity to play at the next level in the NFL, and when that opportunity never came we hit rock bottom. We didn’t know what life had in store for us next or what career to take on because football was our life for so long. The idea to start our own food service business was something we always had an interest in but we were nervous and fearful of what others would think, or if they would laugh at the idea. After realizing that it’s not about what others think, it’s about our own dream and confidence, we decided to take that risk and start Buff Chick. We had no experience in business, learned everything as we went, and a year later here we are. Read more>>

Rafeal Henderson | CEO Of Cherished Moments Planning, Design, & Coordination

I am firm believer that the higher the risk the higher the reward. Wayne Gretzky Said we only miss 100% of the shots we don’t take. I’d rather take the shot with the hope of making it through practice and training verses not taking it at all. I think we look at risk as though it can only lead to danger rather than seeing the opportunities it can lead to. When Steve Jobs quit his job working for Atari to start Apple. I definitely don’t think he focused on the risk, I am almost positive he saw all the opportunities that laid in front of him. I see risk as an opportunity to bring my vision to life. It was a risk for me to launch my event planning company and it was a risk for me to leave my corporate job and run my company full time. Although the risk were high the opportunities it presented were momentous . Taking that risk changed my life because it taught me how to be fearless. Being fearless has created a pathway for me to reach my goals and and achieve all of my dreams. Read more>>