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.

Lauren Waskewicz | Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Founder of Be You Be Wholesome, & Co-Founder of Bold Rise

I come from a family of entrepreneurs and always dreamt of starting my own business one day. Being a business owner makes you vulnerable, allowing the entire world to see your heart and soul being put into your work. Naturally, there will be critics who don’t agree with your personal viewpoints but if you truly believe in what you’re doing, everything else is background noise that you learn to ignore. Opening my first business, Be You Be Wholesome, is one of the scariest yet most rewarding risks I have ever taken. Read more>>

Ashlyn Craig | Fine Artist

As an artist, and as someone who markets their art as a small business, a great majority of the ventures I pursue are risky. You can never be certain how the public will respond to your work, and when you are marketing something that is as personal as art, making decisions to put yourself out there can be terrifying. Investment of time, energy, money, and trust in yourself can be risky, especially when you are just beginning to market your work or start your business. Every action comes with heightened risk, because you have no way to set yourself up for healthy expectations for how you could or should be received. Read more>>

Deborah Walker | Artist and Mindfulness Teacher

In my journey in particular, risk has been essential and the most powerful practice in my growth. I made the decision several years ago (8) to leave a disempowering relationship, (divorce) Move to the beach, sell everything, and walk away from a business that initially was my retirement plan and step into a place I had always wanted to be and I just felt was right for me. It was scary, terrifying actually, the best thing I ever jumped into. I cried, felt anxiousness, in the end I also felt it was right. Read more>>

Aixa Oliveras | Professional Artist & Instructor

For me, taking risks has been an integral part of developing both my artwork and career. It was a risk to move from Puerto Rico to California to get my Master’s degree. Apart from the school’s community, I didn’t know anyone in Laguna Beach. It felt like I was hitting the restart button on my life. But the alternative would’ve been to remain stuck artistically back home, without getting any of the feedback and inspiration that the move would offer me. To me, that made it worth the risk. It hasn’t been without its difficulties, but looking back on it, I still believe that it was a good risk to take. Read more>>

Marianela de la Hoz | Visual artist

I had always wanted to be an artist but after finishing High school, I surrendered to external pressures and chose instead to be a Graphic Designer, which was a fine job which made good money. I devoted my time to the book design industry and I did many illustrations. And yet, I was not happy, something was missing. When my second child was born and I had to stay at home to take care of him, something inside told me that it was the right time to pursue my dream. Like a blind person, stumbling and fearful, I tried to experiment with everything I found in my way, techniques and materials I had used in my Graphic Design upbringing. Read more>>

Lu Ross | Fine Art Photographer and Digital Artist

Taking risks will usually lead to growth and help you achieve your goals. It will help you discover who you are and find your purpose. Although it can be scary to take that leap of faith, it will make you stronger and more resilient whether you succeed or not. Failure is part of the process and if you learn from that experience you will have moved forward. I left a career in web design to follow my passion for photography and art. Once I realized that web design did not fully satisfy my desire for creativity and art, I decided to pursue further education through the New York Institute of Photography. Read more>>