There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Briana Robertson | Managing Attorney with Law Office of Briana C. Robertson and Confidence Coach

I am a firm believer that if you want to live to your full potential you have to take risks. If you’re not taking risks then you are probably settling for less than you deserve. Whenever you embark on a new business or project, you are going to have to take risks in order to succeed. It is going to take time, energy, and money with no guarantee that you will gain any of it back. On the flip side, it can also give you the greatest reward. This is where faith comes in. Faith is the secret sauce to success. Read more>>

Sherylynn Strong | Deaf Hair Stylist

Aloha, my name is Sherylynn Strong and I own Deaf-Friendly Beauty Services business. As a Deaf Hair Stylist, it is challenging to interact with hearing Clients or Co-workers, but that motivates me to raise my game and change the rules to make things easier for me and my clients. When it comes to business, I am all about- GO BIG or GO HOME!! This could be a very risky way to approach a business, but when you have a high drive to succeed, the desire to follow your heart, and go after what you really believe in, then I say go for it! It also important to always expect the unexpected and anticipate hurdles. Read more>>

Vianney Casas | Writer and jewelry designer

For me as a person and an artist, risks exist inside my head. I am highly self critical and imposter syndrome haunts me daily therefore everything I have done as a career has been a risk for me and taken so much from me to pursue. Unfortunately in my culture, art isn’t given the respect and credit it deserves. Most people see creating art as a “hobby” and there is also the “starving artist” narrative that doesn’t make it any easier. Read more>>

Porche Cooper | Master Cosmetologist/Barber And Certified Trichologist

I think risk is something that you have to take in order to get to your purpose in life, I believe everyone here on earth has a life purpose and a path to help and give back to the world via your gift and or talent. I think risk is the new word for having faith, see we think we are risking it all, but really we are just a really big believer in having faith and letting the universe do its thing. When I started my career I had no clue I would become a hair stylist, my husband is active duty and we were stationed in Hawaii, after being on island for a few months people started noticing my hair and my kids hair, they started asking about the stylist and someone suggested I start doing hair on island for military personnel and their families. Read more>>