By far, the topic that comes up most in our conversations with entrepreneurs and creatives is risk. We’ve had conversations about risks that worked out and risks that did not. We’ve seen eyes light eye sharing about career-trajectory changing risks as well as folks sigh about the risks they wish they had taken. Below, we’ve selected and shared some of those thoughtful conversations.

Tracey Harris | Modern Calligrapher and Illustrator

Risk is scary, it can put you in a vulnerable place, but for me I’m ok with this. Risk falls on both ends of a spectrum, if you do something its risky, if you choose not to do something it can still be risky. In my life I’ve always chosen to proceed, even when I don’t know what or if there is risk. Letting the unknown stop me would have been self sabotage. Career wise it is similar for me in that I always want to take the risk, if, that is, there is outcome that could possibly benefit me twofold; a win for me and a win for the client. Read more>>

Lynn Mulhern | Executive Director feline rescue

It’s important to be open to change. Opportunities present themselves, and if you averse to risk taking, you will often lose some of the best options for moving forward in your life or career. Without risks or change, you often can’t reach goals you desire. Success is not about being spot on or perfect, but having tried something and learned from it. Read more>>

Erica Neal | Business owner/Digital Course Creator

My motto is BET ON YOU!!! If you don’t, who will ? It is very important to take risk because you never know the outcome unless you take risk and get uncomfortable I decided I needed to BET on myself and family at the time I had been laid off twice and after me and my family started Neals Party I was laid off for the 3rd time. It was nothing but GOD that I had took a BET ON ME and my family. Me & my husband wanted our boys to have a head start in life. Read more>>

Ed Marsh | Freelance photographer and writer

Growing up, my parents were very overprotective–I grew up in Colorado, but wasn’t allowed to ski because “it’s too risky!” But I always wanted to be adventurous, and so after I turned 18, I set out to reinvent myself, but not surprisingly, had a lot of fear of risk taking. I started martial arts training to gain confidence. Read more>>

Lucero Clark | Fashion Designer

It’s funny but I never realized I was risky until people started telling me I was, I guess that means I’m a natural at it. While I try my best to be a responsable person in everything I do, I just like grabbing opportunities and try things when I think I can do them, to me the worst that can happen is you have the experience and you learn and grow throug them. Read more>>