Legend holds that Cornelius Vanderbilt had built a massive fortune in the steamboat shipping industry, but then realized the railroads were the way of the future and invested almost his entire net worth into railroads. The gamble paid off and made Vanderbilt one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs ever. But risks are inherently…risky. How do you think about risk and how has it affected your life and career? Some of our community favorites share their perspective below.

Jazmin Colette | Ceramic Studio Owner & Educator

Taking risks is an essential part of being a business owner. To put it simply, there is no set in stone users manual to creating a successful and enjoyable business in the world we live in today. In my business, the largest risks I’ve taken have a lost always had the best results. Read more>>

Joshua Shelton | Contemporary Musicianship Educator & Nationally Certified Optician

Risk aversion may be a reality, but risk avoidance is a fantasy. We synonymize risk with change, often ignoring the risks of choosing the situation in which we already find ourselves. DANG I want to make a Rush reference right now…ok fine. “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!” That said, my “career” looks like an utter mess to anyone stuck in a 20th century framework. Read more>>

Huimin (like we mean business) Davis | Photographer

The short answer is “life is short. Go got it!” I come from a very traditional Asian family. As a woman, taking risks was not encouraged. I was expected to follow a plan within the constraints of my culture and society. But then my parents moved us to Mexico! Read more>>

Kaelyn Marie Fuglaar | Virtual Assistant Agency Owner & Business Coach

I think the word “risk” naturally has a negative connotation to it and I don’t think it should. I think of risk as an opportunity. An opportunity to learn, grow, get better, or maybe an opportunity to massively win. I started my business on risk. I was laid off from a job the month before, I was making no income, and I still decided to go for it. Read more>>

Michele Lamoureux | Michele Lamoureux, Podcast Host, Author, & Life Coach

Risk to me is about honoring what you really want and taking a chance on yourself. I’ve always been comfortable with taking risks. I think that is because I am also comfortable with failure. To me, the idea of not trying feels more painful than having a dream and not giving it a shot. Read more>>

Sean Walsh | Film Composer

I suppose any independent contractor job carries its own set of risks. Some of the specific things I did in the early stages of my career were things like transitioning from a performing rock guitarist to a recording film composer. It was a gradual process at first that just snowballed as my love for writing to picture grew. Read more>>