We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Claudia Garza | Actress

I have seen myself grow as a person and as a theater actress, where I started, throughout all these years that I have had a lot of roles and characters to play. Everything started with the risk of choosing my career. In particular, this carrier has a lot of risks that you have to face at every opportunity and every day, the first one is making the decision to study arts. I have interpreted all sorts of characters, from pool dancing, smoking, giving birth, and having to cry for a long time while keeping the tension of the scene and the character. Read more>>

Kat Baum | Musician, Writer, Teacher, & Empath

Growing up, I was taught the opposite of risk taking. Play it safe, be responsible to the point of sacrificing your true potential and desires, those pieces of conditioning were firmly implanted. It took me many years to shed that skin and start doing the things that scared me, giving me a taste of true, authentic living. My first experience of really doing that was probably when I took my first teaching job out of graduate school in a Tsimshian village I could not pronounce, on an island I never knew existed in Southeast Alaska. Read more>>

Tami Fandrei | Thru Hiker and Backpacker

If you aren’t taking risks in life, are you truly living? Read more>>

Jason Ramirez | Men’s Fashion Content Creator

I believe everything in life is a risk. Taking action on something is a risk but also not taking action and letting life pass you by is also one. I believe in order to grow as a person you have to take risks throughout your life. You cannot stay in your comfort zone if you want to thrive and live that “dream life” you fantasize about. Risk is a part of life and I want to motivate people to take those risks in their lives as well. Read more>>

Darlene Dwyer | Insurance Agency Owner

I think it’s crucial to take risks in life, especially if they can help you achieve your goals. In my experience, the only reason I was able to open a business is because I took a huge risk. I was presented with two options: I could stay where I was and work under an agent or I could open my own agency. I loved where I was at and I was making good money, but I knew that having my own agency would be more beneficial for me in the long run. I also knew that it would cost a lot to start the business and I could potentially lose a lot of money, but it was a risk that I was willing to take. Read more>>

Leonardo Caudillo | Dance Instructor & Choreographer

I believe you should always take risks. You’ll never know what can happen- it goes with that saying ‘tomorrow is never promised’. Whether it’s big or small, you are still getting out there and that personal growth within ourselves is amazing. The role that taking risks has played in my life or career is that it gets me out of my comfort zone. It has built me up to have more confidence in myself and not be afraid! You should not be afraid to try. The studio would not be open if the risk was not taken. Read more>>

Vicky Stromee | Fine Art Photographer and Lens-based Artist

Someone once said “you never know your limits until you push yourself past them.” I think taking and managing risks is about exploring perceived limitations. Even when an effort appears to fail there’s still so much to learn. I’m always asking myself, “I wonder what would happen if I tried this or changed that?” And this has led to many wonderful discoveries. Read more>>