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.

Sierra Horsey

I have always been pretty calculated in my risk taking. When I accepted my first job after college, it took me all the way to Oregon from Alabama, and I told myself that I would stick it out until my bank account reached below $1,500. I knew no one in the state and arrived after a week long, solo road trip with a weekend hotel reservation, a week long Airbnb reservation after that, and several room tours lined up in order to hopefully secure permanent housing. I knew moving across the country was risky but I told myself that I would leave the job and the state if my bank account dropped below $1,500 (I estimated $1,500 would be more than enough to pack up and move again). Fortunately, my time in Oregon was great. I secured a furnished room just outside of Portland and loved my job. Read more>>

Sara Hubbs

For me risk in relation to art making isn’t about danger, it is about stepping into something unknown or uncomfortable. I can think back on my life and think about so many moments that I laughed or shrugged, or felt complete anxiety because I had no idea how I’d do something or what would come next. From becoming an artist (something I didn’t even know I could do or could major in when I was young), becoming a parent, and learning to blow glass in my 40’s during a global pandemic. Now, I’m taking a new risk in opening studio spaces for artists in Tucson, sometimes it feels like a no-brainer and other times, I wonder if I can do it. I’m not sure any of the ‘risk’ I’ve taken has brought me conventional success or happiness, but it has brought me a challenging and interesting life. Read more>>

Suzanne Velasquez

I feel risks make life exciting! The fear of trying and failing is so much better than the regret of not trying at all. I don’t want to look back and think I should have taken more risks. I have taken two risks in my life that changed my life forever. The first was ending a 31-year marriage and moving 2000 miles away from my adult children and grandchildren to begin a new life here in Arizona. The second is committing to John and Tish that I will be responsible for caring for the 29 donkeys and 1 mule currently and any more that arrive here at Forever Home Donkey Rescue. Read more>>

Austin Gardner

Risks are essential in life/career development and advancement. Comfort is ironically uncomfortable, so I seek out new ways to challenge myself. Always learning. Always Pushing Read more>>

Tiffany Richard

I once gave a presentation for a business association titled, “How I Lied My Way into Owning a Corporate Wellness Company.” It wasn’t a joke. Upon my return to Phoenix after a tour with Cirque du Soleil as their massage therapist, I knew that I wanted to remain in the health & wellness industry. I created a little chair massage firm and named it The Back Rub Company. Shortly after, I received a call from one of our clients, a worker’s compensation company, who had just lost their yoga instructor. Read more>>

Claudia Nigrelli

Previously ‘risk’ was something scary and unachieveable versus now and, I quote Robin Sharma ‘The more time you spend in your discomfort zone, the larger your comfort zone will expand’. Embracing risk in my life has enabled me to explore more possibilities and opportunities that I would not have been able to truly experience and value as I do presently. As a blind individual almost everything that a sighted person takes for granted can typically be considered risky and unattainable. Furthermore, often people that mean well and have good intentions can hold someone back becaude of their own fear towards risk taking especially for those like myself who have visual or invisible disabilities. By em bracing ‘risk’ I have become an international speaker, artist and influencer. I feel my calling in life is to reach as many people as I can in my life journey and inspire them to dream more, to become more and to appreciate and value just how amazing they are! Read more>>

Hannah Collins

Risk taking has always been hard for me in terms of my artwork. Change and experimentation have always intimidated me but over time I’ve realized I can’t really grow creatively without it. The most recent “risk” I’ve taken was packing up my things and moving to New York City, I figured there wasn’t really any growth for my artistic career whereI was and the only place that made sensor me to go was NYC. I’ve only been here for a short period of time but I already feel much more inspired to create than I did before. Read more>>