We asked some brilliant folks from the community to talk to us about how they think about risk and the role risk has played in their lives and careers.

Josh Champion | Owner, Champs Family Automotive

I have always been a risk taker. Over the years I have learned you have to take risks in order to get where you want to be in life and business. I whole heartedly agree with the theory that success is just on the other side of fear and terror. You have to be willing to jump all in and yes sometimes that means metaphorically speaking writing checks you can’t cash. Is is scary YES, absolutely, I have had plenty of sleepless nights wondering how we can make things work but it always comes down to put your nose to the grind stone and do everything in your power to make it work. I have had so many people, including family, tell me I couldn’t have my own business, it just couldn’t be done. Read more>>

Brandon Rodelo | MC / Producer

“If you wanna get a grip, you gotta roll the dice.” – Me… This is a mantra I live by. While some things are purely “coincidental”, I feel that most meaningful things happen when one or more people get out of their comfort zone- otherwise you grow stagnant. Risk taking has giving me life. My father came from Mexico at age 17, illegaly crossing the border, with no shoes, and no promise of making it to “the other side”. Everything in my life stems from taking risks, and charging head first into the unknown. Sometimes I take risks, because I know the alternative is misery… Other times I take risks when I am comfortable, knowing that life could be even better. Either way, “If you wanna get a grip, you gotta roll the dice”. Read more>>

Mimi Kravitz | Artist & Psychotherapist

Taking huge risks has never been easy for me. But I think taking the risk to just “play” with materials has been freeing in many ways… to enjoy the process of art rather than necessarily the product. There have been zillions of mistakes,but so what? Onward into all that I have to learn. Read more>>

Kim Alexis | Super Model

When I was still in high school, I enrolled into college like everyone else. I thought my life path was set. Out of the blue, I got offered to go to MYC to try modeling with the trip artists and designers in the Fashion Capital of the world. I could have said no and stayed on my path, graduating college and starting a career in Pharmacy but I decided to take a chance or risk and try something totally new. Modeling was a business I knew nothing about. I had been a tomboy choosing to spend my time working out rather than pouring over magazines looking at the latest fashion, so this was a big jump for me into new territory. I moved to NYC at 18 and started a new career while living alone in New York. Read more>>