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.

Jason Vinson | Wedding Photographer, documentor, and educator

Risk is sort of an inherent quality of being a small business owner. You obviously need to have an idea and understanding of what you need to do in order to make the business a success. but even then, there is always some risk involved. Nothing is certain. Read more>>

Daniel Finch | Painter, Professor of Art & Design, Messiah University

We tend to classify risk-takers in two distinct (though sometimes simultaneous) ways: they are either visionary successes to be praised, or regarded as outright fools. Knowing the difference in our own lives as well as the lives of others can be sometimes problematic. I’ve found that the distinguishing criteria seems to be the goal of the risk. Read more>>

GRACE THEK | Professional Triathlete & Physical Therapist

As a professional athlete, I am constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible mentally and physically. Everyday I am stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying to get the most from myself in training and racing and life Read more>>

Jared Wenzelburger | Photojournalist

Risky situations are a big part of my every day job as a photojournalist. Crawling through barbed wire, marching through ash from a wildfire and driving through closed roads to flooded properties are just some of the instances I would consider “risky,” but with every risk there is reason. As a staff, our newspaper helped elderly members of the community and their families stay informed about rising waters in local rivers so they could leave before it was too late. Read more>>

Rachel Kersten | Nomadic Creative | Photography & Design

I think risks mean freedom because they give us the opportunity to live our most fulfilling lives. They allow us to pursue the goals that are meaningful to us and they pose challenges that push us to grow into better people and in the end that’s probably one of the most beneficial things we could do for society. Read more>>

Darrell Smith | Junk Removal Specialist

Everything for me to start my own business rolled in shortly after the pandemic restrictions started to lift. I was making $19hr to work on the phone talking to customers from home in a small closet; where I had built a small office. Read more>>

Michelle Londyn | Musician & Digital Content Creator

I think anything worth doing requires some risk. I am the first in my family to earn a doctoral degree. I moved far away from family and friends and spent seven years becoming the best pianist and teacher I could, not knowing if it would pay off in employment—music is a notoriously competitive field! But I did end up getting a job right after graduating. That first risk paid off. Read more>>