There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Adam Bauer | Agent

I took a job as an agent upon graduation of college, with no real background or experience. I worked on straight commission which was basically 15% of the agency portion of a commission. Every year since got better and as such I stuck with it. Risk has been a part of my professional life since I started. Read more>>

Leo McFee | Crystal Healer and Teacher

I have found that my willingness to take risks has been crucial in terms of my personal growth and my professional life. My interest in the Healing Arts began when I moved to New York in my mid-20s to become a radio disk jockey. I grew up in rural California and chose to leave three jobs, and everything I knew to pursue my dream of living and working in New York City. This move turned out to be a turning point in my life, I had an awakening there to the healing energy of Crystals and Gemstones that changed how I view myself and reality. Read more>>

Shannon Conley | Art Quilter and Cell Biologist

I am not a risk-taker in the jumping off cliffs with a parachute kind of way (although boy does that look fun), but I’m definitely a risk taker when it comes to artistic expression. I’m an art quilter, and while I only spent a little time in the traditional quilt space before entering the art quilt space, I come from a pretty ordinary sewing and craft background. Read more>>