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.
Steffan Stewart | Founder / Creative Director / Brand Designer
I see risk-taking as a key part of success in any area of life. While it’s not always necessary, some of the best things come with risk—as long as you have a plan for the possible outcomes. In 2017, I took a big leap by quitting my full-time job to start a freelance design business. I wanted more control over my work, to choose my projects and clients, and to increase my earnings. Despite being fresh out of college and having no entrepreneurial experience, I felt confident in this decision. Read more>>
Gabriel Hays | Composer and Songwriter
I firmly believe in taking measured risks. Every significant step in my career has involved choosing the less obvious, often riskier path. For example, about 12 years ago, my wife and I made a bold decision to move from NYC to LA. At the time, we had no jobs lined up in LA and our daughter was just 1.5 years old. It was a daunting move, but we were ready to leave NYC and knew that if I wanted to pursue a career as a film composer, LA was the place to be. Read more>>
Melissa Risher | Owner/Operator
Risk has played a huge role in my life and career. One reason I almost didn’t do Crumbl was because it felt very risky. It was a new brand, there was a lot of question around it being a trendy thing that would only last a few years. And if that was the case then what? Read more>>
John Idalis | Singer-songwriter
This is a great question. I think taking risks are definitely necessary in all aspects of life. Both professional and personal. As I songwriter, I ask myself things like, “Should I release this song about this very personal aspect of my private life?” But also I think everyday we are assessing risks, even benign things like, “Do I have time to go to the store before it closes?” But thank goodness we do. Because yes, sometimes things we try don’t work out but when they do… it’s gratifying. Something I tell myself is that I’m not gonna get any W’s if I don’t take any L’s. Once I accepted taking L’s as just an inevitable fact of life, it made me less afraid to take risks. Read more>>
Nicole Farr | Women’s Fitness & Wellness Coach
I believe entrepreneurship is a risk in itself. I don’t like to take risks, I’d rather play it safe, so it’s interesting that I chose this route for my next career step. But in my case I see it as passion and purpose outshining the fear and the worry of risk. For both my personal and professional life, I believe some level of risk is necessary for growth. I’ve moved cities, and states all by myself and have felt really uncomfortable but I have always found personal growth on the other side. I have left “safe” jobs to pursue my passion, and I’ve discovered new skills and beliefs I never thought I’d achieve. So as much as I want to play it safe, I know that taking risks is the only way to level up. Read more>>