Taking Risk is essential, but how much, when and why? Taking risks effectively is as much of an art as it is a science and we’ve asked some of the brightest folks in the community to tell us about how they think about risk taking.

Robin Bousel | Performing Artist, Risk Taker & Post-Traumatic Growth Warrior

I am absolutely a risk taker. When I was younger I would take less calculated risks than I do now. but I definitely take them. I think it’s important to take risks and leaps of faith and sometimes even pursue outright crazy ideas. You never know where it could lead. Sometimes it can be terrifying and maybe you don’t have a safety net, but some of the most incredible adventures and discoveries can come from what might feel like a failed jump or a miscalculation. Not everything is meant for everyone and I think the universe has a way of knocking us on and off course as needed to get us to where we need to go next. Without taking risks, we might be missing out on some fantastic pathways forward through life, even the ones that feel the hardest. Read more>>

Autumn Capurso | Owner of Willow Jewelry, College Student

When I first started my business, I was a broke college student with a desire to create something I was proud of: something I was passionate for. I had just moved to Arizona from the East Coast, trying to build my future in a foreign state where I barely knew anyone. Initially after moving here, I picked up a job working at a retail shop in Old Town, Scottsdale. It was always so quiet in the last hour before I closed shop. In the solemn weaning hours sitting behind the register, my mind would begin to wander. Ever since I was a girl, I can remember having an interest in crystals. One particularly idle night, I decided to order some jewelry making supplies online to keep myself busy. Over the next few weeks, as the hands of the clock ticked slowly towards closing time, I began teaching myself to wrap crystals from Youtube do it yourself videos. Read more>>

Jim Manley | Founder and CEO, Manley Creative

When I look back, I’ve been taking intentional risks my entire life. My grandmother once said to me before she passed that she lived her life as fully as she could. That sentiment really stuck with me and it’s how I’ve chosen to live my life both personally and professionally. My risks are made with intention, especially in business, as I have a responsibility to my team and clients and have to consider what’s best for them too. But the reality is you go through this life one time, and I would hate to look back and regret missing out on experiences and opportunities that could enhance the lives of me and my family, my clients and team. Read more>>

Jose Malki Higuera | Fire Captain and M&M Family Orchard and Horse Boarding owner.

Our competitive advantage is demonstrated by education, business guidance, and community involvement. Our community is a small town only 15 miles from the international border with Mexico; we have a more significant Hispanic population, income ratios are significantly low, and it is imperative that we learn more than one language. The fire department measures success as a group, not an individual. By applying this theory to our community, we want our community to be successful, not just individuals. The M&MFamily Orchard/ Horse Boarding provides this as we strive to make our community a community people want to invest in, provide higher education, and live in. Read more>>