Shoot your shot? Take a chance? Society bombards us with messages, phrases, examples and stories of how taking risk is the key to success, but is anything ever that simple? We asked some of the brightest folks we know to tell us about how they think about risk. We’ve shared their responses below.

Maree Montagnini | Singer Songerwriter Musician Band Manager

Living life is a risk. If you define risk as the possibility of failure, pain, loss, then simply being alive is a risk. We are all going to end one day… that is the only certainty about living. So in the interim, it only makes sense to do as much with the time you are given, in a way that respects yourself and shows kindness to those around you. Ha! This is what I tell myself to get out of bed and “do” every day! In reality, I’m afraid of lots of things, of losing people and things that are precious to me. Read more>>

Adajshia Thompkins | Entrepreneur & Nail Artist

I think taking risks plays a huge part in everyone’s lives. In my opinion, risk is the partner to faith. You have to have faith to take risks but you gotta take risks to build up your faith. In my life I’ve taken many risks from not going straight to college after high school, to quitting my 9-5 to purse only nails and hair and to now expanding my business to a whole other state. Taking risks is definitely not easy but you won’t grow unless you take that first step. Whenever you’re feeling too comfortable, it’s time to take that risk to continue growing .  Read more>>

Veronica Yankowski | Photographer

I have always been a big risk taker. I’ve won some and lost many more. But I never feared the failure. I’ve definitely made some regrettable decisions, however they have always led me to push myself creatively and take that next step toward my professional goals. I guess I live by the old adage “go big or go home.” I do nothing small. When I commit, I commit big! Read more>>