How do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career? Check out responses from hidden gems from our community below.

Lauren Jacobson | Coffee Shop Owner

Risk taking has played a large part in our lives and careers. Both Tyler and I grew up with parents who were entrepreneurs. My parents own their own construction company. My dad builds custom homes, spec homes and commercial buildings. Tyler’s dad runs his own insurance business. I learned from my parents that you must take risks in order to get where you really want to be in life. In our own lives, Tyler and I have had to take risks in order to get to where we wanted to be – or at least on the path to where we want to be. Before starting our coffee shop, I worked full time in the corporate world. I knew that wasn’t where I wanted to stay which resulted in me being very unhappy at both companies I worked at. Read more>>

Eva Pazola | Fashion Designer/Image Consultant/Stylist

I love talking about risk because to me, it means: possibility, prospect, overcoming fear, and it also means courage. And definitely, it means passion.
The Dalai Lama says that “Great love and great achievement involve great risk”.
I followed this advice when I left Europe at 20 years of age for love and came to the United States for a new beginning. Read more>>

Kay Zilla | Musician

I think taking risks is a necessity, you need to take risks in order to get pass certain obstacles in life & it shows how committed & ready you are to whatever it is your trying to accomplish. Read more>>

Angelique Conger | Author

Risk is important to success. If I want to succeed, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. I have often done this through my life as I saw something I wanted or needed to do. A college education with 5 little children, one of whom was a premie, seemed wrong, but it was necessary. My husband had come close to death, and I had no way to support these five little ones, so I did it, receiving my BA in Elementary Education a year after he retired from the U. S. Navy. Read more>>

Renee Yang | first-time founder & nail art enthusiast

I think of risk-taking as choosing to embark on journeys where the outcomes are not guaranteed. It doesn’t mean sacrificing anything, but being open to experimentation and getting it wrong a few times. I’ve found that this is the quickest way to learn. When you put yourself in tough situations, you end up learning so much more about yourself and what you’re capable of! Plus, it makes for good stories down the line. Read more>>

Brittney Pember | Your Local Cool Mom, Dog Mama, Milso, Motivator

In my opinion, risk taking is doing the thing you fear most no matter what the outcome. You can find risk in almost anything you want to do. However, if you go into it with doubt, you’ll most likely not see the best results possible. I, myself took a risk to join a beauty company in network marketing over three years ago. I literally had the exact amount I needed to invest in my bank account. I saw what this opportunity was doing for others and thought I could do this just as well. Read more>>

Brittany Enger | Blogger

Embracing risk feels similar to trying on an itchy sweater; yet, our proudest moments require a healthy dose of it. Each of my achievements started with a risk, including my first blog post on Positivity Pledge. As soon as I clicked the publish button, the flickering butterflies of joy transformed to panic. Will I fail? Did I make a mistake? What if someone criticizes my work? Read more>>

Vashaun Parker | CEO & Founder of Gossamer Jewels

I take many risks. I never know if I’m moving in the right direction, but I trust my gut, I trust what I’ve learned along the way, and I go for it. If something isn’t working I learn from that and I pivot. Read more>>