Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

Jada Rhone | Professional Model & Creative

I think, growing up, I was so afraid to take risk because I was afraid of what other people would think but I had to grow out of that because all It did was make me feel like I was living my life to please others, so I had to start thinking for myself, and really find out who I was as a person, i’ve quit several jobs in order to pursue modeling, full-time, not knowing if it would work out, knowing I had bills to pay, and I really put my faith in the possibility. I don’t think anybody that’s actually really successful, Has not taken those risks because living in fear is not going to get you where you want to be. Not pursuing those dreams will leave you unfulfilled. I think when you are young, it is important to take these risks so that you can really build on the foundation of experience, and most importantly, have no regret for taking the time to do so. Read more>>

Joshua Perry | Rising Actor

Risk. Gosh, this one is CRUCIAL when it comes to being an actor. While training at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, my mentor and teacher for everything I know about acting, Dr. Jonathan Drahos taught me to be comfortable with uncomfortability. Never allow yourself to be stuck in a comfort zone with not only life but with your craft because, once you do, you stall yourself from evolving into the actor and man you want to become in life. Get to where you want to get to in life before making a comfort zone. Read more>>

Paula De Pano | Wine Shop Owner

I don’t consider myself a big risk taker, likely preferring to be able to predict a comfortable and safe outcome. Though looking back at the riskiest decisions I’ve made in recent years, from opening up a wine shop “dur-pan” (during the pandemic) to jumpstarting my personal life, taking that leap reaped some of the most rewarding outcomes. The thing is, we will never know how things will turn out. Yes, it can fail based on previous data, but what if it doesn’t – that this one time, it goes the way you envisioned it to be? I remember one of the most powerful quotes I’ve learned during my career – What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Giving an idea a chance because we’re curious enough to see what happens next and then navigate through it, from the messy to the beautiful, is a journey in itself. Read more>>