Legend holds that Cornelius Vanderbilt had built a massive fortune in the steamboat shipping industry, but then realized the railroads were the way of the future and invested almost his entire net worth into railroads. The gamble paid off and made Vanderbilt one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs ever. But risks are inherently…risky. How do you think about risk and how has it affected your life and career? Some of our community favorites share their perspective below.

Adam Rodrigues

Risks are subjective. The bigger picture is always at the forefront of the mind, but what are the short-term consequences? I look at risk as necessary if you want to get ahead and change your situation/surroundings.. A lot of people want opportunities and long for the life they want based on it. A saying I was told since I was little from my Dad comes to mind: “Time waits for no man, woman, or child.” Since time can’t wait, neither can we. We have to make our own opportunities in life to excel. To make our own opportunities, we need to take risks. Read More>>

Trevina Johnso

My entire brand is about taking risk. The fact that i’m doing a Tribute Band & touring around the world paying homage to a living legend is what some would say is crazy, Read More>>

Austin Vauiso

With great risk comes the potential for great reward! Everything we do in life has some level of inherent risk. Crossing the street, driving to work, and creating a business. I joined the Marines straight out of high school just a few years after 9/11. There was plenty of risk involved with joining the service during a time of war, but it set me up for immeasurable follow on success thereafter. In the Marines, we constantly are tasked with assessing risk and figuring ways to mitigate it. When I bought a run-down 20-unit apartment complex with the end goal of repositioning the property and raising rents, there certainly was a mountain of risk involved. Read More>>

Leah Ponds

I believe taking risks is a part of growth, and following through with taking risks begins with courage. It takes courage to take a leap of faith from where you are currently to where you want to go… all the while not knowing what’s on the other side. That’s how my small business began. Through prayer, I felt directed to leave my stable, full-time job and take a leap into the unknown. It was a huge risk, but the fruit of taking that leap of faith has been life-changing for me. Read More>>