In our experience, most folks, including ourselves don’t have enough of an understanding of risk and the role it plays in our lives and careers and so we have made a concerted effort as a team to have conversations about risk with our interviewees. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Mike Diamond | Fashion Model

Oftentimes I think about risks as an essential component of success. Taking risks has always seemed to play a major role in my life and career alike. In more instances than not, it’s a necessity. The risks I’ve chosen to take have allowed me to seize opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to me, meanwhile separating me from my peers. It’d be untrue of me to convey the idea that I only focus on the possible benefits of the chances I take, as it is important to consider potential pitfalls, but also to only focus on considerable perils is the downfall of far too many. Risks are what create new innovative ideas, revolutions and much more. Read more>>

Destiny Henderson | Makeup Artist & Business Consultant

If there is no risk, there is no reward. Everything major accomplishment or discovery came at the hands of someone deciding to take a risk and go for it. I wouldn’t be here today without risks. Entrepreneurship everyday is a risk. There is no paycheck, PTO, benefit package, severance package, or anything. Just you, your dream, hard work, and God. Do it no matter what! Read more>>

Whitney Allen | Speaker, Freedom Coach, & CEO of Awakenings Unlimited, LLC

I believe that true success requires a constant willingness to take risks! Often playing it safe is really just a result of fear, whether it’s the fear of rejection, looking silly, losing money, losing followers or “failing.” However, my career has 100% been characterized by being brave enough to take risks and walk by bold faith! As a Christian entrepreneur, moving by faith appears risky much of the time, because it doesn’t always “make sense” or follow the norm. I remember back in October 2017 when I was living in NY and held my first ReAwaken event in Los Angeles, CA. Read more>>

Myles Brown | Multimedia Artist and Marketing Strategist

I am an artist that has been transitioning slowly from strictly digital art into traditional and fine art over the last few years. I have learned that throughout my travels, the best way to take risks is to learn from other artists. Travel through different cities and study the artifacts and historical monuments in the cities you go to. Go to different bookstores and art galleries to see the art in them and learn about the techniques that artists use in order to make their work unique. Read more>>

Dr. Roderick Heath | Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students

I have always cared for myself; being raised in a single-parent home, I faced the ups and downs. Therefore, I made many personal mistakes that could have changed the trajectory of where I am today. The world looked disappointing, but I had the individual will to pursue what I thought would change my life. College was something that I always wanted to complete, but it was when I was twenty-three years old that I left my hometown with 30.00-40.00 dollars, one suitcase, and one pair of shoes. The rewards of finally chasing my educational goals outweigh the risks. Taking risks is a crucial part of personal growth and development for anyone looking to change their life. Read more>>

Dominique Alison | Boutique Owner & Loc Stylist

Risk taking is definitely something that has taken a huge role in my business. Before I decided to take the leap and give myself the opportunity to focus more on being a loc stylist and boutique owner, I was working full time for a company. It made it difficult to balance both at once since so much of my time was being consumed during the week. I finally made the decision to go down to part time, and was unsure if I would have enough business coming in to keep me afloat, but it was something I knew I HAD to do in order for my business and for myself to grow. When I decided to go full time with my business I was definitely nervous and overwhelmed, but it was the best decision that I’ve ever made. Being able to put my all into my business has increased my clientele and boosted my sales. Read more>>

Chris McDonald | Licensed Therapist & Host of the Holistic Counseling Podcast

In my opinion, risks are a necessary part of creating a business. If you allow yourself to stay in fear, it can paralyze you and stop you from ever taking the first step. I knew when I left the school system 10 years ago that I was taking a leap of faith. I had only worked for the school system and had no idea how I was to manage my own private practice. I was used to just showing up where I worked for and having the clients there. It was a whole new concept that I would have to put the work into getting consistent referral sources. You have to watch your self-talk when taking a leap of faith. I decided that I was going to learn all i could about being successful in private practice and just keep going even when it was frustrating, hard or seemed hopeless. Read more>>

Rich Levine | Photographer

In June, 2021, I left my last full-time non-photography job with the thought of giving myself a year to get past the “surviving” stage. I had some work coming in that made it possible to walk away from that job. I knew it was a risk and it might be difficult to get my company to a point where the business was thriving. I decided early on that I would take any job that came my way, but I also wouldn’t turn down jobs from other companies, as long as it involved photography. The first 9 months were difficult, but I was offered a position with a national real estate company, photographing homes and land for them. This gave me a good base pay since it was full-time, but still allowed me to photograph weddings and other events. Read more>>

Charlee Moss | Professional Photographer & Video Editor

My career has been shaped by a willingness to take risks, which I developed early in life due to my family’s frequent relocations. This daring spirit took root during middle school when I changed schools for new opportunities and forged meaningful connections. In college, I further embraced this approach by focusing on photography and video editing, seeking mentorship, and eventually transferring to a different institution for a more comprehensive education. Two years later, my commitment to growth and exploration paid off with a job offer in New York City, marking the pinnacle of my professional journey. Read more>>

Benny Okoto | Creative Director, Producer, Artist, Engineer, Innovator

I think risk taking or risk management is apart of life business or no business. I welcome risk at all times because I’m not so much focused on the actual results as I’m focused on the risk process from start to finish. What’s at stake, what’s to gain, what’s to lose? What did we learn? Most importantly. In order to improve on the design each time I think it’s necessary to do this. If you find gems great if not cool we damage control, we readjust, we bounce back etc. When there’s gems take the gems but don’t settle and think they’ll always work no matter what, keep collecting to make an even better total piece of the gems you discovered along the way. Read more>>

Damon Walker | String Instrument Luthier

I believe that most progress comes through risk(s); there aren’t many safe bets when it comes to carving out a successful existence these days. Specifically in my case, risk is how I’d describe leaving my home in New York City to try my luck in an area I’ve never even heard of (Durham, NC). Risk is how I’d describe choosing to create a business entity in which I’d accept full responsibility for prized possessions. Risk is how I’d describe promising specific repair outcomes and the endeavor to live up to them. And risk is majorly how I’d describe stepping away from employment to focus and rely solely on my own business without savings or seed money! Read more>>

Candice Mckinnon | Press-on Nail Artist & Cosmetics Owner

Taking a risk is important and a MUST! You never know what may come behind taking a risk. The role I took in taking a risk is entreprenurship, starting Glam by Candy was a big risk, but has brought me great opportunities and lead me to new directions. Take a risk, you never know what may happen. Read more>>

Joseph Alexander | Pop Artist

Anything worth doing usually has some risk involved. Being an artist is all about risk, anyway—you’re not guaranteed income, you’re not guaranteed to find an audience, and there’s no clear and obvious path to be successful like some other career paths. If I didn’t take risks, I wouldn’t be an artist. I’d just be another daydreamer, scared to do anything about it. Read more>>

Camilia Z. Majette | Founder and CEO

From a single mother juggling graduate school and part-time work to an inspiring entrepreneur, I embarked on a journey fueled by risk-taking and the desire to make a meaningful impact. My passion for travel, culture, and entrepreneurship was instilled in me by my father, who worked as a Peace Corps volunteer and USAID employee in Africa and Afghanistan. Witnessing his work with women micro-entrepreneurs in post-apartheid South Africa left an indelible mark on me. I realized that to effect change in my community and the world, I needed to take risks to achieve my dreams. Read more>>

Pynk Mo$cato | a Singing, Rapping, Freestyling Creative

I love risk. Depending on the scenario. Not to sound like too much of an adrenaline junkie or anything but if it gets the blood pumping chances are I’ll enjoy it. Even as a kid I was always the one sneaking into the teachers’ lounge just to see what it was about, or trying the handles on closed doors to see where they went. That aspect of my personality never faded as I grew into adulthood. If anything, it strengthened with wisdom and added intellect as a result of life experience. I love risk because I tend to have a lot of faith in myself so if there’s a chance it might work out my general assumption is that it will. If it falls through then that was probably working out for me in a different way, The career path I have chosen is a risk within itself. Read more>>

Daniel Rivera | Songwriter and Producer

Life is all about risk and reward. Learning how to process and mitigate risk are key. The unknowns in life are scary and exist for all of us, but they’re what make life worth it. They’re what teach us. About the world, about ourselves and about each other. Being an aspiring musician is a huge risk. There are plenty of other choices that I could have taken my career path, but I knew I wouldn’t be as happy. That’s the reward but the risk comes in if you don’t succeed which the percentage of failure is high. But it depends on how you look at it at the end of the day. You can always flip failure into success, but that just comes with being someone who doesn’t accept failure. Read more>>

Jaime Saunders | Owner/J.Lee Photography

I am a “winger”… lol…. I literally wing my way through life. Some people love lists and precise planning and perfect posing and a smile in every photo. I love real. And getting real involves taking risks. So I would say in life and in business taking risks is needed! Read more>>