Taking Risk is essential, but how much, when and why? Taking risks effectively is as much of an art as it is a science and we’ve asked some of the brightest folks in the community to tell us about how they think about risk taking.

Nick Bruce | Photographer

Risk is everywhere, risk is a part of life. I do my best to embrace it. A lot of the work I have done, what has led to my best photos and by best stories includes a lot of risk. In my early days of photography I was sneaking in and out of abandoned buildings and walking down dark alleys just in hopes of getting a unique shot. As I got more into the landscapes and hiking scenes, I found that going out in the worst of conditions, when no one else would dare to hit the trails, was what I loved and what challenged me the most to improve my skills. Nowadays, I do a few solo trips each year, a time of rest but also to really focus on what I love and am passionate about. Read more>>

Michael Towns | Partner

Risk plays a huge role in all of our lives and the decisions we make. I feel we had alot of the education on running a business, starting a lounge and the ins and outs of doing so and so for us it was about execution. Risk can be looked at in two ways: a negative or a positive. For us we never want to live to 80-90 years old and wonder what if. What if we took that risk and the business was successful where would our lives be? So for us that risk is much greater than taking a chance and failing. If I take a chance and fail at least when I am 80 or 90 years old, I knew the result. Read more>>

Dannika Stevenson | Food Entrepreneur and Culinary Instructor

By definition, a risk is the chance or possibility of something that will cause harm to a person or an experience. A risk is an inherent part of our daily lives such as waking up in the morning, leaving home to go to school or work, or making important decisions. It’s a fundamental aspect of life, and by avoiding risks, one might miss out on personal and professional opportunities. Having taken many risks, some were successful and others not; for example, I left a prestigious college offering a full scholarship due to racial tension and enrolled in a college over a thousand miles away with a partial scholarship to finish my degree in communications. Read more>>

Joshua Freshour | Singer-songwriter/small business partner

Where would any of us be without taking risks ya know? When my partner and I met we knew that we’d be taking a risk merging our lives and family’s together.
I know that isn’t directly what you’re asking here but that particular ‘risk’ we took of deciding to give life together a shot has been the basis for what risks even are for me. Covid-19 hit and through the loss of my partners job we decided to take the risk of beginning their small business and allowing more of our time to be dedicated to that rather than having them return to a regular every day day job. Read more>>

Sarah Schlup | Artist | Entrepreneur | Advocate

Risks are terrifying, but worth the bravery. Choosing a creative career itself can be a risk. It’s not like your normal job, where you show up, clock in, and clock out. Being an artist means I put my heart on my sleeve. I am directly inspired by personal experiences, emotions, and thoughts, so when I create, I am leaving myself in the artwork. I’m constantly thinking about the work, to the detriment of my work-life balance sometimes. In that sense, it could be easy to feel overwhelmed quickly (believe me, I completely understand!). However, in the spirit of adventure, I choose to see this decision of leading a creative career as exciting and invigorating! Read more>>