Shoot your shot? Take a chance? Society bombards us with messages, phrases, examples and stories of how taking risk is the key to success, but is anything ever that simple? We asked some of the brightest folks we know to tell us about how they think about risk. We’ve shared their responses below.

Rob Ward | Comedian, writer, producer.

I think I have been successful, because I wasn’t afraid to take risk. However, I sacrificed a lot. My wife, kids and I went without things to get me where I am today and I am forever. Grateful for them, believing in me. Taking risk can be scary but when you come out of it, you feel confident and even more ambitious. Read more>>

Michele Luck | Cognitive Coach, Reiki Master, and Sound Healing Practitioner

I feel I have a healthy balance of experiencing life in a zone of familiarity and safety while dipping my toes in the waters of the unknown and exploring the what-ifs. I like structure and organization, and like many others, I feel comfortable staying in my lane of education and expertise. However, I also listen to my gut-my intuition, and when I begin to feel too comfortable, or not stretched or challenged enough, I begin to get curious and that’s where my risk taking gains strength. I earned my Master’s Degree in Education and taught elementary students for a decade when I felt like there was more I needed to be doing- I wanted to touch more lives than just the 24 children in my class. I earned specialized certification and left the safety of the school district classroom and began instructing graduate courses part time at the local university while simultaneously, I created my own business of coaching educators and facilitating workshops. It was a risk to leave my full time job and work part-time for a university and create my own education consulting business. But that risk to let go of the familiar and jump both feet into the unknown without a guaranteed salary paid off! I learned the skills I needed to create my own business and begin the journey of entrepreneur. Since then, I have let go of the safety net of working for the university and continue to grow and expand my own business to serve others through coaching and beyond. I wholeheartedly believe that if you listen to your gut and follow your intuition, taking risks becomes less scary because you are being guided to grow and expand upon the foundation you’ve already built. Read more>>

ReAnna Stevenson | Wardrobe Stylist

I was once scared to take risk . I tend to overthink, so in the past I would think about everything that could go wrong instead of what could go right. That was before I did take a risk and go after my dream.
That’s when I discovered that you have to take risk to see what could possibly happen. Read more>>

Richard Blair | Musician

Risk is necessary. It’s when our convictions really show up–do I believe in what it is I’m doing?–particularly with art. Daring greatly; not being driven by fear; overcoming any sense of internal strife. That’s all risk. Getting out of bed in the morning can be risky. But what if you don’t do it? There’s breath in my lungs and blood pumping through my body, so I’d better take the risk and get moving. I started sharing music through measured (yet consistently increasing) risk because at the end of the day I can live with failure but not regret. Read more>>