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.

Harmony Power | Aspiring Writer & Sophomore at Frisco High School

The place where risk taking is most apparent in my life would probably be towards the classes I take at school. Ever since I started high school, a goal I set for myself early on (and followed through with) is to take at least one class that I am supposed to be enrolled in later on. In my freshman year, I took 2 math classes concurrently in order to be ahead of my grade level mathematics by at least one year. This served as a very big risk, due to the fact math did not come easy to me. Doubling up on math classes was definitely one of my largest personal stressors all year, but I was able to learn the concept of adapting to adversity by perseverance. Read more>>

Chassidy Guidry | Attorney, Author and Entreprenuer

Taking a risk is giving yourself an opportunity to learn and grow. Taking risks and acting on faith in God, have allowed me to go after opportunities to elevate my skills and my company. Read more>>

Donald (Donny) Day | Multiple Fitness Business Owner

In my 17 years as a personal trainer, I’ve learned that taking calculated risks can be a game-changer, both in business and in life. When I encounter a situation that I can’t shake from my thoughts, something that keeps nudging at me day and night, I know it’s worth considering seriously. But here’s the key: I always give myself enough time to remove my emotions from the equation. We all know emotions can be deceiving; they can lead us to make hasty decisions that we might regret later. So I sit on it. I mull it over while I’m training my middle-aged clients or spending time with my wife and kids. I try to envision every possible outcome, from the best-case scenario to the worst. Read more>>