We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Michael DeParis | Publisher, Editor, & Writer.

Risks seem/feel necessary to change or advance circumstances. There are exceptions of course, though as a general framing for taking risks I think of them as trips through a time machine. If I want to do/present something or make something happen it may require taking risks. Everyone is different so the scale of risks will vary. The time machine visual is helpful for me to have some vision of the system/goal and if I take action (risk) I can save myself time from overthinking. I have been prone to introspection and falling into the paralysis from analysis at times. Talking myself out of making certain intuitive decisions or taking action. Read more>>

Dom Raona | Producer & Content Creator

The biggest risk I have taken was producing our fifth season after initially retiring our series in 2018. We had an amazing run with Survivor: Dearborn, but going into my junior year of college it became hard to balance. Our cast and crew were also growing up, taking more classes and internships – closing this chapter of our lives. I then graduated college in peak pandemic April 2020 with a degree in film and marketing with no opportunities on the horizon. It was one of the lowest lows I could feel. Not only was I struggling professionally, but I was also disconnected from friends and family. Read more>>

SATORI CIRCUS | one of the longest lasting performance artists in Detroit MI

I honestly don’t think about risks in the traditional sense. I think of them more as challenges. And I don’t back away too much from good challenge, which really has been about my entire life as an artist for 43 years. If I had never given myself the challenge of creating the character SATORI CIRCUS, I wouldn’t be here writing and I wouldn’t have made my 35th year as that character. Has the road been bumpy? Hell yeah. It still is at times, and I dig it! It keeps me pumped and going in many directions. Which is pretty cool! Read more>>

Roberta Cocco | Executive Life Coach

I show up powerfully in this world and execute on many levels as a proven author, teacher, trainer and highly experienced coach. My work continues to stretch me and invite me to my edges to uncover what is possible. Whether its riding a motorcycle, jumping out of a plane, standing in front of hundreds of leaders or sitting across the table from an elite professional; I enjoy adventure and see risk as an opportunity to test my beliefs around reality and live life fully. It is an opportunity to hone your awareness and become intentional about being present. Read more>>

Ashley Sánchez-Minaya | Owner/Stylist of Haus of Rizos Studio

Taking risks has played a significant part in such a positive way in both my life and career. It’s funny now because, growing up, my mom often expressed her concerns about how I made decisions because they always seemed risky or lacked consideration. For me, there was no such thing as failure. What was a failure was if I didn’t take that risk that felt right for me. Trusting my instincts has played a crucial part in my decision-making process. Even if I didn’t fully have all the answers to the route I was taking, I’ve always calculated as much as possible in my head and just went for it. This approach wasn’t limited to my career; it also influenced my personal life. Growing up, my tendency to overthink held me back from new experiences. Read more>>