What are your views on taking risks?
I was recently asked about my views on taking risks. Good question! I’m a risk taker to a degree. I like to research my options, create a flexible plan, and then try it out. I’m not reckless, but I’m also not afraid to pivot when needed. That blend of preparation and adaptability has served me well in both life and business.
The definition of risk taking, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the act or fact of doing something that involves danger or risk in order to achieve a goal. It’s a decision made even though there’s uncertainty about the outcome, cost, or benefits.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was starting Tailor Joy LLC. I left a full-time teaching job without a mapped-out future, knowing only that I needed work that fit my “caregiving for aging parents” season of life and still allowed me to do what I love: teach. I didn’t have a business plan, an elevator pitch, or branding. But I got started anyway, and I learned as I went. That risk turned into a thriving business that I love.
I’ve also taken risks to open my home and dinner table to friends and strangers in need of lodging, and my life is richer for all the relationships we have made with people across the globe. I’ve taken a risk to decide that multigenerational living was a good idea for our family, and it works well for us. Two years ago, the risk taker in me tried watercolor painting and making kombucha. Those risks had fun rewards! Extreme paddleboarding and losing my underwear in Europe are perhaps a few risks that had less fortunate outcomes, but I have learned from those adventures.
I also promote some risk-taking with my clients. I coach them to respectfully advocate for themselves, whether that’s asking for more time on an assignment or clarifying a confusing direction with a teacher. I remind them: the teacher might say no, but they also might say yes. You won’t know unless you ask. Sometimes, the smallest risks can lead to the biggest growth.
Sometimes I even go as far as to role-play with my clients what it looks like to have those conversations because their risk cost might be fear of talking to an adult or fear of being misunderstood. When thinking about risks, each person has a different perspective and perceived uncertainty. It’s important to think through these things.
For me, risk isn’t about jumping in blindly. Being a risk taker is about believing that something better is possible and being willing to take the next right step, even if the outcome isn’t guaranteed. It’s being gutsy. Sometimes those risks give me perfect opportunities to notice and talk about the joys in my everyday life.
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Table Talk: What risk has brought you the most joy? Do you view yourself as a risk taker?