There are three elements to risk management: risk perception, risk assessment, and risk management.  As small business owners, how can we identify the risks we face, and find practical ways of diminishing the risks to our creative businesses?  In the search for those answers, we cannot forget that no all risks are bad.  Risks can also be opportunities, and we as artists must determine how much risk we can tolerate so that we can be cautious of danger, yet still be able to embrace innovation, opportunities and trends.  Risk taking does not imply irresponsibility, but to never take risks is not the answer.  The trick is to have strategies in place to ameliorate the effects of negative risks, and plans to seize opportunities as they occur.  Because there is no way to predict which risks will present themselves, or the positive or negative impact, the best approach is to plan as best we can, respond as quickly as we are able, and to not let fear govern our progress.