Risk, Mentorship, and Proving Your Value

Not all leaders rise the same way. Some are built different—raw talent, drive, charisma, access to networks and resources. They’re the top .5%, the ones who seem to just “have it.”

But most of us? We’ve got to grind, take risks, and get smart about who we learn from if we’re going to reach our full potential.

That’s what this is about - risk, mentorship, and the quiet truth that hard work alone isn’t enough.

Why Risk Matters (and Why Most People Avoid It)

Let’s be honest, risk is uncomfortable. Whether it’s switching careers, launching a business, speaking up when it’s not easy, or betting your time and money on something uncertain, it’s easier to stay where you are. The system we live in kind of counts on that. There’s always room for people who show up, do the job, collect the check. And there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s your lane.

But some of us want more, not just more money or status, but more purpose, more impact, more growth. And that path always includes risk.

It’s easy to romanticize risk-taking, but when you’re in it, when you’ve poured savings into an idea, or when your voice shakes in a room full of decision-makers, it’s real. It’s not theory. And that’s why having a mentor matters so much.

When You’ve Never Had a Mentor

Here’s the thing: I’ve never really had a mentor. Not one I can point to who took a personal interest in my development over any real stretch of time. I’ve had examples, people I watched, some who modeled what to do, and others who showed me exactly what not to do. This was also true in my military career which started at the age of 22. There was no one who said, “You’ve got something. Let me help you shape it.” There was plenty of training. There were performance reviews. But not much in the way of someone sitting down and saying, “Let’s talk about what you’re good at and how you get to the next level.”

Part of that was on me. I wasn’t the model mentee. Maybe I didn’t ask. But part of it was the time we were in. We were training for deployments in the global war on terror. There wasn’t much room for personal development when every day was about readiness and preparing the force.

That lack of mentorship bred hesitation. I became more risk-averse than I already was. Because when you’ve seen the real cost of failure, when you’ve seen what happens when a bad call leads to loss, it changes how freely you leap.

Now, in business, I wrestle with that. I know how to work. That was bred in me. But I’ve had to teach myself how to take calculated risks. Like investing in new markets to scale my business. Like speaking up when my ideas run counter to the norm. And truthfully, there are times I wish I had someone I didn’t have to pay by the hour, someone who sees my work, sees my potential, and says, “Let me help you get there.”

Not to save me. Just to believe in me enough to walk alongside me.

Mentorship Changes the Game

A great mentor isn’t just someone who’s successful. It’s someone who’s seen things, who knows what failure looks like, who’s made mistakes, who’s climbed out of holes, pivoted, rebuilt, and kept moving. Someone who can help you avoid the wrong kind of risks, the ones that burn your time, your money, or your confidence.

In entrepreneurship, almost 90% of startups fail. Most of those failures? They’re avoidable. Wrong product, poor market fit, bad hires, cash issues (Startup Genome, 2021). A mentor helps you see that coming. Same in academia - most PhD students don’t finish. And of those who do, only a fraction land tenure-track roles (NSF, 2020). Without someone to show them how the system really works, a lot of smart people get lost.

Creative fields are no different. Most artists never break through. It’s not talent that holds them back. It’s the lack of guidance on how to navigate deals, manage careers, and handle rejection.

Hard Work Alone Ain’t It

We’re told to work hard. And I’ve done that. But here’s the truth: effort without direction can still lead nowhere. Hard work is the baseline. It’s expected. What separates those who rise is how well they combine work ethic with well-timed risk and wise counsel.

If you’re just starting out or even if you’ve been at it for a while, you have to ask yourself: Who’s in my corner? Who’s helping me make sense of the moves I’m making? Who’s challenging me to think bigger?

Results Over Rhetoric

Think of household names like Oprah, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Ursula Burns, Robert F. Smith. Every one of them had someone in their corner. Maya Angelou. Mike Markkula. Benjamin Graham. Wayland Hicks. John Utendahl. Mentors who offered more than advice but gave clarity, support, and belief.

And those relationships mattered. Because mentorship, when done right, turns risks into stepping stones instead of missteps. It turns potential into measurable progress.

The Bottom Line

If you want more (more influence, more impact, more growth) you’re going to have to prove your value. Not with talk, but with results. And that means taking risks. Not reckless ones, but informed, strategic, and yes, sometimes uncomfortable ones.

It also means finding the people who see something in you and being open enough to receive what they offer. That’s the part I’m still working on.

Because while I haven’t had a true mentor yet, I’m finally in a place where I understand what it means to be mentored and what it takes to be mentorable. And if I can find someone who gets where I’ve been, sees where I’m going, and believes enough to walk with me for part of the journey, I’m ready to take that step.

Because risk without mentorship is just a gamble. However, risk with mentorship? That could be everything.

Anthony B. Jenkins is the CEO of Bovian Enterprises LLC, a veteran-owned IT firm delivering mission-critical services to the federal government. A combat veteran and former Army officer, he served in the Field Artillery and Signal Corps, completing three Iraq deployments. With expertise in IT program management, cybersecurity compliance, and emerging technologies, he has grown Bovian Enterprises into an SBA 8(a) and VA-certified SDVOSB. Known for innovation and operational excellence, Anthony also volunteers with a local high school program, inspiring future leaders. He resides in Chesapeake Beach, MD, with his wife and children, dedicating time to mentoring and community impact.