You’re working hard, things are going well, piece by piece you’ve built a life you are proud of, you’ve overcome obstacles and challenges, beat the odds and then you find yourself at the center of an unexpected dilemma – do you risk it all to keep growing? What if growing means leaving the job you worked so hard to get or the industry you worked so hard to break into? How we approach risk often has a huge bearing on our journey and so we’ve asked some of the brightest folks we know to share stories of risks they’ve taken.
Dr. Amystique Church
Tragedy to Triumph through the ashes… The Journey finding balance and my latest celebration Transformation:Pathway to Purpose. Read more>>
Jennifer Briskin
The biggest risk I have ever taken was walking away from a thriving business to start Listening Tree Healing Studio—a venture built purely on intuition, passion, and a deep belief in its impact. Over 25 years ago, I took a similar leap, leaving behind a successful career in Human Resources at General Electric, where I had stock options, a great salary, benefits, and an incredible team. I founded HR Innovations from the ground up because I wanted to specialize in what truly lit me up—organizational development and coaching—rather than staying in a broad HR role that included areas that didn’t inspire me. That risk paid off, leading to a rewarding career, a prestigious client roster, and financial success. But deep down, I always knew there was another calling waiting for me. Read more>>
Rosemarie Miner
If I look back at the most interesting parts of my life story there is a common thread among them all, be it moving to New York City at 17 or to Australia with $200 USD or opening a brick & mortar location after a recession in 2023. What all of these events have in common is faith– I bet on myself to make the impossible possible. Read more>>
Phyllis King
Coming from a musical family expression was always a key feature of life. I embarked on a career as a musician learning many elements of performance, presentation and artistry. After a long stint in that industry I learned that it was more of a place I learned how to heal myself. Music remains a place I go to for solace, comfort and expression. Read more>>
Julia Gonzales
I Was Trading Time for Money—At a Cost I Couldn’t Ignore
During COVID, while working remotely, my kids were home too, doing virtual school. And for the first time, I truly saw how much I had missed. Moments I could never get back. For years, I had done the “responsible” thing—working tirelessly to provide, especially as a single mother. My career gave us a comfortable life, but it also took all of my time. Guilt ate away at me. Because now that I was home, soaking in those moments, I felt something I hadn’t in years—sadness. Sadness for all the time I couldn’t rewind. Read more>>
Joe Fritz
I was born and grow up in Budapest, Hungary. I lived in a real musician life there, but every year gaves different challenges. I ranked in the best 30 jazz clarinetists in the World in 2012 and won the “clarinetist of the year” poll in Hungary year by year, but the on the other side I needed to find other jobs. I worked massage therapist, driver, courier etc… Read more>>
Ellen Busch
One of The biggest risks I took in writing (dis)Empowered was choosing to be
completely authentic—exposing my deepest pain, trauma, and vulnerabilities to the
world. Sharing my experiences of abuse, loss, and bullying was terrifying because it
meant opening myself up to judgment, criticism, and those who might try to diminish my
story. Writing about trauma isn’t just reliving it—it’s giving others access to the most
personal parts of my life, knowing that not everyone will be kind. Read more>>
Amethyst
When I decided to become a massage therapist 20 years ago, it was to earn a living. I had been playing around with energy healing for about seven years, off and on. I spent a lot of time defending my choice to better people’s lives through energy healing. Getting paid for it was something that seldom happened. Pro bono work defined my life. Read more>>
Christopher Corvan
For most of my life, my focus wasn’t on myself. It was on raising my kids. I became a father young, at 21, and for nearly two decades, my world revolved around making sure they had what they needed. My dreams? Those sat on the back burner, gathering dust while I did what had to be done. Then, at 38, I took a risk most people would have thought was too late to take. I decided to chase the life I had always wanted. Read more>>
Alison Helms
I started my photography business when I was 16 years old. I worked all through high school and college, and after graduating college, I dove head-first into my business while supporting myself as a barista at a local coffee shop. After over 7 years of working in the Dallas and Oklahoma City wedding markets, I moved to Denver, Colorado. Read more>>
Ebony Kiara
Well, first and foremost, I’m a Chicago girl to the core—the city raised me! Secondly, I’m a media professional and content creator who decided to chase her dreams at 30.
The accolades I’m most proud of include interviewing some of my favorite artists, like Queen Naija, Jacquees, Coco Jones, and more. I’ve also had the incredible opportunity to attend celebrity events and become a brand ambassador for one of the biggest music festivals in Atlanta, One Music Fest. Also the amazing chance to connect and collaborate with other creatives, and work alongside people who inspire me. It’s truly humbling to be invited into spaces I once dreamed about, where I can continue growing, learning, and building meaningful relationships within the industry. Read more>>
April Kline
One thing my parents really got right in raising me, was to allow me to spend most of my days out and about, on my own, in the small town where I grew up. Hours and hours of walking and biking every inch of the two-mile long town, in and out of friends’ houses, the library, the YMCA, the swimming pool, playing in construction sites and swimming holes, building tree houses and creeking. This time was the best education on how to problem solve, how to be brave, and how to be resilient. I think time on my own outdoors was the best possible way to develop my own belief system and build my faith. Read more>>
Tommy Tenzo
One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was leaving my job as a graphic designer and moving to the U.S. with my wife. At that time, I had only been tattooing for about a week. Despite having no English or Spanish skills, I walked into a walk-in tattoo shop in Miami, hoping to make it, but I struggled. I ended up taking jobs like moving to make ends meet. Read more>>
Nicole Connell
One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was starting Mère.
In early 2024, I was in the thick of motherhood, juggling a demanding career while still recovering from the emotional toll of postpartum depression. After the birth of my second daughter, I found myself lost in a system that didn’t seem to acknowledge the struggle to find maternal mental healthcare. I had resources but no clear path, healthcare providers but no collaboration, and a deep desire to be held through one of the hardest seasons of my life. Read more>>
Latasha Thornton
I was the Instructional Facilitator for one of the biggest Middle Schools in Memphis, TN. There were conversations of change in leadership at the Middle School and the new principal had doubts about keeping me in the position, Instructional Facilitator. I decided in June of 2023 to resign and began to execute a plan that I devised May of 2023. Read more>>
Zachary Cook
Starting a business is never easy, as a Marine Corps veteran, opening a Black Optix Tint franchise in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was the opportunity I had been looking for. Having always loved cars and grown up around them, I learned everything about vehicles from my father at a young age. After serving four years in the Marine Corps as an IT specialist, I realized my passion for working on cars had grown over the years—I had always enjoyed working on cars as a hobby, and I loved the way high-quality upgrading could transform a car’s appearance and functionality. Read more>>
Cora Salvino
At the age of 70, I am embarking on a second career. I was an OB/GYN physician for over 45 years. I did glass art on the side as a hobby. I started with glass in college, doing stained glass art. About 10 years ago, I discovered fused, or kiln-formed glass art. I switched. I enjoy the artistic freedom that not having to worry about foiling and soldering gives me.. Now that I am retiring, I have decided to make my art my full time profession and see how far it will take me. Read more>>
Geo Kitta
I feel ‘taking a risk’ applies to my daring to live a full creative life. As in, being an artist is a risk. I never thought of it that way and frankly still don’t, but I know many people in the work-a-day world would feel that way. I think if I would have been more aware of what a risk being an artist was/would be it may have caused reflection. Luckily I was very idealistic. I didn’t know an artist ‘mentor’ until I attended art school at the Kansas City Art Institute, KC/MO. That 4 year (undergraduate) experience was game-changing for me. I was with my peers from all across the US, and exposed to instructors/professors with life experience as artists. Read more>>
Emmanuel Naylor
My biggest risk was starting the barbershop. I had just enough money to start, but not enough to maintain the bills. The shop didn’t take off like I anticipated, I needed the business to be successful in 3 months. After that I had to choose between paying for my apartment or the rent for the commercial building. I ended up losing my home over the business, I’ll say that was my biggest risk. Read more>>
Alix Lindbergh
One of the biggest risks that I’ve taken regarding my career is a recent film that I produced. It’s called “The Human Supremacist” and you can find us on Amazon. This satirical comedy is unlike any film that I’ve ever seen before. It’s a wild ride full of crazy effects and a fun story line. We went in with the idea to create something that you can’t just use as background noise, it’s something that you can’t take your eyes off of. The film is definitely a risk because it’s very niche, something you need to go into with an open mind. We branched out from “the norm” and really pushed the boundaries. A film like this can either propel your career, or can stall it. I’ve been told many times before (not regarding “The Human Supremacist”), “you don’t want your name on that, do you”? If I can’t create things that fuel my creativity, Read more>>
Carey Mcdonald And Mimi Beaver
The Harding Art Show is a highly intricate event that requires meticulous planning and a great deal of responsibility. Typically, co-chairs begin preparations two years in advance, overseeing every detail to ensure the show’s success. Their responsibilities include selecting a featured artist, managing the artist selection process, coordinating all hospitality—including bar and catering for the three-day event—communicating with artists, leading a team of volunteers, marketing the show, arranging parking logistics, and so much more. This year, we are honored to welcome 101 artists and more than 5,000 guests, all of whom we want to provide with an exceptional experience. Read more>>
Don Sawyer
I’ve never been risk averse. From protesting the Vietnam War at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention (and being arrested and jailed) to taking a teaching job in a small outport community in rural Newfoundland sight unseen to travelling and working in West Africa. taking risks has been part of my character — and has enriched my life and my writing. One of my guiding tenets is summed up by Canadian cultural anthropologist Wade Davis: “There is a difference between discomfort and danger.” Read more>>
Carolyn Dean
I’ve been a lifelong wellness advocate. Professionally, I’m a doctor, naturopath, author, business owner and dietary supplement formulator and distributor. Meanwhile, on a personal level, I have supported family farming as far back as I can remember. From early memories of simple, backyard gardening with my parents, to leading a CSA in the Bronx, wellness through food and farming has been a central motif guiding my heart’s journey. Read more>>
Joan Russell
I’ve taken quite a few risks in my life and career (and am in the “messy middle” portion of one now!).
But the one I’m most fond of was the first one. I was 23 years old, working as an accounting assistant in another state, and I HATED it. I had always wanted to work in the entertainment industry! I loved music, stage management, and managing events and bands, but I couldn’t imagine making money at it. My mother was sick and dying, and I decided to go back home to help and go back to school. Read more>>
Kayla Disser
Starting my photography business was a significant risk. Previously, I worked as a second-grade teacher, a career I had committed to and was still paying student loans for. I enjoyed the predictable cycle of the school year, with a stable salary, benefits, and a familiar community. Change has never been easy for me, but I realized I needed a more flexible career to prioritize my emotional and physical well-being. Read more>>
Taylor Denise Floyd
I took a risk back in 2010 that completely changed the course of my life, and it all started when I decided to try ice hockey for the first time.
At the time, I had always been intrigued by roller skating but never really had the opportunity to step on the ice. One day, my mom was taking my little sister to try rookie hockey , and I was just feeling bold and thought, “Why not?” She signed us up for a beginner’s session, and when I stepped onto that ice for the first time, I just knew. It felt like I had found my place, like something inside me clicked. The thrill of gliding, the rush of adrenaline—everything about it felt right. It was a magical moment that confirmed this was where I was supposed to be. I felt like nothing mattered but the ice ; its a very blissful feeling. Read more>>
Meghan Hawley
My freshman year of college I was enrolled as an education major, that’s what I had thought I wanted to pursue for so long. Winter term came around, and I was starting to miss how involved I used to be before college. In high school I took yearbook, and it was the highlight of my junior & senior year. I had missed running around with a camera and capturing stories, so I decided to take photography again as an elective. As soon as I got my hands on a camera for the first time in forever, I was ecstatic. I ended up using the rental camera that LCC had given me to do portraits and couples photos for my close friends. I was absolutely loving the whole process, and started to get better at editing my photos. I had been having second thoughts about my major for awhile at that point, and realized that I didn’t want photography to be a hobby, or a side hustle, I wanted to do it all the time. Read more>>
Garrison Bailey
A risk I have taken was deciding to stop waiting for permission to write, record and produce my own albums. Society reminds us, especially women that we must wait for someone else to do it for us. be it change our own tire, paint our own house or lay down wood floors for example. The roles of women in society have always been of the “I am just a girl, so I am expected to birth babies, serve my husband and not make waves.” Screw that I say! I knew from a very young age that I would do great things. I grew up with people around me constantly telling me that I was not good enough, I should accept mediocrity, I was not talented etc. I bought into that mindset for a long time but the fire inside me to create music and entertaining content burned very brightly. One day in 2022, I said fuck it, I am going to purchase a home recording studio and see what I can come up with. Read more>>
Edward Mccormack
My phone unexpectedly rings at 3AM as I’m sleeping in my small Harry-Potter-style studio appartment (staircase above my bed and all). The call is from David Buckley, my friend and legendary composer whom I assisted for years prior to his move from Los Angeles to Andorra (hence the 3AM phone call). He tells me that he was hired to score an Olympics documentary, and had planned to start scoring it eight months ago. However, he has still yet to receive a cut! Apparently, the production schedule has been pushed so drastically that there is now only one (!) month’s time left before the airing deadline to score the approximate 78 minutes of what he describes as “sophisticated John Williams-style brass fanfare music with a dash of 80’s synths”. Read more>>
Alexsa Gencarelli
The biggest risk I’ve taken was in 2022 when I decided to quit my 9 to 5 customer service job to go back to school and pursue a career related to music. I enrolled in community college to pursue a degree in music business and started looking for a job teaching guitar. Once I quit my customer service job, I spent a year working at a deli that better suited my school schedule until I found my current teaching position. It took a lot effort and applications, but I finally found a job that I enjoy and aligns with my goals. Read more>>
Danny Ghaeini
This is a recent story in the small risk category but a useful lesson nonetheless. In 2024 I applied for an audition for a commercial who was seeking out only Caucasian or Asian males. Being that I’m neither, I could have scrolled right past this. Instead, I thought I have nothing to lose but a little time by applying. My reasoning was that by seeing a picture and video of me, I could change their mind on what type of person could fit this role. Also, I knew this was being filmed in Denver and with it being a smaller market, maybe there was a chance that they didn’t find the right person yet with the criteria they posted. Read more>>
Essential Freaks
Essential Freaks is a duo between FACTORe and Zak Davis. We crossed paths in the EDM world many years ago and decided why not team up and trying and bring forth some of our creative visions. Our biggest and most ambitious risk thus far has been establishing our annual music festival that is hosted at hotel in Venice, FL. This idea originally started as a single day birthday party for Jonathon (FACTORe) and some friends -which blossomed into a full fledged weekend long music festival. While we’ve had a blast over the years, we have also had to overcome some major financial challenges – including some hefty losses, bad and undeserving partners and feelings of jealousy and slight by our peers. Read more>>
Nat Girsberger
A few years back I’ve decided I wanted to spend time alone in the desert. No one really got it, but no one really got it when I moved to New York from Switzerland at 18 either. I trusted my gut and have spent months in Joshua Tree National Park since that initial visit. The desert has inspired me beyond measure, and my latest Oracle deck, Wild Whispers, transpired thanks to my relationship with nature there. I felt I had access to the deepest messages within me out in the open by being alone in the national park. The project turned out to be my favorite and most honest work to date. Read more>>
Susan Hough
Midway through Covid the world was shutting down and the real estate market was full of unknowns. As a Chicago resident I saw a once bustling metropolis become eerily quiet. But there was an upside – many who dreamed of leaving the city for more space and nature started looking elsewhere. People were on the move, and Tennessee was the destination for thousands. It was at that time I knew my vision for a unique subdivision in the Smoky Mountains was essential. I would pursue my dream to provide a private neighborhood which offered serenity and a sense of connection for this new market. Read more>>
Melrose Baby
I took a risk on everything I done in my life . Best thing I ever did was bet on myself and kept it pushing thru the storm … growing up in Virginia wasn’t easy and only made a man out of me I started my rap journey with my friend keshon(Duece.5) and been going hard ever since his passing … Now I have a rap group called Melrosebabiez consisting of me and my brother Jay Glock and we have had charted songs and rocked shows all over Los Angeles, Vegas , Texas , Virginia , North Carolina… I took a risk when I had my back against the wall and didn’t see a way but a ledge in the darkness .. this is a empire it’s deeper than rap. Read more>>
Cameron Marshall
A big risk I took was quitting my full time corporate job while still trying to get my photography business off the ground. Most people will say I made the wrong choice because I didn’t have a back up plan and because I was leaving a stable income with benefits to nothing in the course of a day it seemed like. It was a risk I took for more reasons than one, I was unhappy at my job and everyday felt like a dread. I knew where my heart was so I fervently prayed for direction about if it was even the right choice to leave my job or if I was just making an emotional decision. There were multiple confirmations I got after praying which let me know that it was in fact time to leave and invest in myself and invest in my business. Read more>>
Dr. Alexandria Johnson
From a young age, I always had big ideas and a strong determination. One of my dreams was to leave my small community of fewer than 500 people and move to the city to attend university and become a Clinical Psychologist. Keep in mind that my family barely graduated from high school. Yet, I felt God pushing me in this direction. I knew I could not call home for help because I left five younger siblings at home. Yet still, I had faith that it would happen. Read more>>
Megan Heyn
I found myself in the mother of all booking slumps. Sure, there was a pandemic, and I’d had a baby, and there were strikes and then more strikes, but I just could not get hired as an actor to save my life. I used class and auditions to get my acting ‘fix.’ Unfortunately, though these things made me a better artist, they didn’t compare to the magical feeling of being on set and WORKING. Something had to be done and I was going to have to do it myself. Read more>>
Seth Shapiro
In 2005, I left the Miami Heat and moved to LA to chase my dream job—producing and editing promos for NFL Network. For a former high school football player whose peak moment was recovering an onside kick, working on the Super Bowl and helping launch the first version of Thursday Night Football felt surreal. One unforgettable moment? Standing at a urinal next to my idol, NFL Films legend Steve Sabol. Life was good. Read more>>
Laura Bright
In 2008, I finished my PhD at UT Austin and was desperate to stay in town and be around my family so I took an industry job instead of going on the academic track that all of my advisors wanted me to do. The job turned out to be a bust and I couldn’t make it work so I resigned after a year and pieced together a few odd jobs including mentoring student athletes, doing freelance consulting, and adjunct teaching work at a few universities in the area – needless to say, it was almost impossible to make ends meet with the student loans I was trying to pay off. So, in 2010 I made the decision to apply for tenure track academic jobs that would allow me to put my PhD to work. I ended up landing a job at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas and moved up there in July 2010. Read more>>
Lizbeth Martinez
No risk, no story. I live by this motto. My entire life has been full of me taking on “risks” and stepping out of my comfort zone. However, the biggest risk I have taken by far is when I decided to leave my corporate job, without a plan B in mind. I decided that my happiness and mental well-being were far more important than staying in a job that provided financial stability but that truly was not fulfilling my soul’s purpose. As cliche as that sounds, this reason was enough for me to take the next step into my journey. Little did I know this decision would change my life in a major way. I found myself lost at first, without a clear direction, and without any guidance whatsoever. It took about a year and a half before I started to “find myself” again and followed my heart’s intuition that told me to buy a one-way ticket to Bali, Indonesia and signed up for my first yoga teacher training. Read more>>
Kelly Kademian
I can honestly say I feel like my whole life has been a risk. I have never been someone to back down from a challenge and when told I couldn’t do something I tend to want to prove that person wrong …and possibly gloat about it as well. I attribute this attitude to softball. When I first started playing in third grade I was on the single worst team that got mercied every game and it taught me many things about working and effort. My dad was my coach (also for soccer) and he taught me that if you don’t try you will never get any better. Between him and my mom instilling that I can do whatever I want as long as I try I became so confident that I never believed I could fail. However as I have gotten older and learned more about my severe ADHD and also being on the spectrum I find myself needing a reminder that I am Kelly MotherF-ing Kademian and I used to never have fear. Read more>>
Jasmine Noghrey
One of the biggest risks I took was starting my sensory toy company-Joojeh Joy while working as an occupational therapist and special education teacher. It was a big leap because I was stepping out of my comfort zone, leaving behind a traditional setting to build something new. But I knew there was a need for sensory toys that were not only functional but also engaging and therapeutic. The risk paid off, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see how our products help children with sensory processing disorders, autism, and other neurodiverse needs. Read more>>
Jordan Norman
I have a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and worked in tech for 6 years as a senior project manager in software implementation. I began teaching yoga along side this position on weekends and evenings, which was far more fulfilling. I could see individuals lives being impacted by my coaching & teaching, so I decided to take the leap and dedicate my time and energy fully to this work. While it was terrifying to leave a corporate 9-5 for many reasons – healthcare, stability, consistent money – it was one of the best risks I’ve taken and has taught me so much. Read more>>
Andrew Lucero
I think the biggest risk I have ever taken in life was playing it safe. I am 40 years old and I just opened my own tattoo studio in January. I knew this is what I wanted to do since I was about 21, around the time I had my first son. By the time I was 24, I was in love, engaged and 2 kiddos, buying our first home. Day job and being a tattoo apprentice took it’s toll on my family life and although I was very close to finishing, I decided to quit my apprenticeship and dedicate more of myself to my family. I worked a number of different jobs that paid well and in my spare time I was always drawing and painting and started showing my work in galleries and doing live painting at all these shows. Before I knew it, 15 years had gone by, I was so focused on this stuff and my marriage was falling apart. Read more>>
Carrie Auerbach
I’ve learned many life lessons in taking risks. Some good, some not so. But if you don’t try, how will you ever know what you can accomplish? My career was in sales and my boss always said, “go for the no”.
One of the best parts of my volunteerism is who really can say ‘no’ to helping the environment? If it’s an ask to use some space for volunteer parking or going in front of a large organization to ask for assistance with supplies, ask! Read more>>
Stephanie Archinas-murphin
The past five years have been filled with countless risks—both personally and professionally. But the biggest leap of all came when my husband and I made the life-changing decision for him to leave his full-time job. The pressure of both of us working full-time had become overwhelming, and we were no longer showing up as the parents we aspired to be. We had grown short-tempered and irritable with each other and our kids, a version of family life I never envisioned. After many difficult conversations, weighing the emotional and financial implications, we finally decided that my husband would stay home full-time with the kids while I continued running my private psychotherapy practice. Read more>>
Bruce & Jean Lemmon
When we left the early music ensemble we had co-founded three decades ago behind and moved to northern Colorado, we thought we’d likely never be part of such a unique group of musicians again. The risk we took was trusting that if we assembled instrumentalists and singers here in our new home, rehearsed over the course of months, and raised the sponsorship money it took to employ a featured artist and a couple of other professional musicians, people would come to hear music they’d never heard before. To paraphrase “Field of Dreams,” “we built it, and they came.” Read more>>
Sergio Jara
As a child, my travel experiences were limited to just a few family holiday trips between the capital city and my hometown. Yet, even those short trips sparked a sense of curiosity and an open mind. Once I graduated from college and began my creative career in advertising, I resolved to experience the cultural melting pot of my country firsthand. Over the years, I was lucky enough to have visited 22 of Colombia’s 32 states, immersing myself in its incredible diversity before venturing abroad. Read more>>
Agam Saigal
Moving to Nashville and starting Menscape Nashville are, without a doubt, the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. Before making this leap, I had a fulfilling career in Marketing, working for a top-ten car manufacturer in cities like Memphis, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Later, I transitioned into a role in the Strategy Department at one of the world’s largest law firms, tackling industries I knew little about, like Energy and Sports. These career moves, while challenging, were strategic and driven by professional growth. But my decision to move to Nashville wasn’t about career advancement—it was about taking a leap of faith to rebuild my personal life, and, unknowingly, embarking on an entirely new professional journey. Read more>>
Jada Renee
Since 2019 our team INDI Media works to gather local Cleveland and Midwest Artists to join us for our independent SXSW Artist Showcase based in Austin , Texas, SXSW is a music showcase in Austin, Texas where artists from all over the world come to the city of Austin to network , collaborate and have jam sessions with several local shows ranging from official SXSW Shows to #unofficial independent based showcases presented by local independent music platforms from all over the world. SXSW also has several celebrities , label executives, and artist networking opportunities available for artists to market themselves and get to their next desired level. Read more>>
Shyra Lowe
In 2024, I found myself being placed in the painstaking, indescribable but most rewarding position of taking the greatest risk and leap of faith as it pertained to my personal life and calling, and my professional career as well. As far back as I can remember, well at least starting at the age of 14, I have always worked or had a professional career. So, if we are counting, up until recently, I have worked or had a professional career for more than 30 years, which is the greater majority of my life, and it hasn’t always been solely for financial or monetary purposes. What I have discovered is that God has used the various obstacles, challenges, mistakes, mishaps, missteps, learning curves, and failures in both my personal life and professional career to help mold, Read more>>
Girl Named Nino
Taking risks has been a fundamental part of my artistic journey, especially early on when I was predominantly self-taught. One of the biggest risks I took was deciding to pursue music at a conservatory-style school, despite not having a formal background in music education. It was a leap of faith in many ways, but I knew I needed to learn from experts in the field to fully realize my potential as an artist. Read more>>
Taylor Baresel
So I recently decided that I wanted to become a full time music festival goer; meaning that I will go to these festivals to vend, perform, live paint, or work! I currently work in the service industry, which is the perfect job for an artist as you can get most of the days off you need. I am leaving for Iceland at the beginning of April, and the day I return I will be leaving for a festival where I applied to paint, perform, and vend! I was very inspired by James (the owner of Three Little Birds Pinecones) who makes his living selling his art full time at these events. Read more>>
Cristian De Leon
Taking risks is part of growth, and opening El Sazon Tacos & More was one of the biggest leaps of faith I’ve taken. We started inside a gas station in Eagan, MN—far from a traditional restaurant setting—but I believed in the vision. At the time, my wife and I both had established salaried jobs, and she wasn’t exactly on board with the idea. Leaving behind that stability to open a restaurant in a gas station seemed crazy, but for me, the desire to have complete creative freedom in the kitchen outweighed the fear. I wanted a space where I could truly showcase my passion for food, experiment with flavors, and share my love for authentic cuisine with the community. That risk paid off, paving the way for what El Sazon has become today. Read more>>
Sarah Evans “smoky The Cat”
Two and a half years into my college career, I realized something needed to change in my life. While I was studying Music and Psychology, I became undeniably aware that graduating with these degrees was not ultimately going to help me achieve the career I’d always wanted – to be a recording and touring artist. Read more>>
Ally Ritch
This year, I’ve decided to take the biggest risk I can: betting on myself. I’m quitting my very small cleaning business and going all in on my music career. This was not a decision I anticipated making so soon, but after a lot of conversation and thought, I decided to take the risk and just go for it. I’ve done music for most of my life in some capacity, but I’ve never had the opportunity to make it my sole focus, and this year, I’m able to do just that. I’m laying all my cards out on the table with life and hoping that maybe by the end of this year, I’ll leave with double than I put in. This is a risk in progress, and I’m giving it until the end of the year, but I can say that I am truly excited to finally see this through in a way I never have. Read more>>