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.
Monica Delehanty
I started dancing when I was 3 years old and continued ever since. I started dancing competitively at around age 10 and that really thrusted me into my love for dance. I took as many classes as a I could, assisted as many teachers as my schedule allowed me, and in my free time (which was rare), I was deeply researching dance as a profession. When I reached high school and the talks of a career were brought up, it was very clear that my path was very very different than the people around me. Read more>>
Shelby Hamilton
I have known my whole life that I wanted to be in the creative field. I started a side hustle in college doing small pieces of art here and there for friends and family and it slowly grew as I graduated and started working. I moved to Charleston to work as the Graphic Designer for RMS Beauty, a clean cosmetics company, while maintaining my art business on the side. Eventually it became hard to balance the two and I decided to make the leap and start my own business as a full time artist & graphic designer. I thought, if not now, when? Read more>>
Roy Saunders
It was a huge risk to embark on pursuing music full time. I had known for a long time that this is what I wanted to do with my life. To take the leap of going full on into the business is a very scary one. Luckily i have a huge support network of friends, family, and fellow musicians who helped me along the way and to make the transition. It was a big jump to sign on with my artist development company ProMotion but, one of the best i could have made. With hard work and their help my career has really gained a lot of momentum. Read more>>
Charity Daw + Josh Edmondson
No strangers to risk-taking here! I believe that’s what initially brought us together. We’ve always had the same tenacity and willingness to make sacrifices for the lives we wanted, and we recognized that quality in each other from the beginning. We are intentional about living on the edge of our comfort zones to leave room for new opportunities. Early in our careers that meant city-hopping; Read more>>
ANABI
The biggest risk we ever took together was the decision to apply to medical school 3 years into college. At the time, it didn’t seem like a risk or even a life changing event. We had just turned 19 and knew we would complete all our college credits/ requirements going into 3rd year so it seemed like a reasonable decision to at least submit applications to medical school. We had heard constantly how difficult the process is and even knew friends and family who emphasized the harsh reality of having to apply multiple times before getting in. Read more>>
Aliza Holmes
In 2019, I moved to Charleston with no connections, no job, and no idea what was going to happen next. But, gosh, I was SO excited. Charleston felt like my place. Previously, I was making macramé full time, and teaching Paint and Sip classes on the side, but what I really wanted to do, was dedicate all of my time and energy into my business. At first, being here in Charleston was challenging. I had to get a few small jobs to pay the bills, and my business took the back burner. Read more>>
Dustin Cormier
I have been studying the esoteric sciences of Yoga and Astrology for 8+ years, for which there aren’t many in-roads for a traditional education in College or university. Through faith in something meaningful to me I have been pursuing these passions without much promise to really make anything financially stable out of them, although I felt like I could make an entrepreneurial enterprise out of theme eventually. Read more>>
Vonnii F.
One of the biggest risk I have ever taken is going my whole pregnancy without the doctors. No ultrasounds, no check ups, nothing. I relied solely on the presence of God to do the work! Additionally, I chose an at home birth for the time when my baby arrived. She came at 1:11 AM on August 24, 2022. It was the most heartfelt and most beautiful experience ever. It was very intimate as there was only me, my partner, and the doula. I wanted to truly show the world that you don’t have to rely on modern medical practices. I trusted the Most High and allowed the rest to be done. Read more>>
Carla Mintz
When I first started taking my art seriously, I was working as a 911 dispatcher. For the past 16 years I worked as a 911 dispatcher, progressing on to become one of the Training Coordinators for my agency. All the while, I knew I wanted to be a creative but, with a family to help support, it didn’t seem practical. I told myself once I start making the same amount of money (or close to it) with my art that I’m making with my full time job, I’ll take on art full time. Read more>>
Marion Carole Miller
I would say the biggest risk would be stepping away from a constant paycheck or punching a clock. My biggest fear was, if I could make a living at tattooing. Obviously when I first started out it was nothing like it is now days. There wasn’t social media to advertise on and let everyone know what you’re doing daily. I had to pound the pavement passing out business cards and doing everything I could to stir up business. Read more>>
Devon Moody-Graham
Life is full of choices, some easier than others. For some reason, I usually gravitate towards the roads never or rarely traveled. I seem to find solace in creating a new path or others and learning as I go so that I can share that information. I know that I’ve always been built differently and I’m so glad that I can walk in being set apart. This is one of the reasons that I have been able to be successful in unchartered territory in my personal and business life. Outside of becoming a mother and getting married, I would say that the biggest risk that I have ever taken was choosing to become an entrepreneur. Read more>>
Malena A. Gauss
With a diverse background in Corporate Sales, Interior Design and Hospitality Management, being an entrepreneur came naturally to me. After traveling extensively for almost a decade, I landed in Savannah, GA. What was supposed to be a brief stopping point to reset and recharge, swiftly turned into my full-time home. I took everything that I had and invested it into opening a lighting and restoration showroom in January 2020. Most of the products were refinished, rewired, redesigned items that I salvaged from my many adventures “picking” through old warehouses and junk piles. Read more>>
Joe Hiltabidel
As someone who travels to sell photography in art festivals around the country, some form of risk is constant. Every art festival we take part in includes the risk of rain, high winds, poor sales, traffic accidents, injury during setup or breakdown, high expenses. The first risk I took in selling my photography was a financial one, in 2015. Read more>>
Felix Jaimes
I could tell you every “big” risk I took that paved the way that ultimately led me to where I am today and why I do what I do. Early on I adopted the phrase “no risk, no reward” and implemented this ideology into my ever-evolving lifestyle. I can speak with confidence when I tell you not every risk I took was fruitful, but I can say I learned the most from these. Read more>>
Shamora Carter
Having a passion for artistry and theatre has made it crystal clear that this journey will be full of risks. To date, there is one specific time I took a risk that changed my life as well as my mindset. I was 20 years old working at Sprint selling cell phones. At the time, it was minimum wage + a ridiculously low paying commission plan. I was doing my best to make a buffet out of breadcrumbs. I sat through all of the training courses and immediately excelled once I made it out to the sales floor. Read more>>
Khaja J
My life is a series of risks back to back to back and so it would be difficult to tell you just one risk without linking them all, however, I believe a risk worth diving into for sure would be my move to New York. I was teaching, choreographing, coaching, and directing in Miami at the time and it seemed I was connected to so many responsibilities it would be impossible to leave. However, typical love story, I fell into a connection that I cared so deeply for and this person resided in New York. Read more>>
Nicole Batiste
I grew up needing validation to feel worthy. If I didn’t get the look or words of approval, I stopped doing was I was doing and completely closed the door on whatever that was. “That was” always related to anything creative (art, music, writing). Those gifts tucked away led me to a career in the military. Pieces would slip out every now and then, like coloring during class and doodling during meetings. I didn’t really pay attention to how that made me feel. In my mind, I was keeping myself from falling asleep. Read more>>
Aina Brei’Yon
In 2017, I made the decision to not only take my music career to the next level, but I also decided it was time for a rebranding. The music industry knew me as Temper, but in my heart of hearts I knew that I had out grew Temper. It was time for me to evolve as an artist and becoming Aina Brei’Yon was just what the universe ordered. Read more>>
Anna Henry
I am no stranger to taking risks. I am one who most definitely encourages others on a regular basis to follow their heart, chase their dreams, and take risks as well. A risk that I have taken that sticks out the most to me is the one I took that involved me relocating to Franklin, TN to start a new life. I am originally from Raleigh, NC. That is where I spent 15 years of my life and where I basically grew up. Although Raleigh is a nice, safe, clean, and great area, I had gotten to the point where I was so restless and unfulfilled being there. Although I had done the whole going to college and getting a degree thing, I knew deep down that my soul wanted more. Read more>>
Jasmine Felder
We always hear that risk taking can be so rewarding but, what we do not hear is the vivid struggles and circumstances that come with it. In 2021 I encountered the feeling of “burn out” in every capacity of my life. In my personal life, being a single mother, in my career, and in my business. I had so many abrupt changes happen that I could not prepare for. I was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually tired. So I took a risk and left everything I knew. Read more>>
Brian Sheehan
Risk is something I deliberate with myself on the daily. “Should I take the leap? Should I take it all the way?” We all talk about how one shouldn’t stay comfortable but damn it feels good to know what you’re doing from time to time. A substantial amount of the work comes to crossroad at some point. Often concerning myself with just repeating myself or am I doing something entirely fresh. The risk is ultimately doing something that I feel is complete and proud of. Trying too hard to break new ground is a trap and not always true to one’s convictions. Read more>>
Nichole Alarcon
I’ve taken two major risks in my professional career, and thankfully they have (so far), been the two best decisions I have ever made. The first major risk was when I quit my corporate office job at a major massage franchise, to take my then part time massage practice full time. In 2014, I initially began serving my San Antonio community by creating a completely mobile massage therapy practice called Massage Móvil. Read more>>
Chelsea Craig
Before starting my own business I had managed an orthopedic practice and a regenerative medicine practice. Both we highly toxic and situations that left me feeling something was wrong with me. I have always known that I am here to serve people through my background of medicine as well as my childhood rooted in natural healthcare (juicing, smoothies, oils, organic – all the things cool and trendy now that weren’t cool or trendy 25 years ago), but couldn’t quite find “the fit”. After the regenerative medicine facility was shut down due to not following FDA rules/guidelines and illegal bookkeeping practices (which validated for me it wasn’t me that was wrong) I was left with a huge, “what do I do now?!” Read more>>
Chelsea Simone
I’ve dealt with anxiety the mass majority of my life. Despite being the epitome of a Sagittarius, who are adventurous, risk taking, people I somehow missed those characteristics in their truest form. Being in front of people and showcasing my talents have always made me nervous. As you can imagine, having anxiety, along with social anxiety made singing and performing in front of people very hard. But despite that, there was still that little girl inside of me that wanted to pursue her singing dream. Read more>>
Aja Walker-Rice
If someone says, “being an entrepreneur is a piece of cake” they’re lying! But, of course, I knew nothing about that in the beginning. Only two years in to my entrepreneurial journey, I was blessed to bring my oldest son into this world via a natural, home birth. Less than 90 days later, I resigned from a promising career with the federal government to become a full-time, stay-at-home-mom, and soon-to-be mompreneur . Read more>>
Alessandra Wortmann
Rebranding was a big risk for us. Carrie’s Cakes has been in business for decades and even though I was trained and worked for Carrie, I wanted to bring something new that would incorporate both a clean and modern look. It was difficult to make that decision to change, but it has gotten such a great response and it has helped me to define my own brand. Read more>>
Moniek Garside
The most significant risk I’ve taken was leaving my 9 to 5 job to focus on growing my private mental health therapy practice, FitLife Wellness, LLC full-time. That decision was huge and impacted my family and me. When I started my practice, I worked full-time in a local hospital and thought I just wanted to take on clients part-time. I was pretty secure with my job and wanted to test the waters to see if a private practice was for me. When I started FitLife Wellness, LLC, no one gave me the ins and outs or tools, and I had to learn it on my own. Read more>>
Landon Hall
My name is Landon Hall. I’m a musician, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur based in Nashville, Tennessee. I am the Founder of Music City Drum Show (www.MusicCityDrumShow.com) and Founder of Diemond Star (www.DiemondStar.com). I took a risk when I started both companies and funded both with my own money. Read more>>
Caroline Ruth Nelson
I took a risk by scaling my business down and only doing intimate weddings and adventure elopements. I have been in the wedding industry only a year when I realized that big traditional weddings was not what gave me something to look forward to. It is what paid the bills so I continue to do some and still do. But taking a risk and only saying yes to couples that fit my ideal client as well as creatively aligning with my brand. And if I’m completely honest this hasn’t gone as planned. That is due to multiple social media hacks. But what has been amazing is the clients that have Had the opportunity to work with were outstanding. Read more>>
Thaddeus Miller
This entire journey has been one of risk. The very moment the idea of becoming my own boss started to keep me up at night. I knew my path of taking has begun. I’ve realized when you bet on yourself, not let me try this, but really make up your mind that what you want to build for yourself, family and community is now number 1 in your life. Read more>>
Harrison Cosby aka Mr. 201
Although I’ve been an athlete my whole life playing basketball and running track, with photography on the back burner. I would say that the biggest risk I’ve taken in life is launching my business and actually sticking with it. My business name went from 201 Productions to 201 Visuals, to finally 201 Lifestyle and my official photographer name becoming Mr.201 or just 201. At the early stages of business I didn’t really take everything as seriously as I do now because it was honestly still just a hobby for me. Read more>>
JC Conklin
Seeing at a very young age how powerful visual storytelling could be, and learning that building a truly emotional experience creates a reality that transports your Audience to a world where their minds can’t tell what’s real/imaginary, I realized this was what I was going to do in my life. I would use that knowledge to create positive Tv/Movies that helped the audience remember love, kindness, and what it means to be a genuine human. Read more>>
Amber Jones
Becoming self employed is by far the biggest risk of entrepreneurship. From 2016 to 2021, I worked in mental health. Trying to make a buck a day and still maintain sanity was not the life I desired for myself or my family. The daily hassle of being a wife, a mother of 3, and a fulltime employee would drive anyone insane. It all boiled down to doing what’s best for me or doing what’s best for others. So I chose what was best for me. Read more>>
DeAvila Ford
After becoming fully licensed in 2019, I decided I was ready to open my private practice. At this point, I had been working in the field since 2014. I launched my private practice in January 2020. I would have never thought that we would soon enter a global pandemic. My anxiety was through the roof because I had just signed a two-year lease for my office space and could no longer see clients in person. Read more>>
E.M. Davis
When I decided that I wanted to pursue acting as a professional occupation, nearly every adult in my life told me not to. My father worried about the financial risk. My mother was concerned about the profession’s unpredictability. And my high school drama teacher (my first real mentor) just blatantly told me to find a back-up plan, mere days after I’d hopped into our annual musical as a last-minute lead to save a key performance from cancellation. When all of the grownups around you say to take a different path, it’s hard to unhear. So, against my own instincts, I attend college to pursue a theatre education degree instead. Read more>>
Federica Guinovart
I been taking risks all my life. I think it’s my way of life and I don’t know how to live without them. I think that the very first major risk I took that I can remember.. was telling my mom (and even realize it myself ) at the age of 10 that I didn’t wanted to work in the farm as all my family do since ever. I remember how nervous I felt, how I cry so hard because I felt I was betraying someone. That was the first time I realize how strong was my desire of being different and how good I felt after. So light and ready to become a fashion designer. Read more>>
Helen Blondel
A big risk I took was actually at the start of the pandemic in 2020 when I said goodbye to my comfort zone of working a 9-5. I was working a corporate job and while I’m grateful to have had the career, I felt no passion for it. Ever since I was a child, music and dance was always my passion. I took it very seriously and during my time off from work I was either writing songs, practicing belly dance, or planning & reading books on how to finally start my business. I knew that a big part of starting a business was investing, so I worked overtime at this corporate job, saved almost every penny I could, and trademarked my company name BellyPOP. Read more>>
Ana Fuentes
Hello, My Name is Ana Fuentes, Iam a wife to an amazing husband Jose Fuentes, we have four beautiful children. We also have the privilege to sever as the Lead pastors to an awesome church in Apopka FL. In 2021 I had been working at Advent Health Full time in the Cardiology Dept. I have always worked in the medical field working 12 hours shifts was not easy at all. Read more>>
Christie Merandino-Jackson
About 5 years ago Hurricane Ida was coming to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where I was living and working as a brewery taproom manager. Everyone was told to evacuate. I couldn’t find a flight out anywhere that was any-what affordable, except to Kansas City. A city I’ve never been to before, and knew absolutely nothing about and did not know anyone there either. I chose safety and booked the flight, which in turn, changed the course of my life. Read more>>
Tiffany Henry
My business wouldn’t be where it is today, I learned more about real estate, after hard knocks . As well how to acquire Generational wealth and purchase land. All while maintaining employment until you can become financially secure in your entrepreneurial journey. I’m extremely grateful that I invested the time to gain knowledge about the real estate business with continual education. I realized that it was wise to… Read more>>
Assata Salim
Take the risk! For most of my life I have been known to be very calculated and practical in most aspects of my life. For this reason alone, I’ve operated my business while also maintaining a 9-5 career. Well, about a year ago that all changed unexpectedly. October 2021, I was pushed into fulltime entrepreneurship and I must say I was terrified. At the time I had no clients under contract, no real plan, and only a small about of resources to invest. Read more>>
Jamil Clark
My biggest risk I’ve ever had to do was to start believing in myself. I’ve went back and forth about my worth and how to do what’s best for me. As a business owner I’ve had moments were I didn’t THINK BIG. Always putting yourself to the side to please others and most importantly trying to keep clients. My life changed when I had to make a decision on losing some clientele due to an family emergency where I had to move two hours away from where my business started at. I told my husband that I would never be able to clean again at the rate I was doing two hours away. Read more>>
Brandon Epps
Alright, so long story short. I wound homeless. Moving from place to place. Drama after drama. Finally, I found myself in a space that allowed me the quiet time I needed to grow. From there I rent a room in Atlantic Station, the pandemic hits, breakup, eviction, crazy. After all that I end up renting a studio in Midtown Atlanta. Dope location, spot had roaches, no Bueno. So I decide I’ll buy a car, sleep in the car, work, and save up, and move into another apartment. Read more>>
Ian McClellan
I learned how to train dogs while being incarcerated for 10 years in the TN Department Of Corrections, T.D.O.C. When I was released from prison, I was 41 and had nothing but the love and support of family. I had no job, no savings, no 401k, no insurance, and no way to provide for myself. I took a dog trainer position at a franchise pet box store. Then Covid happened and wasn’t able to train dogs because all training was stopped. Read more>>
Rosha Lewis
Believing in your dreams and taking a chance on yourself, is always the biggest risk. Yet it is the most important one to take. When I first started to brand my business, I remember being shy about posting anything on social media, because at the time I was surrounded by a lot of nay-sayers. Here are a few things people would say: no one is going to pay you for that, you have a child you need to focus on something better, anybody can make that, what are you doing with your time, you have nothing to show. Read more>>
Jan Bozarth
In the beginning o f my career I chose a path that wasn’t really a path but a faint voice of something in the distance. When I had my kids I was working in the recording industry. Music was a foundational element for me but the business itself did not work well with motherhood. So I found myself in another area of entertainment, the movie business. To continue my passion for music, I crafted a space for it in the lives of my children and the family home-an organic expression of how I wanted to raise my boys. Read more>>
Kate Jenks, Ph.D.
If you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, it would have been Jane Goodall – the scientist who lived with the chimpanzees. I wanted to live in the wilderness where I could really see the stars, to learn about and save wildlife and wild places. I dedicated myself to studying hard in school for years, and learning hands-on through internships and travelling. I obtained a Ph.D. and my “dream job” as a Conservation Biologist, where someone would pay me to travel and study wildlife. Read more>>
Dr. L Wright
I love to swim, yest I am afraid of sharks! I decided to face the fears by placing myself inside a cage submerged into the ocean! My eyes were closed the entire time. I followed the instructors voice while frozen in my place. The instructor then stated that we were finished. He was not telling the truth. When I opened my eyes, there were no sharks. There were fish and sea creatures of all different shapes colors and sizes. Read more>>
Kelley Worden
Art from the Streets is a non-profit in Austin, TX that supports the unhoused, at risk and in transition by offering free art studio and gallery opportunities to sell their work for a modest income. The Austin community has been very supportive by offering spaces for us to create, locations for art popup sales and amazing volunteers to make it all happen. However, since we are co-existing, we were very limited in time during the day to create, a consistent location and art storage. Read more>>