Tony Robbins says the #1 human need is certainty, but do you know what the second need is? It’s uncertainty. This tug of war between the competing needs of safety and risk are at the heart of so many dilemmas we face in life and for most folks the goal isn’t to eliminate risk – rather it’s to understand this core human need. In our view, the best way to understand or learn is through stories and so we’ve asked some very talented entrepreneurs and creatives to tell us the stories behind some of the risks they’ve taken.

Kerry Minter

A risk that was taken, was betting on myself! Naturally I’m an entrepreneur, however it’s so easy to push and encourage everyone else! But there comes a time when you have to look at yourself and use that same encouragement to push a dream ! Putting out music, owning a barbershop, photo shoots, performances. They all were risk for me because they just make you so vulnerable and it all is on you ! Read more>>

Lydia Thomas

I was born in a small house in Fairview, Tennessee, a town that remains tiny to this day. I grew up just outside of Nashville with a big family. To escape the noise, I spent a ton of time outside, and a ton of time reading. I loved British literature. I often romanticized that the muggy hot weather of Tennessee was bleak and grey and I lived in a stately manor house, not a two-bedroom apartment with six other people. As I got older, I kept dreaming about living in a big city in some other part of the world, feeling like my small town was an impenetrable bubble. Read more>>

Katrina Ubell, MD

In 2015, I left my pediatric medical practice of 10+ years to become an entrepreneur! I had zero business background or knowledge but I had solved a personal problem and knew that others like me needed the same help. I had struggled with gaining and losing weight, again and again, for a few decades. I had tried all the different diets, without lasting success. Becoming an expert in the human body as a doctor actually made my overeating worse! Read more>>

Lacey Sutton

In the winter of 2019/2020 my good friend Jessi Wacker and I signed a lease on a storefront and studio space in Knoxville. The building was old and needed some love, and neither of us had owned/ operated a storefront before. We both had established businesses already, but they where from our homes and local markets. The idea of signing a lease felt like taking on a second mortgage with no guarantee that our venture would be a success. I was scared, hopeful, and excited, but scared.  Read more>>

Irelynd Williams

I quit my full-time job at 19, and at the time, the only consistent source of income I had. Although I had over $2,000 of bills to pay each month and no consistent means of income, outside of my 9-5 job, I knew that every second spent not pursuing this career was time I would never get back. There would be no way to grow this passion with the few spare hours in between shifts. Read more>>

Caitlyn Ingram

As an alternative wedding photographer taking risks and breaking the norm is what I am all about. In fact, my business began as a huge risk itself. July of 2020, I decided to throw away any life plans or timelines I had, drop out of grad school, and create Bewitched & Bewed. Now if you have been alive for more than 3 years you’ll understand just from that sentence what a risk starting this business was, but the reward is greater than I ever could have imagined. Read more>>

Steve Pope

The biggest risk I have taken so far in my career has been starting the Firefighter Golf YouTube, Instagram and other social media outlets to spread the PTSD mission. I started the social media blitz with much trepidation because I did not know anything about YouTubing or Instagram. There was a big learning curve trying to learn how to film, edit, talk in front of the camera, etc. Plus, I was putting myself out there to the world with my PTSD issues. But that risk has led to the First Responder Golf Foundation. Read more>>

Terrance Bennett

One of my biggest risk I’ve ever taken was moving to New Orleans Louisiana by myself. I didn’t have any family, friends or anybody that I knew in close proximity, but I made a lot of great strides moving here. But being a guy that was born & raised in Troy Alabama (The country) to The Big Easy was major for me in many ways. I built some great relationships, made a name for myself still building my brand T-ENT SPORTS and met my wife here, so yea it was worth the risk. Read more>>

Superstar DJ ROS

As much as I wish, at times, that I were programmed differently, I have come to thrive on risk. Something about the gamble on the unknown feeds my spirit. One of the greatest risks I’ve ever taken has provided the greatest dividend: moving to Atlanta with nothing more than hopes, dreams, and about $787 dollars. In hindsight, I must have been out of my mind as having no job lined up and minimal resources was NOT the ideal situation to knowingly put oneself in. Read more>>

Isaiah Holley

During my years as an undergrad at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, my artwork evolved from highly detailed realistic portraits of people and animals to more conceptual bodies of work that were visually inspired by comics. Within my four years of school, I was always trying to find a consistent business model for myself as an artist. I worked on various commissions, won contests, designed flyers for campus events, and most importantly sold my artwork physically at local artisan markets and online as an Etsy Seller. Read more>>

Brent Gossett

DuPont Brass was birthed out of risk. Our story begins with five music majors at Howard University. For brass players in the department, it was customary for the best of the best to come together for the holiday season to play carols. However, this year would be different. Instead of sticking to tradition and busking in Georgetown like many generations before them, these five music majors decided to play at DuPont Circle Metro Station. Read more>>

Anna Lyle

I worked as an architectural designer for over 5 years. I remember after I graduated with my Bachelor of Architecture and began working full-time that I am truly unhappy working in an office environment and using my creativity under someone else’s name. Within the first month of my first architectural job, I knew that my countdown began of how long I could last in an office/computer job. It felt too restrictive on how I felt I could present myself personally and professionally. Read more>>

Marisa MacKay

Probably the biggest risk I have taken was producing the first burlesque shows with the KC Fringe Festival. It is already a struggle to have your art accepted and to become established as a young modern dancer, as you are putting yourself out there and getting your art discovered. Then, to take the risk of translating your performance art into something edgy such as the resurgence of burlesque performance could have easily been an all-around sinking ship. Read more>>

Sofia Negron

The biggest risk I took in life is – motherhood – Motherhood to me was shown in the aspect that you grow up get a job, get married, and have babies. But my life wasn’t presented me in such a manner. Being a single mom has been my biggest risk because regardless of what I face I have to make sure my girls are okay. How was I going to support them? Love them? Work and provide? Let’s talk about the real side of single mom ish as I call it. Read more>>

Daniece Brady

A life changing risk that i’ve taken was turning down a media sales job to pursue an internship for a record label in Miami. I attended the NAB Sales Leadership Foundation at Howard University in 2017 and the program was so helpful, I met great people and learned a lot, but this one particular interview with a company wanted me to change who I am in order to fit their company and I hated that. Read more>>

Lynne Dixon-Speller

My husband and I made the decision to develop Edessa School of Fashion after my previous institution closed down. I had developed the program, enhanced the curriculum and selected the entire faculty. The department was thriving and doing really well as far as the placement of graduates was concerned. People thought that I had reached my peak, I believed it also. As the college was closing, I became the final president and was responsible for breaking the school down. Read more>>

Megan Wage

I have always had a job sometimes two for longer than I can remember. Being independent financially was always a top priority for me but I never thought it would be something I could do and work for myself. In 2013 my husband convinced me to leave my corporate marketing job and discover what I really loved. At the time I was terrified and had no idea what that would look like. I fell in love with yoga during that transition so much so that I knew I wanted to pursue helping others find that love as well. Read more>>

Shan Shi

For me, learning photography is a biggest risk, for which I have made a lot of efforts, and it also changed my life. I got my MFA degree in June this year. During the eight years of studying photography, I thought for many times whether I would have a better future if I studied other majors. However, I have a great passion for photography, so I moved to the United States from China to study until I got the highest degree in photography. Read more>>

Jordin Toomer

I feel like having owning a business in general is a big risk, everything is in your hands. When you have your business it’s easy to want to give up at any given time for any reason but you have to stay positive and consistent. The biggest thing for me to do is not give up. Being in a field of cosmetology and entrepreneurship you may have your slow days and weeks. You may even have days with no money coming in and it’s rough.It makes you want to give up and change career paths but to never give up is key Read more>>

Lara Tavares

Changing lives one laptop at a time! I acknowledge that I am hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haundenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat. I recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples. I acknowledge my role as a settler in this land on Turtle Island and I am very grateful. I recognize the ongoing harm and injustices of colonization and I commit to working toward safe, inclusive, just, equitable and healthy communities for all. Read more>>

Michael Wagemann

I knew very young that I wanted to be an actor. Instead of following my passion, I let the fear of financial uncertainty get in the way of going after what I desired. So, I ended up going to college to be safe. Get a degree and have a safe job with a paycheck every month. At least have a backup plan just in case. I was in my last year at Northern Illinois University enrolled in the Health Education program. I was on the path to being a teacher. Read more>>

Blonde Jon

As a kid I knew deep down in my heart that I was always supposed to do something huge, I wasn’t the smartest in class neither was I the best student. I wasn’t good at school, tests or any of that. I barely passed my classes and I would always be up in the office for something I did or didn’t do. School for me was the last place I ever wanted to be. Throughout my school years I would get made fun of because of my hearing and the way I talked. I would get questions like ” why do you talk like that ” – ” I don’t understand what your saying “. Read more>>

Ashley Jagow

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was quitting my job to open Wanderlust Esthetics during a pandemic. It’s a really humbling experience to constantly see the news talk about the pandemic hurting small and local businesses while you are trying to open your own. It’s definitely not been easy. I’ve poured every ounce of my being into this, but I would absolutely do it again in a heartbeat. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience. Read more>>

Kayla Sanders

2021 was a complex year for me. I’d like to call it transitional. I was headed toward the end of my pregnancy and the beginning of motherhood, as a country we were still in the mist of COVID-19, and I was also facing the pressure of returning to work and receiving the new vaccine. Some tough decisions were needed to be made for the future. If you know my story you know I’ve always been headfirst into creative, beauty, and fashion industries. All of the pressure I was feeling gave way to new births. Read more>>

Gigi Febres-Cordero

I was eight years old when I found out the meaning of my legal name Georgia meant farmer and I was devastated. You see, I was the prissiest little girl. I always wore a dress, with a big bow in my hair and most importantly I did not sweat. The thought of working outside, as a farmer no less, was just not acceptable in my tinny little girl brain. Fast forward to August of 2020, I left my full time job as a salon manager to move out into the forest, go full time as an herbalist and start a farm. Yep, thats right yall, I grew up to be a farmer! Read more>>

Lauren Conklin

In 2019, I realized I had to make a major life change. I had been performing for as long as I could remember – I got my first regular paying gig playing fiddle when I was 9 – and had reached the point where I was sleeping almost twice as many nights in a hotel/bus every year as I was at my own house. I loved (and still love!) performing and touring but after that long doing just that and nothing else, I had major burn out and wasn’t feeling fulfilled creatively. Read more>>

Suzanne Klaus

In 2018 I signed up for a Spartan Trifecta, which is a 5K, 10K, and 1/2 marathon obstacle course race (OCR) in a calendar year. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I had fallen out of running after high school and was inconsistent with my strength workouts since opening Forward Fitness. I was looking for something to help me create the habits I wanted to build. This was a great motivator and a decision that really helped to elevate my life. I had my husband write my training program. I started prioritizing sleep and refining my nutrition to support my training. Read more>>

Kyle Brown

The biggest risk that I’ve taken was betting on myself. After nine and a half years in corporate, I decided to leave a senior role to become a full time entrepreneur and open up the first dab bar and dispensary in Atlanta. The decision to take the leap in to entrepreneurship and working within the cannabis industry was one that did not come easy, as entrepreneurship can have unknown benefits, however without question a risk. Read more>>

Kabrena Williams

Pursuing blogging was something even I wasn’t expecting to love so much. So, taking a risk at blogging while juggling a demanding career in the healthcare field left me questioning my capabilities and goals on many occasions. Ultimately, I knew I couldn’t give up after investing in courses, coaching, and digging in on what it takes to be a successful blogger online. Honestly? I’m still in the thick of it, and building a bootstrap business is hard, but when I think about my brand’s mission and values, I know that I’ll be so proud of 2-5 years from now myself for not giving up. Read more>>

Raquel CENTELLAS

I took a big risk when deciding to change careers. I was in the medical field working in allied health and getting ready to enter my nursing clinicals when approached with opportunity to buy the studio I own today. Giving up a career and education to go into something complete different was not an easy decision. This was definitely a life changing move and I’ve been learning and growing into the new position still to this day, 8 years later. Read more>>

Tiffany Forte’

It was August 2022, in the heart of the COVID-19 Pandemic and I decided to quit my full-time job of fitness coaching with a popular fitness chain (that gets no energy here and will remain unnamed LOL!) and focus more on building my fitness brand and working on my growing my Personal Training business…that was a significant risk because I still had bills and there was so much uncertainty in the fitness space at the time. Read more>>

Luna Teal

Close your eyes and picture this. A place with open fields for miles, icey roads for days, a cold wind embracing your rosey cheeks; a winter wonderland for 8 months out of the year. A safe haven where everyone leaves there house unlocked. This was South Dakota, my home. A small town with a big city heart. I lived there for 24 years. I was a mortgage underwriter and worked for the bank for 8 of those years. Read more>>

Alana Saporiti

After these last several years, taking risks is probably one of my strong suits by now. In 2019 I was living in Boston and was presented the opportunity to travel a bit before eventually settling down in Denver (or so I thought). With a one way ticket to Barcelona and most worldly possessions sold, my husband and I decided to take the leap and live nomadically. Read more>>

Ana Hernandez

The biggest risk is not taking any risk. I read that when I was debating whether I should quit my job at an agency where I was only helping someone else become more successful or take a leap of faith and start my own business. Like most people, I am scared of failure. All I could think about was all the things that could go wrong instead of thinking about all the opportunities it could bring me. Prior to my current business, I had zero knowledge of how to run a business. Read more>>

Grela Orihuela

Thanks for having me! When you spend your life in the creative field, that’s a risk already. Growing up in Queens, NY with no ties to the entertainment business and deciding to go to film school – the risks started there. I went to NYU Tisch School of the Arts and in my junior year, changed course from film studies to television. It was life changing. The immediacy of producing live programming was exhilarating. Read more>>

Shunta Graham

So in 2019 I wanted to be finally free from my childhood traumas. I had prayed and told God that I am tired of going through the emotional and mental battles I faced everyday because of childhood traumas. So as I usually did on days when I had free time, I was searching YouTube and watch videos about dreams. You see I dreamed a lot when I was a teenager and had no one to help me understand my dreams. Read more>>

Mike and Christy Flynn

In 2017, Mike and I purchased our 23 acres and began our farm animal rescue. We were solely funded from our meager income. However, we worked hard and developed a connection in our community. We are blessed to be able to provide for around 90 animals. Read more>>

Lisa Hansen

Three years ago, in mid 2019, the thirteen therapists I’d gathered together to work with me in our LGBTQ+ clinic sat me down. The organization that was paying us to see clients who couldn’t afford therapy was now changing and they wanted to talk. I’d told these amazing therapists they were free to work with that organization as it changed, but I would not be able to do that. Now they had come to a decision, the therapists told me. They wanted me to start a non-profit organization and they wanted to follow me there. Read more>>

Ramona Holmes

“Is this live?” Was the question I asked as channel 4 News was recording my story. I couldn’t believe it. I just told live tv that I had been to prison. I just exposed a secret that I had held onto for almost 10 years. I was scared. But what could I do now. He was not about to stop rolling and I couldn’t stop sharing my truth. Funny right? Read more>>

Darleen Bolton

Starting my pre-professional dance company, Darleen’s Dance Lab (DDL), underneath the umbrella of my dance studio, Pirouette With Purpose Dance Studio (PWP). DDL is for young dancers between the ages of 5-18 that are looking to take their dance training to the next level and with the goal of performing professionally as an adult. I have owned and operated dance studios and businesses centered around recreational dance for 18 years which is the norm in the dance studio industry. Read more>>

Kween Langlois

I remember a time when being a LPN was not the most popular Nursing career. I thought no one will take me serious as a Nurse Entrepreneur. After years of over achieving and exceeding at prior positions, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own business. It definitely was a huge risk, but I was up for thr challenge. The decision to start reFRESHed have been the most rewarding risk anyone could ask for. Read more>>

Stacey Ruth

Anyone who has ever left the relative safety of a full-time, high-profile job will understand how risky it felt to me to take the leap and start my first agency. I was a respected art director at one of the largest agencies in the world at the time, and I was only 29 years old – a pretty long time ago! I had no formal business training, and I was working in, what at the time was a male dominated field. So, although I was burned out enough where I was to take the risk, I also was terrified of failing. I know now that I had a pretty profound case of imposter syndrome (that sense that I was a fraud, and would certainly be found out). Read more>>

Harrison Colvin

Having grown up in Austin, Texas I was used to living in a big city, working multiple jobs to afford rent, and sitting in traffic for hours at a time. I have always loved art. I drew through my classes in high school and filled sketchbooks with doodles, but once I started working I lost the time I had once had and left my drawing supplies to gather dust in my desk. When Austin went into lockdown and I was stuck at home I began painting portraits of my friends that I wasn’t able to see. Read more>>

Po Sim Head

The biggest risk I have ever taken is coming to the United States from Hong Kong to pursue my studies in music. It is definitely life-changing! I have been living in Kansas City since 2016. Prior to that, I was divorced and felt like a change. I earned two masters and one doctoral degree in the past six years. So it is life-changing not only physically but also intellectually. I have become a better piano teacher and a piano player; I am working on expanding my career into research and writing as I am always interested in discovering more musicians and their music from different parts of the world. Read more>>

Sara Ward

Buying my business has been one of the biggest risks I have ever taken. We had moved back from living abroad the year before and I felt lost. I was working in the food business and learning a lot about how to manage people and vendors. Looking back now I am thankful for all the things I learn because it help prepare me for owning my business and do something I was passionate about. Read more>>

Christopher Tallon

I had a 2.01GPA in high school. Flunked out of a 4 year school. Dropped out of a 2 year school. Joined the military. Went back to school. Became a middle school teacher on the south side of Grand Rapids, MI. A few years into teaching, my youngest kid was born. I quit my middle school teaching job to commit to writing a book and being a stay-at-home dad. (Against ALL of my mother’s advice and warnings) Read more>>

Sharvari Vaidya

I was working a full time regular job when and felt emptiness in it, even though I was great at what i was doing it didn’t bring me happiness. Fast forward to 2020 right after Covid hit and I started working from home I decided to purchase a die cut machine. To start, I first made some home decor items on it and gifted to friends and family . Soon enough people started asking me if they could get more and gift to other people. Read more>>

Ryan Da Lion

There’s a saying no risk, no reward. Back in 2017 I took a huge risk by relocating my family from Miami Florida to Baltimore to pursue a business opportunity with friends. After a few months in, it was evident that all we had planned to do was not going to happen as expected. Now I was left with no business, no income and no way to provide for my wife and two kids. Read more>>

Kyla Simone Hayden

I have always been a person who takes risks when it comes to my creative passions. In 2016 we launched our first Girls and Guitars showcase at a cozy venue called Busboys and Poets in Tacoma Park, MD. The vision was to create a live music platform for fellow women singer-songwriter/guitarists. Because it’s a very niche audience, I had no idea if it would be successful but I soon learned there were way more artists out there than I anticipated. Read more>>

Chelsea Lee Woudstra

I’ve always been a risk taker. Tiptoeing mischievously on the tight-rope between success and failure, life and death… My mom passed away unexpectedly when I was 16, and that event deeply ingrained the mantra “Life is short, and time is precious,” into my being. So I’ve struck out on my own (moved across the country at age 18), traveled the country and globe (35+ states & 8 countries ‘n counting) Read more>>

Lauren Torres

The risk I took that started my entrepreneurial journey, is when I left my cozy job as a personal trainer at EŌS to start training on my own in a couple independent gyms such as Self Made Training Facility then moved to Thrive House now called Steady State Performance for one on one and small group training. After four years of training some of the most incredible people I could work with, I still wanted to do more for their health and to add quality to their life by changing my occupation to be a massage therapist. Read more>>

William Turner

It has always been my life’s purpose to be of service to others and my community. My journey towards becoming a fitness trainer and wellness coach began over 30 years ago at Golds gym in upstate New York. I then went on to be one of Equinox Fitness Master trainers and Dallas Voice 2021 and 2022 trainer of the year. Read more>>

Misty Oaks Paxton

While I was always fascinated by spirituality and metaphysics, I thought it better to pursue the safety of a legal career–something I could always make money doing. I followed the prescribed plan for many years, only to realize I was stressed, pressured, overwhelmed and miserable the majority of the time. Read more>>

Courtney Godsey

The biggest risk i’ve took recently has been relocating taking my talents to another state, I reached my peak in Ohio, I knew i wanted more for myself. One day I just said to myself ” I’m saving all my money” I got in my mode nike tech suits and tennis shoes. Booked a trip to my soon to be new home to look for places i didn’t have a solid plan but it was like a force was moving thru me it told me go, Read more>>

Imani Marshall

I take risk everyday as a business owner, especially while having a full time job. Every time I create something new I take a risk by executing that idea and putting it out into the public for customers to buy. It’s never easy because something I like, may not be liked by others. Read more>>

Kristin Fuller

I take risks all the time in my studio practice. I love a challenge and believe that in order is grow and succeed you must take risks and fail. It is through those failures that we learn. But the biggest risk I’ve taken was the decision to stop working my 9-5 and pursue my art career full time. This was scary. I was a long-term art substitute teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools. This had been my job for 18 years. In 2019 I found myself juggling my job, raising my 2 children and coping with being the caretaker for my demented father. On top of that, I had just left a 25-year marriage. Read more>>

Theresa Smith-Levin

I started a Non-Profit with no Non-Profit training overnight. I live in a space of risk. I was a young female non-profit founder with zero training. I choose to run my company in the face of tons of rejection and tons of “you can’t do its” because I’m confident in it. I am a mother of two kids and I work full-time. Everything I do has much greater risks than my male counter parts, but without that risk, how can we change the future of what this looks like for the rest of us? Read more>>

Jourdan Ashlee

I would say the biggest risk I’ve taken as a business owner is going full time for my business. Working for yourself and for someone else is an intense struggle, for sure. When I was in the workforce, I felt like I was going hard in my business. I would work during the day and see clients in the evening and on the weekends. I thought I was putting full time effort into my business. After working full time for myself and putting dedicated time into J. Read more>>

Charity Baroni-Litzenberg

I’ve taken a few giant risks in my life. Some may argue my biggest risk was moving by myself to Los Angeles when I was 21 with $114 in my bank account and only knowing 1 person because I HAD to dance professionally. This risk paid off big time as I traveled the world dancing with some of the biggest artists (Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez) and also danced in music videos and on awards shows with Beyoncé and Katy Perry, to name a few. Read more>>

Imari Colón

Prior to moving to China, I was in the darkest years of my young adult life. It is the same situation that many my age had been and are still dealing with: long work hours with high stress, low pay and appreciation, as well as no sight of any possible path to a better future. At an hourly wage of $11 an hour, I was just barely able to pay rent and had little energy for things I loved to do the most. Although I had great friends and family, having recently transitioned from living with my closest friends as roommates, I felt very much alone. Most days were dark, no matter how sunny it was outside. I cried often and spent a lot of time in a haze. Read more>>

Alexandria Mooney

At the end of 2018, I quit my full-time teaching job – something I had been doing for 11 years – to pursue my dreams of being a full time birth and family photographer. This was a terrifying risk, because I was giving up the only full time job I’d ever done as well as insurance coverage, a stable paycheck, and so much more. But I knew I could not continue teaching – my heart and soul was in photography. Read more>>

Morgan Layne

Growing up in the Midwest, full of grassy plains, rolling hills, and more grassy plains, dreaming of bigger and better things seemed to come naturally to me. My parents always said I had a sense of wonder and was always on the move, that then followed me into my young teens. Playing mermaids at the local water park and saving the world on my copper razor scooter as a Spy Kid was just a regular pastime for my brother and I. Read more>>

Anna Caro

In the winter of 2021/2022, I decided to roll out virtual design services, and wanted to see if I could get impactful results while still working remotely with clients. As a feng shui certified designer, I began working with a woman in Corpus Christi, TX while I was based in Nashville, TN. She was ready to sell her house – she felt like the energy was off, things just weren’t flowing, her boys were arguing and not sleeping great. Read more>>

Brandon Franklin

The biggest risk i’ve ever taken is starting my own business. It turned out to be one of the best decisions ive ever made. It has forced me into lessons I would not have experienced optherwise. The experience has forced me to bet on myself and exercise another level of determination and discipline. It has its ups and downs but the negatives will always be positive as long as you can make them in lessons learned.  Read more>>

Adrian (AJ) Flores

It’s not really much of a story about taking a risk. It’s more of a current reflection of my journey taking this risk. There is no rulebook or guidelines, when it comes to the desire to make a living based of sharing your artistry. Anyone and Everyone is an artist in my opinion. To make a choice to cultivate your artistry, and make it a profession is the biggest risk you can take in my opinion. No matter the canvas of your artistry, once we decide to cultivate our gift/vision, it begins to hold value for it to be shared with the world. Read more>>

Mel K. Wilkinson

I dedicated my entire life before starting Greenmade goods out of my garage here in Nashville, TN. I worked in restaurants (began bussing tables and as a hostess) to push myself out of my shyness as a teenager. I moved to waiting tables and bartending, where I found my passion for food and wine. After college, I started my career in wine at a local distributer, completed my Certified Sommelier certification, then moved to an international import company, where I had a territory of four states. Read more>>

Wise Acre Eatery

Doing things differently-in our opinion, the right way-can always feel like a risk. Operating a true farm-to-table restaurant and operating a regenerative agriculture farm is not always easy. There are many ways to cut corners but ultimately that wouldn’t keep us true to ourselves and our mission. What we do is special, and you can taste it in the food. Read more>>

Nikki Devould

D.I.A.L. Fitness itself is a risk! I was told that I was pre-diabetic, and needed to back off the sugar and get more active. I already have high blood pressure, and getting that diagnosis really scared. I tried the gym, but it’s just not my thing, so I started occasionally doing Zumba, but the days didn’t fit my schedule. My husband said I needed to do something I like, and after thinking I came up with line dancing…but I couldn’t find a place that did that without paying for a full gym membership. Read more>>

Collin Littlejohn

So my backstory is pretty focused on playing music, I had a couple “real jobs” for short periods of time when I was younger to help make ends meet but for the most part all I’ve ever done is play guitar as a hired gun. That is until the pandemic, where touring and recording came to a halt for the regional artists and bands that I worked with. I had just relocated to a more centralized spot here in Kansas City, and had no work all of a sudden. Read more>>

Valerie Wade

It has been rightly said that necessity is the mother of invention. When the need for something becomes essential or when the hunger for success eats you up, you would definitely be forced to take certain life-changing risks to turn things around. Back then, I hated having to go do the work I do just to earn a living or have a steady income. I’ll rather work full-time on my craft, honing my entrepreneurship skills. Read more>>

Madeline K Barry

Taking risk is something quite familiar to me. I think my parents took a lot of risks, at least I remember my childhood being that way. It has stuck with me closely into adulthood- this way of living where you rely on hope itself to craft your future. My entire career was a risk. I think everyone probably feels that way about their careers, and I think that’s probably the truth for most people. There’s something risky about going after anything that your heart deeply wants; the risk of disappointment, embarrassment, mediocrity, failure. Read more>>

emily acosta

I had been working for a nationwide newborn photography company full-time, while also working on building my clients for my own business. I knew that before I was able to quit my day job & strictly work for myself full-time, I would be super busy & crazy! I was right! After about 4 years of working with the big corporate company, I finally had developed a shooting style that really worked for me & my subjects, and I had enough regular clients to where I felt ALMOST comfortable quitting my day job. Read more>>

Aaliyah Rivers

As a young adult in New York City, it can be many risks you’ll face in adapting, growing, and/or overcome. To be quite honest most of my success in HoneyViisiion Photography came with numerous risks and changes within myself as a person and learning the industry. I am more of a person who loves to observe and learn and be a part of things that I can carry on with me to be better at doing so. One of many examples was New York Fashion Week 2020. Read more>>

Nicole Ware Spencer

For four years, I worked as a psychologist for the federal government. It was a 40-hour work week, an 8 to 5 job, and no weekend work. An extensive system, follow the rules, stay in line, and do your job. And I did it well. I ensured that I met my patient’s needs, was passionate about my clinical work, and tried to implement changes where workable. I had complete job security and was an essential worker. Read more>>

Meia Nashana

Risk taking can be good or bad and in my younger years, most of my risks taking ended up being bad and having to learn from the mistakes I made and the possible consequences that could potentially come with it. However, ever since the age of 30 (now 40) I’ve found that my greatest positive risk was walking away from a 9-5. I’ve been an entrepreneur for 5 years this coming January. Owner & operator of Creatively Ink’d by T a graphic design/branding company. Read more>>

Rikki McCoy

The biggest risk I have taken is deciding to step out and become an entrepreneur. Working in my career as a licensed clinical social worker, I always wanted more not only for my career, but I wanted to feel like the work that I was doing was meaningful and making a difference in society. Deciding to start my private practice and provide mental health therapy services has been the best decision that I’ve ever made. I get to help people navigate their life journey. Their is no bigger reward and for that I am grateful. Read more>>

Young Adub

Coming from the small town of Blue Ridge, Georgia, trying to be a hip hop artist itself would be considered a risk to many. No one has ever made a career out of being an artist from my hometown but I am defying the odds. I started my music career at 16 years old only three years ago when I was a sophomore in high school at Fannin County High School in Blue Ridge, GA and a lot of people from the city didn’t believe in me, but I always did. I always knew I would be at where I’m am today, even with all of the doubts surrounding me. Read more>>

Monia Ashibi

My entire life has been built off of the concept of taking risks. Generally speaking, taking risks isn’t easy. To be honest, I learned how to do it by not knowing what to do. One of my first big risks was deciding to drop out of college and pursue a career in dance all the way across the country. It was hard to do initially because of everything going on with my dad’s health, and the simple fact that I knew I would be all alone in LA for something I wasn’t even sure I would be successful in. I had to become sure quick because it was really my last resort. I was living on my mom’s couch not making any money, so at the very least, I knew I had nothing to lose. Read more>>

Kiara Joseph

I’m sure I am not the only one who experienced a sudden shift in their life in 2020. For me that shift was losing a job, and having to move back home with my mom. I remember the feeling of desperation and confusion. I thought I had it all figured out, the career path, the relationship, I was establishing a life for myself. Once COVID hit the U.S. within a few months, my position at a dentist practice finished. They let everyone go and shut down the practice. I was also in a long-term relationship at that time, living together. Read more>>

Chet Brewster

My taking a risk started by getting fired from my regular job I had for four years after I graduated from college. I could have tried to find another regular 9 to 5 type job in production at a television station, but there weren’t many tv stations hiring at the time. Plus, my dream, my focus, my commitment to my vision was to direct entertainment television and film. Read more>>

Elaine Weiner-Reed

I am goal-oriented and take risks all the time – changing technique, palette, and exploring new media. Each time we change our style or evolve our artistic voice, we are taking risks. Sometimes these risks mean losing followers and patrons… like when I stopped painting realistically in oils to pursue watercolor painting. I wanted to paint expressively and was intuitively searching for my own unique voice. The change brought new levels of abstracting reality, the layers of watercolors on paper allowing me to convey even more emotion than before! Read more>>

Nikolas Wilde

I’ve been a dancer for as long as I could stand on my own two feet. Even more than that, I have always been a performer. Getting on stage, in front of a live crowd, and putting on a performance, giving them an experience like t]nothing before is something I’ve dreamt of time and time again. Now my dilemma came in becoming a musician. I’ve always been a creative person and had a thing for music, but never imagined myself to be a rapper or musician. Personally, I didn’t believe I fit the mold. Read more>>

Kyra Kirra

Thank you for asking me to be part of Canvas Rebel’s Interview series! Out of all of the questions, I felt compelled to share my experience on “Taking a risk” because I get asked a lot about how and why I do what I do. I think it’s not only important but necessary to take risks in life. A risk is another word for a choice. If you don’t take any risks you won’t have much of a life. Sometimes playing it safe is the best option but at somepoint in your life you will have to “jump,” take a risk if you want to live a life you desire. Read more>>

Salena Taylor

I started Partial to Girls on a piece of scrap paper. I had no money and no one to support my plan at the time. The plan was to build a nonprofit from nothing to help families in poverty., to help women and children in emergencies. During the pandemic I served thousands of babies formula and diapers. I started many other helpful programs within this Organization to assist families in need. A Birthday program for boys and girls called Forget him not and forget her not. Read more>>

Karlee Bailey

The biggest risk I have taken in my business was purchasing a building. We went from renting a smaller studio space on the other end of our downtown to owning a 3000+ sq foot studio space and it made the world of difference. I was absolutely terrified going into it, constantly questioning if I was doing the right thing. This space was significantly larger than our current space so my biggest question was: Can we afford it? Read more>>

Amara Onokala

In regards to being a business owner, a major risk I took was actually starting my business Splash Garlands. I never saw myself as a creative person or as a business owner especially in the event decor industry. I felt like an impostor because when I interacted with individuals that are in this industry, I hear things like “I have always had a passion for this” or “I knew I was going to do something like this”. It seems like this aspect of art was engraved in their DNA and a part of their characteristics. Read more>>

Dericka Miller

The biggest risk I’ve taken was diving into full-time entrepreneurship as a copywriter. But believe it or not, the signs that this was my calling were there well in advance, and I had no choice but to take the risk. More specifically, there were three life instances where writing and entrepreneurship popped up along my journey that illuded me to doing full-time entrepreneurship with writing: Read more>>

Bey Bright

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was to take my entire life savings of $100,000 and invest it all into my music career. That financial decision unfortunately cost me my marriage and my family because I lost all the money and wasn’t able to reach the career heights I’d hoped for from a commercially successful standpoint. Read more>>

Coco Trevino

The Real risk in life is when you play it safe! …Gary Vee! Taking a risk in starting Farm Yoga has been the best decision I’ve made in life. It was hard at the beginning when no one believed that I was capable of running a goat farm . At times enduring the jokes about running my circus or how I would smell like goat …but I would always return the joke with “you smell the goats but I smell the money “. It all just made me stronger and more determined. Not taking that risk..would have been the biggest mistake in my life. Read more>>

Socorro Reyes Ramirez

Being a single mom and choosing to pursue my education in a bachelors of visual arts was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. All I heard from my family was the huge stereotypes of the “starving artist” who cannot make ends meet. But I have always believed times are changing, and people are valuing art in incredible ways. In my humble opinion, art and creation is the most important connection between humans and nature. Read more>>

Brian Hill

Starting Brian Hill Woodworks has surely been the most risky decision I’ve made. At the time I had a family with two children, maybe $15K in the bank, and only a few woodworking tools. I had no guarantee that I would be able to provide for my family and no guarantee that my business would be successful to any degree. I made the decision to leave my comfortable management position at my job in order to pursue a more fulfilling life and it was absolutely terrifying. Read more>>

Enan & Jenn Parezo

“Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health, and love.” This quote by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. is one that has helped us take risks while growing our business. The point of owning your own business is to make a living enjoying what you do. Sometimes making a big change is scary because you don’t know what the outcome will be, but taking a risk and making that necessary change usually pays off in the long run. Read more>>

Cheleen Doe

When is comes to small businesses, risk taking takes a huge part of it. If you have to be willing to take a risk, in order to grow,. I take a risk every time I decide to add or restock a product. One of the huge risk that i’ve taken with my business is adding and creating my purse line. I sell all types of purses and they are not cheap. You don’t know if the customers or audience will like them or how they would react to your products. Read more>>

Larissa Paes

I was born and grew up in Brazil, an amazing country full of joy however also very dangerous in many ways, with street violence being a part of daily life that we have to be always aware of. Because of that, it’s always been a dream to live somewhere else and explore the world. My family didn’t have a lot of money, it took us a while to be able to afford most things, around the time I was a teenager is when I saw the change happen.  Read more>>

Keana Brewster

The biggest risk I’ve continuously taken has been betting on myself! The level of belief I have in myself has consistently led to me quitting every assignment that did not feel in alignment with my goals and energy. It has not and is not always easy walking away from things that have once served purpose in life however seasons change. The last position I walked away from was the shortest I’ve stayed and was my most paying job ever. Read more>>

LaJune Singleton

My risk taking moment was in 2020 when I left my full-time job at the health department in my county during the Covid-19 Pandemic and started working my business LaJune Singleton, LLC full-time. The economy was very uncertain and uncertainty of how long the pandemic would have businesses closed or would potential clients would be open to pay for fitness, health, mindset, nutrition, and wellness services in during a pandemic. Read more>>

Larry Butler

It was 1976. I had played in bar bands in Ohio for the previous ten years and had done everything in the live show business there that one could – writing and recording songs, singing and playing guitar and keyboards in bands, band managing and booking those bands, co-owning a night club, promoting other concerts, etc. It was time to take the first big risk of my life. Read more>>

Raeshwan (Awesome Ray Ray) Greene

Back in 2014, I had a corporate job with great benefits and great pay. I was somewhat content but I wasn’t happy. I’ve always been involved with music rather it be writing ,singing ,producing, or playing drums. But for quite some time, I hadn’t been able to do that. So one day after work I got on craigslist, and started searching for drum opportunities. I came across this band based out of New York City . They were looking for a temporary drummer. It’s about a 4 Hour drive from Washington DC ,where I’m located, to New York City. I took the chance and I took on two separate gigs with them. Read more>>

Caroline Pavlinik

In spring of 2019 I made a very scary decision to decide to walk away from a very stable role in corporate America to start my baby and toddler sleep consulting business and be a stay-at-home mom to my then 14-month-old. It was a huge risk financially and professionally to jump off the corporate ladder and pivot into an entirely new industry. However, I had no idea the impeccable timing I unwittingly chose that June of 2019 — nine months before most entrepreneurial dreams would be devasted by the pandemic. Read more>>

Larisa Arnold

Growing up, I knew that I was different than most of my peers. I’ve always had this artsy, creative part of my personality and also heavily engaged in education and knowledge, so it was always difficult to relate to others. It wasn’t until I was in my early 20s when I started to gain confidence and embrace my creative personality that was initially developed through my middle school that was fine arts based. I started to embody my creativity through modeling and after getting signed to agencies in Minneapolis, Read more>>

Melanie Cusick

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken is the one I am currently living in. After I graduated with my degree in computer science, I started working the office job where I stayed for the past three years. Almost immediately I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied with that environment. Then the pandemic hit, and I found some solace in being able to work from home. However, I was still dissatisfied with my circumstances and the life I was choosing to live. Read more>>

Martavious Gayles

Well, I took a risk being a professional Actor. I was always told. That it’s a real risk because there’s so many here in Hollywood. They barely make it. And at the time I was going for it. It was really hard. Because making it was based on who you know. And your talent, race and opportunity (right time right place) so you had so many factors. Also you needed to be SAG-AFTRA. Most networks required you to be Union. But regardless of all that. I knew I was born to do this. So I went for it. And I learned that, yes there’s a lot of actors. Read more>>

Sarah Uftring

I chose this question because I basically dedicated the last year-ish of my life to exactly this…risk. Risk and fear? A determined mission to run face first at the hornets nest that inside holds every aspiration and point of envy I’ve collected over many years of stagnation. I think, when discussing my life and the many forks and lightly beaten paths I’ve taken, some may argue against this claim of stagnation. Read more>>

Maleeha Elsadr

I worked at a large jewelry chain’s repair shop for several years in my 20s. The pay was better than anything else I had available to me, and it felt good to be doing something in a field that was somewhat related to my degree in fine art. I also had tons of opportunities to learn in a way that allowed me to make mistakes that I didn’t have to pay for–which is huge when you’re working with gold and diamonds. Read more>>

Kandice Fowlkes

As I’ve been crafting Vinyle zine for two years now, I still always come back to the drawing board with the way someone can feel my passion, and the best way I can “edutain” people. Me rebranding Vinyle zine as a Black literary magazine was such a risk because it involved me sharing my love for expressional / private writing to the world, and allowing others to do the same. It’s not easy all the time putting your heart and soul into art, and having other people not tear it up, critique harshly, or simply ignore the emotion behind it. But that’s the point of being a risk taker is the fearlessness. Read more>>

John-Daniel Johnston

When I got certified to be a personal trainer I was working as a grounded keeper I hated my job but it provided me with money to pay my bills and save a little. When I found out the gym I was going to was looking for personal trainers I applied and hit an interview, they told me starting out isn’t easy you don’t just get clients you have to put time and effort in but we promise if you do that you’ll se stye fruit of it. Read more>>

Simone Paterson

I’ve taken several life-changing risks in my life. As a young woman, I decided to travel solo. I eventually left my home in Australia to work as an educator and become a citizen of the US. However, my most significant risk to date was leaving the hallowed halls of academia to become a full-time artist. Leaving a position as a tenured professor in a top research institution was a massive risk for me. The rewards of taking this risk have been immense. Read more>>

Annie Coleman

The dream to start my own business was always in the back of my mind, I’d find myself thinking about it while I was working on clients. I’d imagine where it would be, what it would look like, how it would feel to not have to bust my a*s to support someone else’s dream and not have much for myself in the end. Then, I finally overworked myself. I got an overuse injury that kept me from working for almost an entire YEAR. Read more>>

Katherine Studley

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken is definitely starting The Only Consultant. I heard about OnlyFans for the first time in November of 2020. That December, while I was still working at my last job, I decided to write an ebook geared toward OnlyFans creators. When I started to sell it, people were reaching out saying they actually wanted me to do their taxes instead, so I quit my job on the spot on February 1st of 2021 to start doing taxes for OnlyFans models. This was before OnlyFans was mainstream. Read more>>

W.I.S.E. Women

Launching the podcast was a risk because it sounded absolutely crazy to us, but we trusted that we know the voice of God when He is speaking to us and so we knew we should and could do it. We had an idea, but we did not have a budget or blueprint for how to launch a podcast. Much to our delight, two months after our launch we have already exceeded over 100 views on one of the platforms we utilize. Our goal was just to give glory to God through our life experiences, but it seems that others are interested in hearing our stories as well. Read more>>

Randi Crawford

The biggest risk I ever took was moving to Atlanta, Georgia, and becoming a full time hairstylist. Having absolutely no family here, or prior clientele, this was a fresh start for me. Fresh out of college at Thee Alabama State University, I made my move back in 2018 with nothing but faith. Boy did it all pay off in the end! With consistency, hard work, and dedication, I am now running my hair business full time, successfully. The rooms that I have been in, the people I have been able to work with, I cant be anymore thankful and grateful! I hope to spread this energy to anyone that’s scared to take that risk! Read more>>

Ashley Rector

I was a full-time attorney working as in-house counsel at a publicly traded company that owned malls across the country. It was a stable position, but every time the phone rang I knew it was me having to clean up a mistake, error or do something that honestly didn’t light me up inside. It was unrewarding and I knew it wasn’t filling my cup. I decided to explore other creative endeavors which gave me the confidence to launch my own business and take the leap of faith to leave my 9-5PM. Read more>>

Tyler Kimball

I moved away from renting studios to create my own work to building my own glassblowing studio to work out of in 2014. The studio was up and running in 2015. I moved from making $30,000 per year on my glass art when renting studios to $120,000 in the first year operating my own studio. Now my studio consistently makes over half million dollars worth of glass art per year and employs 6 studio assistants.  Read more>>

Memphis the band

Our biggest risk, you could say, is to have made such a long trip, so far away from home with the intention of forming a band and to have bet on rock music. Read more>>

Shawn Morris

Before I turned my school into an actual business, I was working as a contractor for other schools, teaching martial arts as part of their program. While the work was rewarding, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I had wanted my own school, with my own students and I wanted to teach kung fu, the system I grew up with. I reached out to my Sifu, Raymond Bennett for permission. At first, he was hesitant, but I had a plan and he approved. Read more>>

DeWanda Nelson

A risk I have taken in life would be moving away from a small-town in Alabama as a young single mother who knew absolutely nothing of the way of such a big city and all different walks of life. It was truly a change from the slow paced country town to now a fast pace bigger city. So of course with moving to a new city I knew no one at all . It was truly hard. But I made a promise to myself and my son that I would be a success and I wouldn’t allow the statistic of being a single mom stop me. Read more>>

Kelly O’Keefe

I’ve always wanted to be a photographer, but during college I found another passion. One that I could be a photographer in as well; a skydiver. It started off with me learning how to pack parachutes and after 6 years it turned into me be being able to take you, teach you and video or photograph your entire skydiving experience. So in a nut shell, my whole life has been about taking risks, because as most people put it, “Why would you ever jump out of a perfectly good airplane?” Read more>>

Aja Wolfe

When I first came to Atlanta I fell in love. for the next few years I would dream of living there and would eventually make Atl my new home. But I didn’t move without risk. it took me 5 years to actually move. every year I would save or plan to save and something would come up that would make me exhaust all my savings. Read more>>

Ada The Creator

The seed was first planted in 2018 after the suicide of a close friend I met in college. Her passing dared myself and everyone who truly knew her to choose what sets our hearts free unapologetically. I made the first draft of my first book and it was different. I was yet to see that the draft was the beginning of setting my voice free, in such a way that I’m still not sure I can vocally. However, I was also afraid to disappoint my village, because my village like many others raised me to subjugate my being and voice. Because as a first generation daughter, granddaughter, generationla cycle breaker… heavy is the head that wears the crown. Read more>>