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.
Tristan Kilmer
In the ever-evolving realm of creative pursuits, embracing risk is akin to a high-stakes gamble, particularly for those venturing into careers in the film industry. My personal journey into the art world underscores the profound impact of taking chances and chasing one’s passion. My initial career started from the world of sketchbooks, clay, and stop motion. Fresh out of high school, I had a brief stint in the film industry, working on a commercial project at Warner Bros Interactive for an upcoming LEGO game that was being produced. It was a stepping stone that revealed the need for further skill development from a higher education than just youtube tutorials to thrive in the film and animation industry. Read more>>
Eric Brittingham
It was the year 2020 with the Summer Reading Tour fast approaching and we had over 75 LIVE Animal Shows booked for Public Libraries, Camps, and Festivals – all seemed right with the world and the programming schedule for that year was the best we had ever seen. However, prior to March 2020 – news was starting to bubble that there was a growing health concern and possible epidemic that could quite possibly change the ability to gather in social settings. Anticipating the worse and hoping that LIVE Bookings would not start to drop like flies, I took a leap of faith at the risk of losing our entire business and began quickly producing the very first VideoVenture – Amazing Adaptations via my phone in anticipation of our library, camp, and festival clients contacting us to say they would have to cancel our LIVE Appearances. Read more>>
Jarick White
In the past five years, I’ve taken two HUGE risks. Number one was me sporadically packing up my life in Illinois and moving to Phoenix within a two week period. The second being me stepping down from my position as a restaurant manager and stepping into a lifestyle of constant grinding, hustling, and networking. I felt trapped and imprisoned being a restaurant manager. 50-60 hours a week in one place, no over time, whack pay. I couldn’t do it anymore. So I took a chance to step down from my Laotian and go back to bartending two days a week while I figured out what I wanted to do that would help me create my own schedule and cash flow. Sometimes it can be very inconsistent but the freedom and control I have created for myself makes it all so worth it and I couldn’t have been happier with the moves and choices I’ve made. Read more>>
Daria Mazur
Being an actor is a risk. Sometimes, there are months when I can’t book any acting jobs. Of course, it’s not a typical job. It’s unpredictable. But that’s the beauty of it. When I step into the audition room, I see tons and tons of actresses who are extremely talented, beautiful, and charismatic. There is only one job, but let’s say 50 actresses are trying to get it. It’s very competitive. But being an actor means that you have to leave your insecurities outside of the audition room. I always try to focus on the character and their story instead of comparing myself to others Read more>>
Mehdi Dalili
8 years ago, I got the extraordinary ability visa ( EB1) to move to the USA and build the American dream :) that was the biggest risk I did so far. I, my wife and my 6 month old boy moved here to have a better life and better opportunity in our field. Well, to be honest it was very scary to leave a successful business and everything you have and move to a new place and start from zero, but it all paid off after 8 years now I can say we did the best decision of our life ! Read more>>
Jesse J Guillen
A dream of mine was to become a designer and celebrity wardrobe Stylist. It was time for something different and something new that it was me taking a big risk so I spontaneously moved to Hollywood not even knowing if I had the money to live there. That risk has been very life-changing because it motivated and pushed me to follow my goals to work as a celebrity Stylist, and Designer in the entertainment industry as well as collaborating with other designers and Stylist. Taking the risk was really amazing cause it changed my life for the better and really opened up so much opportunities and successes. I have had a business for 10 years now and work in movies, TV film commercials campaigns. It is really inspiring to be able to see where I started or where I’m at now and to inspire others to make sure they follow their dreams and goals and take risks. life is about taking risks and staying optimistic. Read more>>
Vaughn Granger
In 2007 I became a partner in my family’s clothing business. In 2008 I got shingles as a 25 year old because of the recession and making poor financial decisions. In 2016, I launched Liam John USA which was my first “big boy” business. Since I began working in 2001 I have properly started 12 different businesses. Only 4 of them have made money. Most people view being an entrepreneur as risky. I would argue that everything is “risky.” Read more>>
Patricia Heidelberg
Being an Artist developer can be challenging. Your going to bump heads with the artist or vibe with the artist. Believing in someone else’s dream and helping them reach for the stars feels so great. Investing your time, energy and money is when the challenges start! Dealing with artist you build a bond if your genuine about there development. Music artist go through so many emotions and sometimes they can check out. Needing a reboost and time for themselves and family plus keeping up with the new waves of music & social media plus there own personal problems could be a challenge. Learning someone’s background good or bad and seeing them flourish is the goal. Read more>>
Rick Craft
For any artist, aspiring or established, I feel that taking risks is engrained in our being. (I don’t mean gambles necessarily haha). Risks are inherent in a career in creativity. You have to be open to exploring paths that will randomly appear along your journey because you never know where they may lead you! An example from my own would be, taking the huge “risk” to move to Los Angeles without knowing anyone here prior. I packed up my belongings and drove 2500 miles across the country to start a new life because I knew that the creative industry I was seeking was much more prevalent in LA.Read more>>
Jen Sall
I moved to Los Angeles to start a career in entertainment without knowing anyone and this was not directly after graduating college. In other words I was not 20 or 21. I was in sense starting over, giving up friends a life I had built because I was not fulfilled creatively. I packed up my things and my dog and I moved to LA. Read more>>
Lila Ash
I recently wrote my first graphic memoir, titled Decodependence: A Romantic Tragicomic. It was a huge risk because I exposed myself in more ways than one. The memoir focuses on my relationships and their codependent tendencies. In creating this work, I had to sift through many painful, embarrassing and often shameful memories to write and draw on the page. It is dropping on October 17, and I’m terrified! This is the most revealing project I’ve ever taken on and I’m hopeful that it will resonate with readers and art lovers. Read more>>
Gil Rios
So before taking my big risk, I have to first explain why I did it, and what I was going through. Before I took my risk, I was working as an exterminator for 15 years and I had what people might seem as success. I had good health benefits I had a good 401(k), I was adding money to my Social Security and it was a good paying job, but I wasn’t happy, My soul do not feel fulfilled. My passion wasn’t to exterminate bugs. My passion was to film. My passion is to travel while I film interesting stories, helping businesses with the power of film, creating my own stories so the world can see how I see the world. that’s what I really wanted to do. But the fear of not making it was always in the back of my head. Read more>>
Christina
One thing about myself is that I love to learn, grow and I’m very ambitious and sometimes that means taking risks. I have done that throughout my entire life with the different career paths I have taken and even now becoming an influencer. The risks I have taken have shaped who I am today. I am an IT Project Manager and an Influencer and proud of where I am because of the risks I have taken. Read more>>
Anna Vescovi
Before working in 3D design, I was a ballet dancer for about 15 years. Towards the end of my career, this became an all consuming profession. The expiration date comes early for high-performance athletes and by the time I was 19, a career change was on the horizon. I didn’t have a clear idea of what to achieve next, but I was certain it had to be creative. Not much mind was paid to fine art until I moved to South Beach with Miami City Ballet. I worked a part time evening job at an upscale hotel restaurant, usually cluttered with couples, business executives and the occasional family. Read more>>
Joseph Benjamin
Currently, I find myself at a pivotal moment, embracing various risks. One significant step is my return to the fashion world, a decision that carries considerable uncertainty. Through my experiences in recent years, I’ve come to realize the imperfections within the fashion industry, primarily centered around superficiality and glamour. My desire for change led me to establish Prophecybrand.com, heralding a new era in fashion publications. Read more>>
Sterling Hampton
There comes a time in every creative’s life when they come to the inevitable crossroad. That crossroad if whether or not they truly want their dreams to happen. In a world where cheap comfort/dopamine is the greatest readily available hinderance to progress, it’s the artist’s sole choice to choose something greater. This decision is to bet on oneself. To throw caution to the wind and take a risk. After being a touring videographer/photographer, music video director and a commercial director for some of the biggest artists and brands in the world, I decided to take a risk and bet on myself. Read more>>
Ben Spielberg
One of the riskiest decisions we have made as an organization was regarding our ketamine-based virtual Intensive Outpatient Program. Prior to COVID, we were a hybrid program: many evaluations were done virtually, but otherwise patients had to come into our office for the majority of their treatments–especially ketamine and TMS. However, during COVID we realized that many people were stuck at home and their already-fragile mental health was completely deteriorating. Read more>>
Ash Miner
When the pandemic hit in 2020, my private music studio of 21 students dropped down to 5. I was a self-sustaining private violin and viola lesson teacher, who did dog training on the side for some extra income. As parents were forced to prioritize when they lost their jobs, I had to evaluate my income stream balance. If I attempted to wait for my students to return or not, I could potentially end up homeless. If I switched career focuses and tried to get more dog clients, I may not be able to go back to music when the time came. I didn’t know, no one did, how long lockdown would last. After a month of barely being in fresh air, I decided to focus on dog training. The bills were racking up quickly, and I didn’t have nearly enough money to cover them. I went into debt quickly, being a recently divorced, single woman in southern California. Read more>>
Amy & Sarah
In 2021, we set out on a journey to read books together and start discussing them–a two-person book club. Over the course of that year, we built a strong foundation for our love of reading romance novels. In the early part of 2022, it was recommended to us that we start a book discussion podcast. At the time, taking a risk that high, requiring us to put ourselves out into the podcast industry without any prior knowledge or fan base, seemed daunting. What if we failed? What if no one listened? We quickly realized that we would need to take a leap of faith, recognizing that this opportunity would open doors for us to connect with other readers and discuss books we were passionate about. Read more>>
Sanidia Oliver Stone
The story of a risk I took began with a profound realization during my teaching career in Atlanta. I had spent several years in both public and private school settings, witnessing the glaring inequities that persist in our educational system, particularly for children of color. This realization was like a spark, igniting a fire within me to create a lasting change. It was during this time that I decided to embark on a journey that would change my life and the lives of countless children: founding The Morgan Oliver School (MOS). Read more>>
Will Suglia
I think that taking a risk feels like something that is embedded into any type of creative pursuit. There are lots of opportunities to take risks at different scales, from studio experiments using new materials and processes to larger risks that come with sustaining a creative practice and life. Finding ways to justify taking risks comes down to how rewarding the end results are. The rewards of the risks also exist at different scales. It is rewarding to see research and practice pay off in studio projects, and for those projects to grow into opportunities to be in shows or other ways to grow a creative network. Read more>>
Andrew Synowiec
Nearly 20 years ago, I packed everything I owned into my Honda Civic and drove across the country to Los Angeles with nothing more than a few demo CDs, two guitars and a phone number for a possible lead on some studio work. That risk paid off for me and I’m still taking risks! In November I’m taking my band out on the road for our first west coast tour to celebrate the release of my new album “FUN.” Read more>>
Karen Yeh
A risk I’ve taken recently that changed the trajectory of my career was letting go of my former dream of being in a classical orchestra. I was in high school when I decided I wanted a career in classical music. More specifically, I wanted to be a member of a great orchestra. I remember being in youth symphony surrounded by immensely talented players and performing at Carnegie Hall. It was electrifying – I loved the energy of being in a group and being immersed in the lush symphonic sound. My dream was what led me to attending music school and earning multiple degrees in cello performance. In graduate school I decided it was time to start taking professional orchestra auditions. Read more>>
Ellen Postolowski
I am more afraid of the what-ifs in life. That may have led me to change careers at 50. Risky, but I wasn’t blindly jumping into the unknown. Or so I thought. I had been a professional nutrition-based chef for thirty years, but the wear and tear was getting to me. I knew I had to work smarter and give my body a break. It wasn’t just physical but mental implications; I was tired of working as a private chef. It is a very demanding job, and I worked many long hours and weekends, constantly adjusting my schedule to fit the needs of my clients. Read more>>
Jennifer and Joe Mackey
Life is all about taking risks right? I remember back when we were taking more of a traditional path through life. We had both graduated from college, sought out a career with benefits, and purchased our first home. At the time Jenny was an art/photography teacher and I was a counselor at a non-profit. As you can imagine it was the typical wake up, hop in traffic, do your best, hop in traffic again on the way home, repeat. During this part of our lives, photography was just a side hustle. As a young married couple we found ourselves drawn towards traveling and we soon discovered we both had a love for the mountains. Quite the stark contrast from growing up in the flatlands of Florida. We used to talk about retiring in the mountains some day and just living a simple small town life. Read more>>
Falyn DeForest
Never in a million years did I envision myself being a business owner. I never thought I could make a living off being a photographer. I thought I had to take a more traditional route. It wasn’t until 2020 when I decided to finally take the risk of starting my own business and taking my role as a photographer more seriously. I was absolutely terrified to start working as a creative full time because I didn’t know how to run a business. I also care so deeply about photography, I didn’t want to put the pressure on my hobby and make it seem like a full time job . After 3 years of running my small business I’m so glad I took the risk. It is so fulfilling getting to do something you love every day. There is no reward without risk, and I’m so grateful people see my art and trust me to capture they’re most important life moments. Read more>>
Andrea Jones
I embarked on a significant journey when I decided to step away from my stable corporate position in the automotive industry and venture into entrepreneurship by opening my own business. This endeavor demanded numerous sacrifices to guarantee its success. Balancing the roles of a devoted wife and a mother to three young daughters became a complex task, as I found myself dedicating less time to my family in order to launch and nurture the business. Financially, I made the tough decision to forgo a salary for well over a year. Read more>>
Jasmine Dshay
The biggest risk I have taken has been leaving everything and everyone I have known to pursue my dreams. I am the kind of person that goes wherever I feel led to go and do whatever I feel led to do. My ultimate purpose in life is to help change lives by utilizing all the gifts that God has given me to do so. I have lost people in my life that just did not understand why I would do the things I do. For example when I first decided to leave California and go on my journey in life to live and be who I am destined to be, I had a lot of people trying to talk me out of following my goals and living my dreams. One thing I live by is doing what you feel no matter what people think or say. I use to listen to people talk me out of my blessings and now that I know what I know and experienced the things I have experienced, I have become a force on my own. Along this journey, I have crossed paths with so many beautiful souls and like minded individuals that have supported me every step of the way. Read more>>
Betty Fraser
I had always had a dream of being a caterer. Just imagine the joy of throwing parties, and all the happy faces of folks clinking glasses to toast getting together or a special occasion, the big smiles and their eyes lighting up when they take their first bite of your dish that you prepared just for their event, the beautiful lighting and music that help round out the details of a what is sure to be a perfect night. Yet I didn’t know how to get there. I didn’t study this choice of profession in school, I didn’t go to culinary school, none of that, and yet there was a deep desire in my soul to cook and throw parties for others. When I heard that another woman that I worked with when I was a waitress and California Pizza Kitchen years ago, had also wanted to start a catering company, I mustered up the nerve to ask her if I could do it with her. Read more>>
Addeline Griswold
I’ve always struggled with the simple task of “do what you’re told”, which is very ironic because I hate being in trouble and that’s typically where that got me. The biggest example of risk taking that stands out to me and really kind of set my life up to where I am now was moving out at 16. Growing up I never felt like I had purpose and always felt like there was something I was missing or that I was behind in some way. Things that everyone else cared about, people I was supposed to look up to and trust, having big dreams, I just didn’t have or feel it, and I didn’t know why but I was aware of this, and I remember feeling left out in life and misunderstood which ultimately got me into tons of trouble in all aspects of my life. Read more>>
Maria Silva
I had a very good, stable, high paying job for over 13 years. I was good at what I was doing. I just knew I craved more out of life. I was fulfilled anymore. I craved growth & bigger impact. I was a server/restaurant manager. I loved my job but I wanted to spread my wings & fly. So I took a big risk. I put in a notice with a snall plan in my mind and took off into the unknown. I didn’t want a restaurant. Heck, I don’t enjoy cooking!! But God lead us to exactly that, our own restaurant. All of those years of building & loving someone else’s business was indeed preparation for my own business. Read more>>
Richard Krevolin
ART is risky. The key thing is to take that risk and the reward is in the act of taking that risk. It is said that you get an endorphin rush just for engaging in the act of creating art. So get the rush, take the risk and make art. Who cares if it’s great or not. Who’s to say if its great or not. Do it. Make art. Create. Take a risk. Read more>>
James Lewis
How about the story of me being stranded on a caribbean island after a producer shut down production of a film I was about to direct, to be shot on location in the tropics and just weeks from starting shooting. Talk about losing face. Going back to the big city empty handed was just not in the cards. This was friggin PTSD-like. It was time to take some risk and make lemonade out of lemons, albeit fresh tropical ones. This is the story of me recognizing an opportunity among the disaster of years of preparation for a never to be project, and seizing on it. Read more>>
Tamberla Douglas / Kevin Perry
Anytime anyone moves to Los Angeles with no real prospects, they are taking a huge risk. Anyone who moves here pregnant with no prospects has lost their minds. Well, we had lost our minds and decided that moving to Los Angeles 4 months pregnant and jobless was the greatest idea born to man. Kevin and I met doing sketch and improv in Chicago many years ago. We were also heavily entrenched in the Chicago theatre scene, both of us having been seen on many Chicago stages. Read more>>
Arye Campos
I’ve taken three big risks in my life, two that I was conscious about and one, well I was 11 so I don’t think I understood how big of a risk it was. First one was when I moved to the USA from Brazil where I am originally from at the age of 11 and a half. At the time I think it just felt like a fun trip, I don’t think I understood how BIG of a risk my mom was taking leaving my dad and brothers behind and jumping feet first into this journey- that originally was supposed to be one year only. We barely spoke English… well she did way more than I did. I only knew a few phrases. We didn’t know anyone here, we just came. Read more>>
Dominic Leano
Right now, I never want to find myself still or motionless; if I desire to do something, I will do it. I want to continue to grow and achieve more in all areas of my life, and I found the courage in myself to share parts of my creative side with the world and put some (not all) of my progress and work out there. I learned many lessons so far and am still learning to balance my personal, professional, and creative life. I am organizing a life for myself right now where I can live and support myself by doing something meaningful and fulfilling outside of my creative sphere while practicing, learning, and working on the craft of screenwriting and filmmaking whenever possible. Read more>>
Jordan Bunch
The biggest risk that I’ve taken in my adult years is stepping out on faith to share Imminent Aesthetics with the world. As a creative, I naturally get excited about my hobbies but I never thought to realistically take an idea and turn it into a business. The more thought and prayer that was put into this made me believe that this was something that I was supposed to do. Although the idea of Imminent Aesthetics came about two years prior; to go forward and make this a legitimate company is a major step for me. I struggle with perfectionism and it caused me to feel as though I was delaying my progress. This caused me to feel like Imminent Aesthetics would never become what I envisioned it could be. I can recall recently feeling like I didn’t have anything to offer the world. Read more>>
Julie Navickas
Risk-taking. The very word itself induces a fair bit of anxiety for me. By nature, I’m not a risk-taker. I’ve lived a life of planned, well thought out, and smoothly executed decisions. But then the summer of 2020 happened amidst a global pandemic, and I did something that I never thought I’d do. I wrote a novel. I challenged myself to step well beyond my comfort zone and I authored a 72,000-word contemporary romance novel in about three months. Not only was the journey a rollercoaster ride of gratification, but it was also a stomach-dropping plunge of discomfort. I learned throughout the process that to be an author, means you have to be a risk-taker too. Read more>>
Gianna D
The biggest risk I’ve taken is betting on myself – believing that my artistic journey is worth pursuing. In the pursuit, I’ve spent a lot of money (studio space, materials, earning my MFA…the list can go on), sacrificed a lot of time (working into the wee hours in the name of art); and have had to make some difficult life decisions (making art a priority means something’s gotta give). I genuinely love what I do and while the practice isn’t always rainbows and butterflies, there’s a sense of happiness when you realize that you’re pursuing your passion. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Read more>>