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.

Deanna Dunlap

Our family moved to a small community in FL in May of 2020. Before we moved here, we had lived in the same small town in Ohio for 18 yrs. Our 3 children had all been in the same school system since they were in preschool-we were well known in our tight-knit community and had not thought of moving before all of our kids graduated high school The dreary, gloomy days of central Ohio were started to wear on us more frequently and we absolutely loved visiting Florida, We started spending the summers in Florida a few years before we moved here. Read more>>

Kahlia Smith

The biggest risk I took was committing to AMOR DEUS full time. I went to school for fashion marketing and management I worked in the industry but in order to afford a more stable and reliable life I transitioned into finance. I didn’t love it or hate I just existed. I ended up having my son and when I went back to work after my leave I realized how much feeling nothing about a job made it so much harder to leave who I love. Read more>>

Brandon Long

I took a major risk to start my own art/graphic design business in 2021. Read more>>

Monie Wilder

I’m certifiably risk-adverse yet have taken several big risks in my life. My divorce was my first big risk and built so much confidence for me. It was the first time I decided to make a choice to change not knowing what/how it would turn out but just knowing that the devil I knew wasn’t better than the devil I didn’t. After that I changed careers away from being on a very safe/lucrative path in government to working for a lot less in the fitness industry. Read more>>

Trevor Smith

Taking the risk into entrepreneurship is the largest risk I have ever taken. I always had an entrepreneur heart even at a young age thinking outside the box, finding new and improved ways of doing processes and projects. The risk I have taken over a year ago going full time into my small creative business Small Town Design Co. has been very rewarding but also comes with a ton of challenges. Taking the risk can be the best thing that has ever happen to you and your life. Take more risk and embrace failure as a learning tool to build from. Read more>>

Ryan Cronin

I was born on the front seat of a late 1960’s Plymouth Station Wagon. I guess you can say I have been taking risks from the moment I came into this world. When I was a kid, my father told me, “You can be the garbage man. You can be the president, so I chose to become an artist. Throughout my adolescence, I was constantly pushing the envelope and finding myself in trouble. My parents responded by putting a camera in my hand to occupy me and my creative journey began. Read more>>

Rekara Gage

Risks are important–They are turning points. I’ve learned a lot about myself via the risks that I’ve taken and the experiences that resulted from them. Read more>>

Nicole Panashe

As a creative, I am constantly brainstorming and developing new ideas that come to mind, no matter how big or small. With that, comes the evaluation each of these ideas and seeing which I would like to pursue further. This is where my imagination meets reality. Whether there are budget limitations, lack of resources or limited time, I always try to challenge my creativity in new ways and try something different in whatever project I have next. Read more>>

Brandi Mazesticeon

Taking a Risk Read more>>

Valerie Wilson

About 5 years ago, I woke up one morning from a dream. Everything around me was pitch black and silent. Every spark of energy flowing in me was nervousness and excitement. Suddenly, in front of me was a spotlight and a microphone. I was on a magnificent stage in front of a grand auditorium with an audience full of people waiting in anticipation for what I had to say. I stepped up to the microphone. Read more>>

Tiffany Kelly

I started my graphic design business, The Honest Pixel, in 2022, after making a big decision to leave a job that I had been at and loved for 11 year. For over a decade, I had worked at my church on the creative team doing a lot of graphic design, custom fabrication for events, and spatial installations. For most of that time, it was my dream job and I found so much joy in serving that community with my creativity. So, in 2021, when a set of circumstances made it obvious to me that I needed to make a shift, starting something of my own was both exciting and daunting. Read more>>

Amy Evans

My creative journey began in Staten Island New York early 90’s age of 12. Music has always been an extensive representation of my life. I was apart of every talent show locally that I could be apart of winning majority of the competitions. I would work with local producers writing songs, recording them and performing where ever I could. At 16 I was presents with an opportunity to sign with a major record label interscope records. Read more>>

Queenz Of Conversation

Our entire concept was risk-taking. We entered this industry knowing that numerous people were starting In the Podcast field. We knew we wanted to do something different so we decided to get out in the communities and get to know people and the issues that we were talking about on the show. We are women based and we do everything on our own from Production, to set up and of course the Interviews. Read more>>

Radhika Vekaria

Due to a serendipitous turn of events in 2009, I once found myself at a spontaneous audition in the heart of London, prompted by a friend’s suggestion. Little did I know that this singular moment would become the catalyst for my journey to where I stand today. Read more>>

Omoghéné

My whole music career has been a risk. I used to ask God why couldn’t he make me someone that liked the easier things, but I learned through him that there is no such thing as complete security and any and everything requires taking risk, a jump or a leap of faith. So I decided to take a risk on myself with becoming the artist that I wanted to be for the world to see. Read more>>

Jayda Nevin

I’ve always been a big risk taker. It started when I was 16, I was living in Oceanside, California with my mom at the time. I couldn’t wait to make money so I started working at El pollo loco. I didn’t come from a wealthy upbringing so the idea of making my own money really excited me. After working there for almost 2 years and moving my way up to assistant manager, I got a second job at Panda Express. Read more>>

Antonella Bentancour

In 2018 I decided to join a network marketing company, MONAT. Never did I think that I would jumpstart my career this way especially In the face of adversity as an undocumented individual, who came to the United States at the age of 3 from Uruguay. Read more>>

Mor Yosef

At the age of 32 I decided to leave everything behind to continue to fulfill my dream. I was already an established designer with over 10 years of experience in Israel. I had many loyal clients and a working business, but I always knew that I wanted to make something bigger. I bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and left everything behind, my business, my apartment, my family and friends and landed in Los Angeles all by myself to open my business here. Read more>>

Nicolas Marin

From the first moment I had the slightest interest of being an actor I knew that the risk was high and it would be hard, however I found the support of my love ones to do this and have the confidence to affront any difficulties or challenges that comes in my way, one of the biggest risk was coming here on my own without knowing anyone, facing a new culture, new language, new people, and finally being involve in my craft since in the pandemic I couldn’t really do anything about it, know it was time to take my acting/craft to a new level Read more>>

BrandElsa Pereira

In the vibrant tapestry of our daily lives, each of us navigates a unique journey filled with risks, but it’s the context that colors these moments. As a Black queer individual, every step I take into the realm of feminized attire feels like a daring venture – heels, skirts, makeup – a risk woven into the fabric of my self-expression. What might seem routine for some is a courageous act for me. These risks, however, have been instrumental in sculpting the proud life I lead today. Read more>>

Michael Mastronardi

I’ve always known the film and music industry to be volatile and oversaturated industries, so pursuing a career as a musician and filmmaker is the dumbest calculated risk I’ve taken in my entire life, but motivation comes from passion. One of my favorite pieces that sums this up is Charles Bukowski’s “So You Want to be a Writer?” In the opening sentence, he straightforwardly asserts, “If it doesn’t come bursting out of you in spite of everything, don’t do it.” Read more>>

Sarai Diaz

I was juggling, hair and make up for about 9years doing it on the weekends, while working in the medical field as a Lead Medical Assistant and still being a mommy of 2. I remember daydreaming about being home with my kids more than i was able to and doing make up full-time, I loved being of service and helping patients, but there was something about handing over the mirror to my client after finishing up the last detail, & looking at their face light up! I knew this is what I was ment to do in my life! Read more>>

Kaylon Beck

Recently I decided to take a huge risk and leave my full-time career in fundraising for personal reasons and to focus more on my business – Beck&Call Hospitality. It has been the most fearful, challenging yet fulfilling and eye opening experience over the past 9 months. There has been a constant mixture of emotions – wondering if I did the right thing or if I should have stayed at the organization just a little bit longer. Read more>>

Alexa Fiffick

On 9/5/23, I opened the doors of my very own concierge medical practice. Considering I had just finished fellowship on 7/7/23, this was considered a huge risk to many people. However, as a Women’s Health Specialist and Board-Certified Family Physician, I knew that I needed to do something different in order to provide the kind of care my patients deserve. Thus, I partnered with Ms. Medicine, a national company that helps physicians start up their own private concierge practices. Read more>>

Arial Robinson

I’ve come to learn that I feel more empowered to take risk when I implement physical activity into my daily routine. Whether it be taking a dance or spin class, lifting weights or just taking a walk. In my experience moving my body has helped me to better understand what decisions to make for myself on my creative journey. With physical activity comes a heightened awareness of your body. When it’s tight or loose, when it stressed or worn out, or when it needs rest and recovery. Read more>>

Majorie Gatson

In the summer of 2021 I was sitting in Bryant Park in New York City on my lunch break. At this time in my life I was very discontented, depressed and uninspired with working as a fashion designer in the fashion industry in NYC. I felt the lifelong dream I chased my entire life to become a fashion designer, was slipping away after almost a decade in the city I loved. This existential crisis I was in at the time was what we call in astrology the height of the Saturn Return experience. Read more>>

Marvin Isaac

Taking risks is about embracing the unknown and pushing beyond comfort zones. Whether it’s exploring uncharted territories or making unconventional choices, risks are opportunities for growth and innovation. In my experience, taking a risk for me was taking a semester off from college to go peruse my photography career while being at home i found a way to find myself with my art .I took that risk to finally do what i loved i felt as if time was passing me by while i watched others do what they were destined to do while being at home i established many of close connections with many different business owners and music artist Read more>>

Lana Banegas

The biggest risk I have ever taken was re-starting my private practice. I first started in private practice in 2014. I enjoyed working for myself and enjoyed building my own business. In 2017 I decided to go into a partnership with a friend and to start a counseling practice together. About a year later, it became apparent that the partnership was not working. The environment became more stressful than supportive and we decided to go our separate ways. Read more>>

John Childress

Melinda and I married in 2005. I had graduated with a business degree from UNC Chapel Hill and Melinda with her PharmD and MBA from Campbell University. I went into the banking industry and she went right into the independent pharmacy setting. In 2010, after our daughter was born, we decided to make a move back to our home town of Statesville, NC. Melinda began working at a local independent pharmacy named Banner Drug. Over the course of the next few years, the dreams and goals of owning our own pharmacy business began to set in. Read more>>

Lucie Jiru

The biggest risk I have ever taken was packing one large suitcase of my belongings and moving across the world to the USA immediately after completing my Masters degree. I had no job lined up, I was fresh out of school, and I was not yet 100% comfortable with my English. I knew that if there was an emergency, my family would be too far to assist. I was full of hopes and dreams and I had to trust that this was the right decision. Read more>>

Genia Lear Morgan

When I was a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. neophyte, we had a step show competition rehearsal for a National Convention. A prophyte at the University popped in to observe and say hello to the step mistress (her line sister). Read more>>

Cesar Espino

Early 2018, I’ve was faced with a huge decision, what I will consider one of my biggest risks and or as I’ve like to describe it as a leap of faith. Read more>>

Saul Gomez

The biggest risk in my life right now is the lifestyle I’m leading. In my line of work, constant risk-taking is essential. In the creative field, growth and progress often come with a leap of faith. Choosing to pursue a career in social media was the most significant risk I’ve taken, as nothing in this field is guaranteed. I can’t predict whether the upcoming months will be good or bad; all I can do is give my best every day and trust that my efforts will pay off. Read more>>

Kim Easterday

I was working as a middle school teacher when my daughter graduated from high school in 2016. As a graduation gift, she asked if we could take a mother-daughter trip to France. So we saved up that school year and left for our 3-week vacation that June. We saw and did many things, and one of those was to make perfume. Many of the major and longtime perfumers are in the south of France, the home of perfume making in Europe. Read more>>