The chapters in our stories are often marked by wins and losses. Getting a new job, getting fired. Getting a life-threatening medical diagnosis, beating it and getting a clean bill of health. Too often, due to a societal expectation of modesty and humility we are discouraged from talking about the risks we’ve taken that led to those ups and downs – because often those risks draw attention to how we are responsible for the outcomes – positive or negative. But those risks matter. Those stories matter. We asked some brilliant entrepreneurs, artists, creatives, and leaders to tell us those stories – the stories of the risks they’ve taken, and we’ve shared them with you below.
Jesus Alonso ( Jac Alonso)
Throughout my career, I believe there have been two key moments when I took significant risks. The first was when, after fourteen years working for a multinational hypermarket and supermarket chain in Spain, I decided to make a drastic change. For the last seven years, I held the position of store manager, but at the age of 32, I realized I wasn’t happy with what I was doing. Without knowing exactly what I wanted to do, I decided to reach an agreement to end my contract because I was certain about what I no longer wanted to continue doing. It was a risk, but a necessary one. That decision allowed me to refocus my professional life on the artistic world, something that had always been present in my life. Since I was 14 years old, I had been creating portraits and had developed artistic skills, having attended the School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trades in Seville and taken oil painting classes at the age of 16. Before working for the multinational company, I was already a portrait artist, and after leaving that job, I knew I wanted to reignite my passion and utilize my artistic talents. Through tattooing, which initially started as a hobby, I was able to channel and develop my artistic side. Read more>>
Brittany Wilson
Starting Lucky Locks Indy was a huge risk for me. I had recently returned to living in the city but everything felt brand new for me. I needed a fresh start and something different. When I found Lucky Locks, I knew this was it! Getting hair sparkles was something that brought so much joy and confidence to me and I wanted to share that with others. I was very worried about how to manage running the business on top of my full time job. It has definitely been a challenge but developing my brand and using my creativity to marketing and networking has been so fulfilling for me and I am so glad I took the leap! Read more>>
Cory Danziger
I’ve always believed in taking risks professionally. I learned early that failure is not fatal when it comes to creative work. Some things work and some things don’t. Recently, I took the creative leap of releasing art outside of the work I create with SceneFour, and it has been an outstanding development for me personally. SceneFour has been creating collaborative artworks with musical icons for so long and has established a tremendous following. It’s been a tremendous ride. But I wanted to do some stuff outside of the work we do. I was worried about judgement and comparison. SceneFour is very good at what we produce. Would my works of art, independent from SceneFour, be acceptable? I was also worried that the work would not find an audience. SceneFour has sold so many pieces over our our twenty year history, and to create and release my own solo work seemed like it could possibly be lost in the shadow of SceneFour. Read more>>
Nikki Klugh
One of the biggest, most transformative risks I’ve taken in my career was when I decided to dive into the world of social media and video content—long before it became the powerful branding tool it is today. Years ago, I started broadcasting my work and design tips live on Facebook. At that time, live streaming wasn’t nearly as popular or well-understood as it is now. I’d have a few viewers here and there, and I remember feeling like the only person who cared to tune in was my mom! Yet, something inside me whispered that if I stayed consistent, there could be value beyond the numbers I was seeing. The challenge was maintaining faith in the process even when the immediate results weren’t there. I was investing time, energy, and a lot of my heart into these videos, but the response felt minimal. A good friend, who foresaw the rise of video in all aspects of social media, encouraged me to keep going, reminding me that this work was preparing me for opportunities that were yet to come. Read more>>
Aaron Medrano
I opened a barbershop at 19 years old. I had zero experience on how to run a business. This was my first real job. It all started senior year of high school; I had to figure out what I wanted to do after I graduated. That’s when I decided to try out barbering. I always had an interest since I was younger, but I never saw it as a real career until I did more research into it. And that was the best decision I made. I started taking courses, going to different classes, and just made myself a sponge. I needed to know everything there was about all aspects of barbering. Fast forward 2 years later, Im finishing up barber school. I was cutting out of my moms garage. Becoming a licensed professional I had a decision to make. That was whether I wanted to start cutting in a barbershop, rent out a suite, or just stay at my moms. Read more>>
Caitlin Little
Every decision you make involves risk. Whether you’re choosing to walk across the street or move across the country, as I did, you’re taking a leap into the unknown. You risk it when you try a new ice cream flavor or sing a new song at karaoke. The best way to get better at taking risks is to fill your life with them. That’s what I’ve done for as long as I can remember At age 10, I asked a woman at a coffee shop if I could draw their logo. At 12, I stood alone on a stage to sing Paula Abdul’s Straight Up at a karaoke contest. These days, I take risks by talking to strangers, trying new foods, and working with teenagers. To me, there is no risk too big. Four years ago, I took the biggest risk of my life. I decided to move to a place where I knew no one, with a job that paid less than minimum wage, and without a secure place to live. I packed my entire life into a U-Haul and drove east until I saw the ocean. It was 5 a.m., and I was scream-crying as I crossed the Missouri River, leaving Omaha, Nebraska behind while Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out played like a prophecy. Read more>>
Ni’kay Ranae
Taking risks in business is stepping into the unknown. It is important to stay consistent even when you face challenges and obstacles.I took the risk and moved to Georgia over a year ago from Wisconsin. I took this risk to grow my business and love for Fashion Design. Since being in Georgia I have grew in so many ways. This was the best decision not only for me but my family as well. Read more>>
Sickly
Unfortunately, my favorite question to ask is “What if?”. Because of this, I’m sure my life hasn’t been and will continue to be anything but immediately predictable. It’s okay though. Looking back to a couple years ago, when I was essentially doing what I still do, just in a more imaginative state, it all starts to make a little sense. I’m not sure what my life is like if it’s not just an extension of a young man’s fathomless imagination. I’m not sure where “I” originate from, being that my influences vaguely stem from 2010 culture, movies, and the auras of my favorite artists growing up. I didn’t know anyone growing up who made music, did anything with clothes, was into fashion or photography/videography, etc.. but yet that’s what I find myself doing nowadays. I grew up around no model of a truly supportive and accepting community, yet that is what I aim to build for the people and for future generations. Read more>>
Charlie
Ppl here don’t love hyperpop. It’s a very misunderstood genre. If u ask any bloke on the street who GnB Chilli is they’ll give u a black stare. I think It’s brilliant. There’s so much detail. The amount of craft that goes into the production is mental. It’s a risk to do that kind of music where I’m from. Read more>>
Flip Mckenzie
A big risk I’ve taken is leaving the corporate world. I have extensive sales experience but I have been doing things like Uber and part-time gigs to keep the lights on at the moment. I’m used to having more money than I presently do lol. Read more>>
Siloam Pool
My cherished friend Christina and I met in college at the age of nineteen. Both of us were driven, intelligent, and hopeful about our future careers. She aimed to be an author, while I had always dreamed of becoming a singer. Along our respective paths, we’ve offered each other support, faced our fears, and provided encouragement and prayers, particularly during tough times. Embarking on a musical career was a significant risk for me, I had a daunting obstacle of FEAR to overcome. Christina was the one who advised me that the fear of staying the same must be greater than the fear of change. The dread of failing my childhood aspiration motivated me. It took years to recognize my fears and then to learn how to conquer them. A supportive inner circle is essential for personal growth throughout our life’s journey. Read more>>
Jay Nixon
10 years ago I took a big risk and moved my business from NY to Las Vegas. I had a major life change and overnight moved across country. I was faced with the challenges of getting a new license, a new place to live and a whole new clientele. A move like this is a major risk for a salon business. I tapped into the power of social media and quickly started a rebrand in a new city. To my surprise, things turned around rather quickly as there was a demand for my services. So much that my clients from the east coast even flew out for services My business more than doubled in the 1st year. A new bi-coastal enterprise opened a who new world off opportunity. Read more>>
Matthew Jamison
There was a time when I used to think there was something deeply messed up with me because I didn’t do things the way others around me did. I left my job and did music full-time and home healthcare for my parents part-time. One of the biggest takeaways was that, whether your name causes doors to open and wallets to emerge, you have a responsibility to your interactions with the people that cross your path. Living by faith causes one to take-a-leap onto an un-sturdy surface. Also, you never know HOW the Lord will use the situation we were in before. Where I am now, Only God can tell fully, but I will say, we are a FAR ways away from needing to sell my look or change anything with who I show up to be Read more>>
Vania Desanctis
I’m Vânia DeSanctis, born on April 14, 1970, in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro. I come from a large, talented family with a rich artistic heritage. Growing up surrounded by nature, I cherished the simple things: fresh air, sunshine, trees and freedom. My father, Moacir Rodrigues de Souza, 80, founded Cabo Frio’s first beauty salon in the 1970s. With 63 years of experience, he still loves his craft! Raised amidst art, I admired my maternal great-uncle Cordelino Teixeira Paulo’s creativity despite being born blind. He made history in Rio’s cultural scene. During my elementary education, I modeled briefly but believed beauty and knowledge should go hand-in-hand. Financial constraints prevented me from pursuing art after completing basic education, leading me to study Pedagogy. Read more>>
Rani Gupta
My path to becoming a therapist was one that started with taking a risk. I had gotten my undergraduate degree in journalism, and I had every intention of getting a job at a newspaper or magazine. As I worked on stories though, it felt like something was missing. I loved being present with people, knowing which questions to ask, and hearing their stories. In my education, I was taught that my role was purely to get the story – not to make sure my sources were cared for after I got the information I needed for my articles. This felt increasingly misaligned, and I knew I needed to make a change. As I was having this internal debate, I happened to ask my therapist at the time how she became a therapist. She explained the process of going to graduate school, obtaining hours for licensure, getting licensed, and starting a private practice. At one point, I said, “Huh…yeah, I think I want to do that!” And she gave me the highest compliment I could’ve gotten at the time, which was, “Rani, I think you would make a fantastic therapist.” Read more>>
Froggo!
By far joining the army in 2020. I always wanted to do my art life but at the time i had absolutely zero buzz. I was also extremely broke and needed escape from my environment . I lost one of my jobs at the time due to covid and i met a future gf. I’d say those 2 things really served as catalyst in my decision. Overall it was the best and worst risk I’ve ever taken. It’s gotten me somewhere i’m proud of but it’s required many sacrifices. I discuss some of my military experiences on my album dropping this month. Read more>>
Sherri Phillips
It started with a discussion about where to go for our honeymoon. Brett and I had consuming jobs–I was a senior vice president at a major ad agency, he was a commercial litigator–but we were determined to take a full two weeks off together, something we had never done. So where to go? As we started planning our wedding, a low-key weekend with loved ones in the Catskills, we batted around ideas. Cuba, Brett suggested. Brazil, I countered. We began consuming travel guides, read travel memoirs, and stared at the world map and dreamed. Japan? Morocco? South Africa? Vietnam? New Zealand? Our wanderlust grew and grew. Could we negotiate a month off? We considered the money we had saved. One night as we fell asleep, we whispered the unimaginable. What if we ditched our jobs, gave up our apartment, stuffed a couple of backpacks with essentials, and traveled on the cheap? How long and far could we go? Read more>>
Javier Zuppi
The biggest risk I have taken is to dedicate myself fully to music. Since the artist’s path can many times be uncertain and it can be difficult to make a living from it. Tykyt, my new musical Project, has also been a risk because starting from scratch with another project is somewhat complicated. The good thing is that I have been very confident in the music I want to make for this project so now everything is going well. Read more>>
Olivia Bolt
I feel like my whole life has been about taking risks. The first and biggest risk of my life has been to stay true to myself despite the unpopularity and loneliness that came with it. I grew up in a very small town in South Carolina, and I was part of a community that “never left”. My schoolmates, church friends, family… everyone settled down near each other. Now, at 30 years old, I see the value in building community, but I’m glad I trusted my intuition at 18: this would not be the community for me. I left the state after high school, and after one year of college, I quit. I went back to the sales job that I had started after my high school graduation, and “bet on myself” to succeed. It was a huge risk to quit school, but my commitment was to myself and trusting my path. Read more>>
Timothy Hutto
Tell you a story about taking a risk because I love taking a risk. There is no way to find the edge unless you are pushing the boundaries by taking risks. The way I think about it, is there something worth risking? Yes, do that thing because you’re investing something more than time, more than craft, more than art… Freedom. That is where we push the edge of the bubble outward, ever so slight, as artists that choose the streets as our gallery. On a warm night in NYC I got the crazy idea that I wanted to get up a big 7’x5′ “POLITICS” poster on the Williamsburg Bridge. One of the homies was telling me the tale about how he made the mission happen a few weeks ago. I was fixated on the space. Fantasies of the sun rising over the river, commuters seeing my dinosaurs walking blindly forward, POLITICS a fixture for the years to come. Read more>>
Casey Daugherty
It was February of 2021, and I was eight months pregnant, chatting with my sister-in-law, Hannah, about her future. She had worked at Clairemont Coffee for seven years, and the coffee shop was about to change hands. Bob, the owner, was retiring and had built the shop from the ground up in what used to be a tax office back in 2013. With his retirement came the news that the shop was for sale, and Bob asked Hannah if she was interested in buying it. He had always hoped the shop could stay within the family. Sitting in my living room, Hannah and I discussed her options, but the conversation took an unexpected turn. As a joke, I asked her, “What if we went in on it together?” Without skipping a beat, she replied, “I’m down.” And just like that, a spark was lit. Read more>>
Kathy E Erwin
You have heard the term “Dream Big”, well I had a Big Dream. When I was a young girl, I watched and heard various stories from my elders and family members who shared their exciting World Travels. Like my parents’ 7 trips throughout Asia, my older brothers’ 1 year sabbatical backpacking across 21 countries, my younger brothers’ spiritual journey through the Ecuadorian Rainforest, my grandparents’ Airstream trailer summer trips through Australia and New Zealand, and about a dozen more lively examples. What do all these stories do to a young creative, romanticist mind? They developed my personal Big Dream: World Travel, via sailboat. This was a big risk! I knew first that I needed a career, family, knowledge of sailing and a heathy bank account. Which I managed to do. So jump forward to age 55, and my dream was about to launch, literally and philosophically. Read more>>
Christine Gibson
The biggest risk I took was to ask myself… “What Else?” I’ve been a physician since I was 27 years old; the training and apprenticeship were consuming. Overwhelming. Once I began working in the hospital, there was 80+ hour work weeks. Stress and exhaustion. It wasn’t conducive to adding much to my plate. But I was traveling. A lot. For work and for play. This reminded me that I was more. More than a physician, a helper, a caregiver. Also that the world was so much bigger. And that the job had opened my eyes to those stories. I work with many newcomers, specifically at our refugee clinic in Calgary. I’ve learned so much about resilience, survival, and family through their lens. In my overseas work, I’ve seen the medical school at Patan Academy in Nepal overcome the series of earthquakes firsthand in 2015; their strong connection of trust and accountability with community made them the leaders in the response. Read more>>
Diamond Jones
Leaving the military to pursue a career in the art world was one of the most significant risks I’ve ever taken. It was a choice that pulled me from the stability of a regimented life and launched me into the unpredictable, often tumultuous waters of creative endeavors. I joined the military at a young age. At the time, it seemed like the best path forward—a way to build discipline, structure, and financial stability. For years, the military provided me with a clear purpose and direction. The rigorous training, the camaraderie, and the clear hierarchy created a lifestyle that was demanding but predictable. But as time went on, I started feeling a growing sense of restlessness. There was something inside me that yearned for a different kind of expression. In between trainings & work life, I found myself sketching in notebooks, painting in my spare time, and getting lost in galleries during my time off. Art had always been a part of me, but it was something I had put aside because I didn’t think their was an avenue for the type of art I was interested in. The pivotal moment came during Covid. I returned home and was faced with the stark contrast between the intensity of military life and the quiet moments where I could immerse myself in creating art. It hit me hard that I was living a life that, while stable, wasn’t truly fulfilling. I realized I was spending more time thinking about the pieces I wanted to create, the stories I wanted to tell through art, and the exhibitions I wanted to curate than I was focused on my military duties. Read more>>
Danial Kelly
Made the leap for full time artist, from full time labour in charge of my own sole buisness, to pursue a life within the arts, making everyday sacrifices for my creativity, to walk a lessor known path, the unkowns are prvealent, and a lot of calculated blind faith Read more>>
Nichole Aramapakul
One of the biggest risks I took was in 2010, when I decided to completely change my relationship with food by embracing intuitive eating. Up to that point, emotional eating had been my coping mechanism. Turning to food during tough times felt comforting but left me feeling trapped in a cycle of restriction, self-judgment, and guilt. When I first heard about intuitive eating, I was deeply skeptical. Could there really be another way to live and eat that didn’t involve numbing, restricting, or policing myself with food? It felt risky to even consider letting go of the familiar habits I relied on for a sense of control, but I knew that if I wanted to truly heal, I needed to approach food—and myself—differently. I wanted desperately to break free from the diet culture mindset, from weight obsession and negative self-talk. However, it didn’t happen overnight. Unraveling years of conditioning and rebuilding my relationship with food was a slow, challenging process. Each step involved shedding harmful patterns of emotional eating and allowing myself to listen to my body’s true needs. Read more>>
Yannique Joseph
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was stepping into the world of talent management without formal experience in the field. My journey didn’t follow a traditional path, but I’ve always believed that the skills you gain from different roles and experiences can come together in unexpected and powerful ways. Before becoming a talent manager, I did quite a few things! I worked as a stylist, ran an online vintage store, and served as a personal assistant and operations manager. Each of those roles taught me something valuable—how to manage schedules and personalities, email etiquette, understand branding and aesthetics, and handle logistics and strategy. But at the time, I didn’t realize they were preparing me for something bigger. Read more>>
Katelyn Orth
To have a creative career is, in itself, a risk. It’s competitive, it demands constant skill-building, and let’s be honest—there will always be people who doubt you. I knew the path I wanted to take was risky, but I also knew I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. I’ve always been a creative person, but I didn’t seriously pursue art until my junior year of high school. Even then, I was nervous about taking art classes at school—I was convinced everyone else would be way ahead of me. So, I shyly asked my parents if I could sign up for art classes with a local artist outside of school. Walking into that first class was terrifying, but it was there I discovered I had an eye for art. It was such an exhilarating moment because it confirmed what I’d hoped: this was what I loved, and I wasn’t too far behind to catch up. Taking that small risk taught me to trust my instincts and pursue what made me happy, even if it felt intimidating. Read more>>
Ryan Shoe
I worked at my prior agency for almost 9 years where I rose from a contract producer, to VP. During that time I built a great working relationship with a creative director, Casey, who is now my business partner. I would do contract work for him and his business, time permitting, which lasted for about a year and a half. As we continued to work together we saw an opportunity to both commit to the business full time. It was a huge risk for me, being secure at a company I had been with for so long, and in a position where I had a lot of autonomy. On top of that, I am a father of 3 young daughters, so job security is extremely crucial for me. It was a also a risk for Casey, to bring on a partner to a studio that was ran by just himself for the prior 2 years. When we pulled the trigger on me leaving my job and joining Good Secrets full time, we were able to bring on my past agency as a client – continuing that relationship and allowing their work to keep momentum even during my shift. The risk was worth the reward, as we’ve been continuing to build momentum, booking clients we are proud to partner with, winning awards for our work, and even being added to the awesome roster at Ripple Reps. This is the best professional decision I’ve ever made, and I am excited about what Casey and I are building. I’m going into 2025 with renewed purpose and vision. Read more>>
Ida Sorenson
I realized that I wanted to create for myself, not for someone else. Entitled? Yes. Risky? Yes. Choosing to make the leather goods I wanted, rather than those I was getting requests for was a gamble. There was no guarantee that I’d make sales off my creations. But that was the artist’s dream and I was coming full circle. I had to trust in myself; that the products I wanted to make were something that would resonate with other people too. This is backwards from all advice, and sane business council, but it was the path I felt compelled (and fortunate enough) to take. Today, Urban Article’s bestsellers are some of the first items I designed myself. Read more>>
Brooke Kitzhaber
When I think back to my middle school days, I can’t help but smile at the thought of how thrilled young Brooke would be to see where life has taken her. Back then, I spent hours on my bedroom floor, crafting and tying friendship bracelets. Fast forward to today, and I have a dedicated studio in our home where I create intricate micro-macramé designs, literally tying knots for a living. This transformation into a full-time artist is a recent chapter in my life, one that unfolded over the last six months. From a young age, creativity was an integral part of my identity. Whether it was through my fashion choices, the way I decorated my room, or my deep love for crafting, there was always an artistic spark in me. However, I never saw myself as an artist in the traditional sense—I couldn’t paint or draw, and I even struggled in photography class. With a degree in mathematics, I found comfort in numbers and logic. But over time, I realized that the title of “artist” doesn’t solely belong to those who can wield a paintbrush. Read more>>
Teresa Stern
Making art is all about taking risks, but it can be intimidating too. When I first started painting, the big, white canvas felt overwhelming. Making that first mark was hard—I was afraid of ruining that wide pristine surface. I learned that finding a step that lets you ease in helps, like a “toned ground” (a light layer of color), or just make one big mark to disrupt all that white space. Once you’ve made the initial move, it’s easier to keep going. Now, in my current art practice, the risks are different. They come from putting myself (and a little bit of my soul) out their each time I exhibit my work, from experimenting with new themes and mediums, or from pivoting even at the last minute if the work calls for it! I’ve learned to listen to that voice whispering in my head, “something’s needed,” it’s so important to listen to that voice. I’ll pause, that pause is so critical, to just sit and look at a painting, walk away, listen to some music or look at a book, and come back to it, make more sketches, or do a quick color study—whatever it takes to figure out the path forward for the artwork. Read more>>
Ashley Meiss
I think it’s all a risk really. Staying in the “comfy” corporate job that has a cushy stable salary is a risk if it means you are unhappy and that bleeds into your life in all facets. I was one of very few women selling enterprise software for many years, making a ton of money and spending it frivolously on trips and shopping because I was trying to fill a void because I was unhappy in my career. I was chatting with a friend who asked me what I’d rather be doing and “Styling other women” was the first thing that came out of my mouth. It wasn’t something I had really given a lot of thought to, but she instantly said “I’d let you style me.” And thus, I built out a business plan and started with my first client that next week. The following month, I was laid off in a huge corporate restructuring that wasn’t expected (so maybe not so cushy after all) and I decided to take a leap of faith. I said to myself I’d give it three months and see how it went and if it wasn’t working, I’d get my resume together and start looking at the beginning of the year. By the end of the year, I had ten clients and had landed my first C-Level Executive that bought the big package. I started setting higher goals. I started styling men. I hired a mentor. And now I have 35+ clients and I’m a little over a year in and I’ve since styled clients for a private invite at the King’s Castle and at the White House, featured in multiple magazines, styled fashion shows, the list goes on. Read more>>
Tyler Bryan
It was June 2019, I had been out of my apprenticeship for a bit at this point. Work was slow and progress seemed to be even slower; things weren’t moving along the way it felt they should. I was working two other jobs and it felt like they were taking away crucial time and energy I could be spending on my craft. I wasn’t fully committed, and it was out of fear. I knew winter was coming, and that’s always a hard time for the industry. My first winter as an apprentice was brutal, I went almost a month without work. That’s a scary thing to put your faith in. I knew in the back of my head that something had to change if I wanted to move forward. I had to fully bet on myself and just make this work. That’s what I had done the year prior when I took on tattooing, this was just the next step I had to take. So I made the decision to quit both jobs and start tattooing full time. I had little savings and no guarantee I could get this thing off the ground, but I had to do it. Read more>>
Patti Dougherty
In 2020 I retired from my bead and jewelry business. It was an amazing career, and I loved being part of the Glass community. Participating in craft shows and teaching my craft enabled me to support myself. The design of the jewelry, the marketing, and the teaching of my craft to metalsmith’s and glassmakers became more challenging. It was time to get back to the painting that I had studied at Maryland Institute College of Art during graduate school. Read more>>
Sammi Barrett
The biggest risk I ever took was deciding to give birth to my 2nd child at home. My first birth was the typical hospital birth with lots of medical interventions that left me feeling disconnected from my body and a shaky foundation to embark on the journey of motherhood. This time around I was determined to trust my body even if it felt uncomfortable and unfamiliar. My pregnancy was filled with lots of stress while caring for a toddler, unexpectedly leaving our home while 5 months pregnant due to a safety issue with our neighbor, and moving into my parents house (where I would eventually birth my child). Looking back now, I can see how this was my initiation into the shadow realms of my own being and informed my current work in shadow work and somatic integration practices for mamas. Here is how the birth went: Read more>>
Jackie Missar
Back in January of this year I decided to take the leap and start selling my homemade and homegrown goods on a ordering platform. The idea of markets came in the Spring and before I knew it I was at the point where I had to invest in myself and this little business of mine- one that kind of happened out of nowhere, authentically and unintentionally. This meant taking the risk of buying better equipment. If I wanted to push and see where this would go I needed it; with the risk of this going nowhere and being stuck with expensive ovens and a bedroom turned into a home bakery. My husband took the leap for me because it scared the crap out of me to buy something so expensive, for myself, for a new business. Something that wasn’t on my bingo card for this year (or my future). I’ve never invested in myself like this before so it was quite scary. My new ovens- yes plural- came in May just in time for my first big market June 1st. I somehow took on to them like a champ and had zero learning curve. Read more>>
Rebecca Martin
Starting a moving company using all of our savings and no idea if it was going to work was definitely a big risk. In 2022, my husband, Garrett, and I decided to take the leap of faith and start a business with no money and a lot of prayer. Garrett had previously worked for two different local moving companies over the span of 3-4 years so he had plenty of experience moving, but we didn’t have experience starting and running a business. The first year we both put in the work. For part of it, I was working a full time job on the side and Garrett was starting his career as a Student Ministries pastor at our church. This last year, the business has been my primary focus and although there have been crazy long hours and many stressful circumstances, it has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling job I’ve had. We still have a lot of plans and goals that we’re working towards, but I am thankful we took that risk a few years ago. It was definitely worth it. And I’m so grateful for my husband who has helped us keep the right focus while taking this leap of faith. Read more>>
Reubena Aryee
One of the biggest risk I took was dropping out of college to pursue my dream of becoming a licensed esthetician. In December of 2022 was at the end of my first full semester at college. I was truly unhappy,stressed, and depressed. I thought going into college was the right thing to do because all my friends and classmates were going to college. But from a young age I always used to tell my mom I want to go to beauty school after high school. My original first love in beauty was hair, i was that little girl who always wanted to style my dolls hair or even sometimes I would cut their hair. As I grew older and watched my mom do her makeup everyday before taking me to school I fell in love with makeup. At a young age I realized makeup was a creative form of expression. Watching my mom use different color combinations for her eyeshadow looks ignited a passion for me to get creative. As a little girl if I got in trouble for anything it definitely had to be because I went to play in my mom’s makeup bag. No matter how many times she warned me not to touch her stuff I couldn’t resist at all. Read more>>
Jas Turk
One of the biggest risks that I have ever taken was choosing to share my art with the world. It can be such a hard thing to do, and it can feel perilous. Enacting and engaging in the vulnerability that is required to share your art, and to share yourself with the world can feel scary, and I think that this is often a process that is easily overlooked. People usually see your end product, but are unaware of the multitude of thoughts, considerations, and/or positionings that may go into that production. For many, whether you are creating or viewing art, it can be such a personalized activity. From the artist’s perspective, your art is your innermost intimate thoughts and feelings and by sharing them publicly, you are letting your guard down and allowing the masses into your world. From the viewer’s perspective, you are interpreting images and messaging, and making them your own (as you relate what you see in the artwork, to your own life), which is also a vulnerable act. What I found out though by being a bold and risky creator, who worked up the courage to share and get vulnerable with the world by way of visibility was that there was commonality and community out there for me. There were people waiting to connect and bond over a shared passion for creativity; whether they too were an artist or if they were a viewer, I was led towards others who appreciated creativity, just like me. Read more>>
Carine Merritt
The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was becoming a business owner. I started my own business, Carine’s Caribbean Cuisine LLC, in 2019 with no idea where it would take me. After moving to Buffalo, NY from NYC, I worked as a Certified Pharmacy Technician for about 8 years but I knew I didn’t want to become a Pharmacist so I dug deep within and decided to quit my job at the pharmacy and pursue my passion for cooking. I started working at Olive Garden as a Line Cook for about 2 years then I got hired to work the weekends as the Supervising Chef at D’Youville College. With all that experience, I got the confidence to start my own business. It was a big risk but I don’t regret it at all! I’ve had so many amazing experiences as a Private/Teaching Chef and I am absolutely looking forward to the next chapter in my career. Read more>>
Ultmt.
As a creative/artist, we take risks everyday. It takes a certain amount of vulnerability to put yourself out there publicly and can be crazy intimidating, to be honest. For me, putting on the mask as an artist was a big risk because in some ways it can come off as gimmicky and the point could be missed entirely, but also my ‘sound’ in general. I’m less focused on the sonics and more on the actual feeling, because it’s kind of indicative of who I am as a person. I love tapping into the source of things rather than just what’s on the surface, let’s get deep and tell me how you REALLY feel and what makes you you. I think that’s why I gravitated towards the lo-fi scene, because in a lot of ways it was more mood setting and atmosphere driven rather than sound and served a specific purpose other than being about the actual artist. I came from a hip-hop background so it’s very easy for me to default to that, but I had made the conscience decision to make something that sounds as little like hip-hop as possible to push my self and the listener to a place of “it’s cool to like this if you want”, so if you still vibe to it and like something you normally wouldn’t on the surface, then my job is done. Read more>>
Kristin Levere
I never considered myself a runner. I was never even interested in running, but I would consider every step of my running journey all about taking a risk. I was always a very active kid – I participated in gymnastics, dance, figure skating, cheerleading, and one season of high school track where I ran hurdles and the 4×400 meter relay. In my adult years I joined dance companies and loved group fitness classes like Orangetheory and Burn Bootcamp, but I didn’t really start running until the summer of 2021 after my son was born. When I went back to Orangetheory postpartum it was like something in my body shifted, like I started fresh, and all of a sudden the endurance tread blocks were something I looked forward to. So, I took a risk, I signed up for a 5k. When I landed a sub 30 minute time, I took another risk, I signed up for a 10k, and then a 10 miler, and then all of a sudden I was registered for my first half marathon. Read more>>