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.

Tracey Russell

I think without taking risks, life remains stagnant. I think you have to ask yourself why you’re taking the risk and what you’re going to get out of it? If your making a huge life decision, you probably want to be on stable footing, with nothing clouding your mind especially negative controlling people who will sabotage your progress! If you’re a creative person, taking risks is essential for you and your work to grow! The risk of throwing money away on art supplies, or wasting time is probably the biggest hindrance to creativity ! There are inexpensive art materials, and you can work small, set a goal of one hour everyday, after 1 month you have an art practice, after 1 year you have a body of work! Read more>>

Jynelle Gonzales

One of the most significant risks I’ve taken was changing my career after a decade in insurance to pursue a new path in real estate. This transition came at a pivotal time in my life, as I was navigating some major life changes and relocating to start fresh in a new chapter. Leaving the stability of a well-established career in insurance wasn’t an easy choice, especially after dedicating so many years to it. However, I had always been inspired by the charm of Los Angeles homes, particularly the old Hollywood glamour that defined their unique character. I realized it was time to follow my passion, even if it meant stepping into the unknown. Read more>>

Jaylen Brannon

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken and the one I’m still in the middle of is moving to New York City to try and be taken seriously as an artist. After graduating from North Carolina A&T, an HBCU in Greensboro, I made the trek to pursue my MFA in photography at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. It’s hard to imagine two more different environments. Not leaving behind the familiar support system of my friends, family, and culture in Charlotte, North Carolina, but, stepping away for a second, to come to a city where I really have no connections was a leap for me, but one I knew I had to take. Being a young Black artist comes with a unique set of challenges. I’ve always felt that I have to work harder than others to gain access to spaces where I can represent my people and our stories. I knew New York would be a completely different world, but it’s also the heart of the art world. If I can make it here, I think I’ll be ready for anything, but more importantly, the plan is to bring back some information to share with the homies. Read more>>

Laura Kazimer

I absolutely love this question, and I thank you for asking it. The biggest risk I’ve taken was quitting my corporate job. It wasn’t a typical 9-5, but I had been in the role for four years, and in the industry for 10! With each passing year, I felt myself becoming more and more miserable. At first, it was easy to ignore the growing sense of discontent—life was comfortable, the pay was stable, and I was following what I thought was my life path. But deep down, I knew something was not aligning. The work was no longer fulfilling, and the pressure and stress started taking a toll on my mental, physical, and emotional health. Read more>>

Fernanda Bertrand

The Risk I Took: Selling My Business to Pursue My Purpose In 2021, I was running a successful staging business generating $1.6 million annually. On the surface, it seemed like I had everything I wanted. But behind the scenes, I was burnt out, disconnected from my family, and out of alignment with my true purpose. The business I had worked so hard to build no longer felt fulfilling. Instead of bringing joy, it consumed my energy, leaving me no time to focus on what mattered most. I felt stuck in a version of success that didn’t align with who I wanted to be. Read more>>

Shelby Mayes

I chose this topic because I feel like my answer encompasses the answers to a few of the prompts that I felt drawn to. “Risk” is a little broad of a term and can be a little subjective but I’ll do my best to explain my story and how I ended up where I am. I was raised in a small conservative town outside of Houston, TX to a conservative family that liked to hunt and fish and drive big trucks and held some relatively conservative family values. As a kid, I felt like I didn’t entirely understand the people around me so, to me, the biggest risk I ever took was choosing myself and the things that made me happy as opposed to the “safe” or “predictable” life that, not only was I familiar with, but, to some extent, would have helped me blend in and fit in better with my family – something I grew up chasing and was definitely desperate for. Read more>>

 

Mary Virginia Coffman

After 48 years of perceiving myself only as a Liberal Arts person, I dove headfirst into the sciences! Boy, did that feel risky at the time. I had developed a fascination for how nutrition informs our mental and physical health, which inspired me to attend school to earn a Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health (this followed my initial Master of Social Work 25 years before). I burned both ends of a lot of candles studying organic chemistry, biochem, anatomy and physiology, and all the biochemical and physiological pathways that flow thanks to the nutrients in the food we eat. Beyond that I rolled up my sleeves to incorporate expertise in genetics through the lens of nutrition. Mind blowing and so cool. I worked really hard and felt great about succeeding. But what would I do with this effort? Read more>>

 

Kyra Johnson

I’m an Australian girl taking the risk to move to LA to peruse a dream I’ve had since I was 6 years old. My outlook on life has always been so positive as we only have one chance to risk things we didn’t think were possible. I took the chance on myself to fly to LA in June for a holiday to see what I could accomplish and who I could connect with. Taking that chance has lead me now to being signed with the biggest agency in LA to go on to be the a professional dancer. I have had a struggle to get there as being from another country the visa situation is tough but I have done it. I’ve backed myself and I am now living in LA for the however many years to come. Read more>>