You’re working hard, things are going well, piece by piece you’ve built a life you are proud of, you’ve overcome obstacles and challenges, beat the odds and then you find yourself at the center of an unexpected dilemma – do you risk it all to keep growing? What if growing means leaving the job you worked so hard to get or the industry you worked so hard to break into? How we approach risk often has a huge bearing on our journey and so we’ve asked some of the brightest folks we know to share stories of risks they’ve taken.

Allie Serrano

Starting my portrait photography business was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. It was like taking a giant step over the Grand Canyon. You see, the hobby of photography is a lot of fun, but owning a business is a different thing all together. I’d been a photographer for over 10 years when I decided to make the change. I knew how to use my camera and how to create art, I created incredible masterpieces by this point, but I’d never owned a business before. Going into business for myself and living solely with my proceeds was one of the scariest and most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life. Read more>>

Michael Polo

In 2018, I decided to leave my Visiting Professorship position with the University of Florida, move to New Jersey, and pursue my business full-time, Partners for the Arts Abroad|LLC. This decision was the result of the several positions I held previously while pursuing my degrees over the course of fifteen years, most importantly, my role as President of Fine Arts College Council at the University of Florida. Read more>>

Gianna Pignatello

Risks are scary. A lot of people dream, but don’t allow their dream to take on reality because they are afraid of the risk that comes with fulfilling that dream. A lot of people have responsibilities, bills, a family that depend on them. At the same time, a lot of people are unhappy with their jobs, their routines and the lack of freedom they feel. I’ve always looked young, some may call it a baby face, and add my short stature of 4’11” that doesn’t help much. When I was younger, I always wanted to appear older. Read more>>

Carolina Paredes

Being myself and to follow the beat to the sound of my own drum has never been easy. Specially at the beginning or when my life doesn’t look like what society tells you it should look like. It is now just funny because at the end of the day it is me the one that I should strive to make happy. And that is exactly what I am doing. Living my dreams. Read more>>

Greg Mulamba

Starting my own soccer development company during the pandemic is one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. Entrepreneurship in any form is something that can seem impossible from the outside. Going on your own journey and being your own boss is a dream to many people, but they have never taken the step to release themselves from their nine-to-five. Also knowing that 20% of small businesses fail within the 1st year and 30% by the end of the second year didn’t make things any easier. However, I had always had the dream and vision to start my own company and if all I focused on was obstacles thats all I’d see, instead I focused on my vision and decided to bet on myself. Read more>>

James Brabham

We can all say that 2020 has been a crazy year for everyone around the world. Many people lost love ones and many have lost their jobs, not know where the money would be coming from. But let me take you back a year of 2019. In the year of 2019, I wanted to start DJing to add on to my music producer ability. As I started getting better, I was approached by a good friend of mines, Blanco Brown, who wanted me to come on tour with him when one of his songs started to take off successfully. Read more>>

Stephanie Rios Taylor

I would consider going into the spray tan business as a BIWOC was a risk in itself. Not many members of the BIPOC community were coming around to spray tanning at the time I decided to go into business but I was so confident and so sure of my mission, I knew I would be successful. I know educate and train others in the industry on how to create an safe and inclusive space for all shapes and shades so that we can create change together. Read more>>

Kelli Zeien

As someone in a non-standard type of career, you can’t always be picky. Risks, and losing that gamble from time to time, can often be a part, large or small, in continuing such a career choice. As a tattooer and former body piercer, I’ve made the leap of faith in moving hundreds or thousands of miles for a “promised” better professional opportunity. Living in so many highly varied locations taught me a lot about my industry and life in general. That being said, it didn’t always work out in my favor. Read more>>

Nicole Cha[;om

One of the biggest risks I took was moving to NYC right after obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Miami. I had no job lined up and a little money saved up. However, I had a huge dream of making something out of myself. I initially started my Marketing career in the music industry and like most industries, who you know plays a huge part in where you can end up sometimes. Luckily, I had met someone who was on vacation in Miami, the year I graduated and thank goodness I kept in touch. That one person ended up being my way in to the music industry which kicked off my career in business.. Read more>>

Artist Rico Edwards

Risk taking can be applied to not only business, but truthfully anything someone wants out of life. I truly believe there no is great reward without taking a risk, taking a leap of faith towards a sense of achievement. There is a certain beauty in the struggle, a certain type of passion and dedication before one is ready to take any risk. There is a certain mentally that one must possess before trying to achieve anything, it’s honestly a “risk it all” mentally. Read more>>

Fanisia Bundage

Aside from my business, I work full-time as a graduate academic advisor. I had received a promotion from my employer at the time but I decided to randomly start looking for job positions in Tucson, Arizona where a close friend was also residing at the time. With no hesitation, I applied to three positions and received an invitation to interview within a week for both positions. Read more>>

Gigliola Zimmermann

The biggest one has to be when I opened Joyce & Gigi’s kitchen! There was a lot of uncertainty from my end, mainly because I wasn’t sure if Dallas was going to like and welcome a new cuisine, I truly didn’t want to repeat what every well known restaurant was doing; I wanted to do my own thing and explore who I was as a chef. Besides the food aspect, there was the business portion of having a restaurant , and making sure I could balance everything out. God was good to us, and provided us with tools to be able to successfully run a business for the time we had it. Read more>>

Lori Garrote

I was so used to the everyday normality of my life . I felt trapped and creativity paralyzed . I realized it was because I was lacking imagination. I needed to change my scenery ; and I did by relocating and moving cross country . Read more>>

AjaNikiya Estro

Seven years ago I was chasing the American dream, making all the money and climbing the corporate ladder. I was also unhappy, uncomfortable in my own skin, wearing clothes I never liked and doing my hair and makeup everyday to appeal to my office environment and clientele. On the weekends I would volunteer at local rescue facilities and foster animals but it just wasn’t enough. I wanted to be doing what I loved 24/7. SO in 2014, I made the jump. I left corporate with a lucrative offer on the table and headed to Africa for four months. I have never looked back. Read more>>

Dominique Thomas

A few years ago, my hometown was hit with 2 hurricanes weeks apart, destroyed our home and everything in it. We had to decide, do we pack up and move or stay and rebuild? We decided to pack up and move to Houston, where I had to rebuild my clientele from basically nothing. The task has had its ups and downs, but, with the support of my wife, I have rebuilt my business here in Houston and growing more each week. Read more>>

Romina Groot

When I was 22 (2015) I moved to the U.S. from The Netherlands to follow my dream of moving to the U.S., going to school here, and working in the entertainment industry. I went to school at Santa Monica College, then wrapped up my Bachelors in Entertainment Management at the Los Angeles Film School. During my years in school and after graduating I toured with big name artists such as Need To Breathe and Caroline Polacheck as their merchandise manager. However, whilst touring, I also had the goal of becoming the owner of a PR agency. Read more>>

Steven & Kimberly McRoyal

Bright-eyed and ready to conquer anything, we actually took our biggest risk moving to Atlanta. We moved seven hundred miles away from our hometown of Chicago, away from any family with 3 kids under 8 years old, no jobs, and some savings which was a little crazy but it was what kick-started life as we now know it. Read more>>

Heavenly Ayandele

Taking risks is just as it sounds. It can be extremely risky and scary to do. I’ve learned to approach life in the sense that you may have to take risks from time to time and there is nothing wrong with that as long as you believe in yourself and take time to think about it before acting off impulse. Read more>>

Brian Carlson

My work is visually based. And while it’s satisfying for me to look at it, I do it because I want other people to see it. I want others to enjoy it, be stimulated by it, and chuckle over it. But getting people to see it means putting yourself out there. There’s risk involved in that. Some will love it and some won’t. That’s difficult for anyone, particularly a sensitive artist like myself. But if I don’t take that risk my work won’t get better and I won’t grow more resilient. And I’d like to think my work touches people at some level, so now showing it is a disservice to them and how I was made. Read more>>

Amma Bromley-Perry

For the longest time, photography has been my ‘thing.’ When people thought of me they thought of my photography and while it felt great to be known for something, it became a box for me where I felt like I could only do photography since that was what I was known for. My risk was branching out beyond the confines of my box. I started doing simple line art designs and improved my drawing skills. In doing so, I saw improvements in my photography as I applied what I learned while drawing to my photography. Read more>>

Daniele Cavallo

When my twin brother and I turned 30 years old, we decided to move to America to continue pursuing our careers as professional ballroom dancers. There was a lot of uncertainty and unknowns during this time. We received our visas because of our extraordinary abilities. We both recently have become American citizens. It was very difficult at times , but has been completely worth it. Read more>>

1ne Chance

So I’m originally from Asheville N.C. The biggest risk I’ve taken was moving to Atlanta without any family or close
relatives. Scary journey but it’s payed off in so many great ways. Meeting new people, going new places. The road of the unknown, God has used it to open doors in my music and rainistavebaariunitiesidhavestbadYn my comfort zone back in my hometown Read more>>

Leslie Wilson

For me, the biggest risk I’ve taken is starting over. My first experience as an entrepreneur came with the fearlessness and tenacity of youth. Back then, I knew I was going to make it. I knew I had whatever it took to be successful. I dare admit that I was so confident in my abilities I took it -confidence- for granted. Years removed from that assured feeling, I dream of possessing an iota of what once was. It’s like looking into a snow globe of my former self and wanting to shake it up. Entrepreneurship this time around is a chosen weight. I believe in myself with caution. I overthink so much it puts a strain on my creativity. Someone calls me mommy now. That in itself threw a gorilla-sized monkey wrench in my risk taking. Read more>>

Autumn Faith

I wasn’t feeling my best at the beginning of 2022, I knew dance always made me feel better, so I started taking hip hop & heels classes after I got out of school. I networked and got to know a few people there and was invited to take a drop in class the following week. I wasn’t going to go, but decided to last minute. We take the class and at the end, the teacher (Derrick) complimented my performance and told me he wanted to expand his team in San Diego. He speaks with me a little bit more and asked if I’d be willing to be the director. To which I responded,”Hell yeah!” as he throws me a team sweatshirt and responds,” welcome to the team”. Read more>>

Trenez Scott

Building a notable name in the fashion industry has become a profound goal of mine today, and I am still working hard to achieve that. I did not own a playbook or guide on how to start this path as a fashion stylist. Most importantly, how would I get others to take my passion as seriously as I envision emerging into the industry? In 2020, I moved to Atlanta from Mississippi. I learned later that moving was the first unreconizable risk of many risks ahead. During this time, I had no clue that moving would be the beginning of many doors to open that I could only imagine for others to see what I had known the entire time. Read more>>

Kim Gonzales

Becoming a mother last year really changed so much for me. It completely shifted what I want my life to look like and I wasn’t expecting that. I was assuming I would go right back to work but I decided I didn’t want do the 9-5 anymore. Prior to taking this leap in event/wedding planning I was working in the corporate world with experience in marketing, events, client relations, and executive assisting. Starting March & May Events was a huge risk for me. Doing something on your own feels so vulnerable. The thoughts of “What if I fail?” or “What will people think?” run through your mind in the beginning but I truly feel like they are the best motivators. Read more>>

Noureen Wadhvania

I’ll start with quotes that I strongly stand by : “Nothings worth having come easy” “If there’s slightest chance of getting something that will make you happy, risk it. Life is too short & happiness is too rare.” I’ve taken many risks in life in fact we all do on daily basis. However, my biggest Risk perhaps let’s say my biggest failure of life turned out to be my biggest blessing. You wonder how ? Here’s the back story. Read more>>

Michael Lentz

Starting your own business is a huge risk on its own and in my case the old saying ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ turned out to be true. I started my DJ business soon after my daughter was born. Someone needed to stay home to take care of the new baby and becoming an Event DJ allowed me to stay home with my daughter on the weekdays. I gave up my full time teaching job and gradually built up my business into a worthwhile venture. Read more>>

Patricia Sheridan

Do you ever feel that you should do something, and the universe keeps giving you signs? I call those moments whispers and believe you should listen to them. In 2020 I decided my word of the year would be courage and how I would focus on being courageous in my business, personal life, and soon-to-be marriage. We all know 2020 brought a complete stop to the world and a lot of pain and suffering to many. Read more>>

Izabela Bos

All decisions that fulfill your happiness come with risks in life! I always wanted to own a business but never was too sure where to start or what industry to enter. During my journey in school and professional career, I developed a passion for digital media and empowering individuals/brands to grow their image and reputation on channels like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok. Read more>>

Lauren Wenzell

The biggest risk I have ever taken was on myself. I was at a point in my life where I knew if I didn’t make a significant change, I would continue to be a victim of life. I was burnt out from my previous profession of being a behavior therapist for 10+ years that worked with the neurodiverse community (clients with autism and special needs). I loved working with my previous clients and seeing their abilities and the way they were able to breakthrough any labels or limitations that were placed on them. It was truly a gift to witness every day. However, the current system does not support the whole of a person, their needs, and their workers. Read more>>

Irene Page

To be an artist and a vintage dealer at a later age definitely had me questioning its sustainability. However, this is a journey I chose for myself for my own contentment. An artist is who I am. I think I have always known that. However, it took me many years to find the true medium for my self expression as an artist. Silversmithing came to me during the time I I felt I was at my lowest as a creative being. It started out as my outlet for myself. After a year of honing and making treasures, I started to offer it to the public. Read more>>

Ariane Reina

It happened after my third child was born; my husband was working as a floor installer for a company, and I was working at an office job as a bookkeeper/accountant and it was a good job, safe, comfortable and paying the bills but it was also making me extremely unhappy with each passing day. I was physically there but I was constantly dreaming of having my own photography business. Always planning photoshoots in my mind. Read more>>

Meredith Madsen

The COVID-19 pandemic definitely had a huge impact on my company. You want to talk about a total shock to a business, the pandemic was just that. Overnight in March of 2020 our business went from thriving with no end in sight, to quite literally all doors shut as the nation went into mass lockdown. That means all small businesses, all big box retailers, everyone went indoors, no one was shopping (unless it was online). Read more>>

Nikki McElwaine

“If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.”- Geena Davis One of my greatest accomplishments is taking a risk, and putting myself out there. Putting myself out there for everyone to see and judge, and be okay with it. About a year in a half ago, I decided to join a company called Seint Beauty. Being a makeup enthusiest myself, I decided to take a risk of something for myself. After having my second daughter, I decided not to go back to work, and that I wanted to be apart of something that I truly loved; versus doing something much less fulfilling for extra income. Read more>>

Raven Blue

I would say showing people who you really are in an authentic way is taking a risk. A lot of us were taught to be a certain way when we were children. How to be in the world. How to conduct ourselves. How to dress. And still as time goes on, society tells us who to be. One risk I have taken recently was performing in a Minx + Muse (check them out)Burlesque Show. It was the most liberating but also scary. To perform in front of strangers and strip down to pasties was an incredible experience. Read more>>

Jeanine Hunter

I took a big risk in 2019! For years I always had a side hustle to my corporate jobs. I handmade soaps, body butters and even had a gourmet brown business. In 2017, unhappy at my corporate job in VA, I signed up for beauty supply training school in ATL. I was flying down one weekend a month for training in a multibillion dollar industry. In 2019, I hit a wall in the industry I was in and was ready to make a move. I’m a doer, not a talker and decided if I wanted to have a brick-and-mortar, I should do it now before I am unable to do so. I didn’t want to be older and wondering “what if?”. Read more>>

Codi Robinson Soto

Risks, I take risks literally everyday. When it comes to my personal life and businesses. I was a bit at my lowest this month and had to take out a loan. I used it towards equipment of two new services I wanted to offer with my business and so far, that risk to me failed. In life, I’ve always heard “Take that risk.” And I have taken soo many and majority of those risks burned my pockets, left me crying, left thoughts in my find like “Did I even take the right risks:” Read more>>

Caleb Stanley

Leaving the comfort of what you know and moving to a small town in Georgia because you believe in a community. Shortly after returning from Los Angeles with my wife, I was drawn to the idea of helping revitalize a town. I had spent the past decade in full time ministry but I knew it was time to take a leap of faith, and in a new way. A slightly less admirable way? One without a public platform or well branded company. I had spent years building events that people would come to and became baffled with the question, “How do we turn this gathering into a community.” Read more>>

Morgan Middlebrook

Like most things that we will all come to realize in this life, many things involve risk. Everything has a balance to it, for example either you have a secure stable full time job but maybe that doesn’t make you happy, but at least all your material possessions are paid off, or you make less money but feel free in your passions and your pursuit of life and are blissful day to day. Read more>>

Noemi Pareja

I’ve taken many risks and continue to do so, but the one that has changed my life was deciding to open up another brick and mortar business in 2020 after losing my first business in 2019. My story is failure isn’t really a loss if a lesson can be learned from it. 2017- I decided to pursue my dream of opening up a luxury, boutique holistic wellness spa and yoga studio in what I believed was my dream city-Sarasota. Living by the ocean in a place where I believed my little business would be welcomed and thrive. Read more>>

Taylor Medows

I think the biggest risk I have ever taken was moving to Austin. I knew no one here, never really lived alone or lived more than an hour away from my hometown. I moved here for a job I had absolutely no experience in and was way under qualified for. I was fired two weeks later. This is what lit the fire under me to turn Mindful Medows from a blog to a real life wellness experience. Read more>>

De’Qustay Johnson

One of the biggest risks I have taken was leaving both of my jobs to focus on my business full-time. This was one of the scariest moves I have ever made. But it also was one of the most fulfilling things I could have ever done for myself and for my business. This has taught me there are no limits to what I can do if I work really hard and put my mind to something! Read more>>

Irma Alvarado

It all began one day when I was stuck in traffic returning from work. The idea of doing something exceptional and distinctive crossed my mind. The dream of being an entrepreneur has always been in the back of my head, but I wanted to do something that I would enjoy. There was one thing I was certain of: “whatever I planned to do would be beneficial to me personally and to my family”. As I thought more about it, I realized my husband and I both have skin conditions. His skin condition is dermatitis, and mine is ichthyosis. Our condition has not improved over the years despite using several prescribed medications, creams, ointments, and lotions. Read more>>

Veronica Yanhs

It’s no secret that the moment you interact with the Business Laid Bare brand, you immediately know that we’re no ordinary business—yes, we’re an agency focused on helping impact-driven organizations streamline their day-to-day operations so that they can increase their income and impact with immense ease, pleasure, and sustainability. You also see our bold sex and kink-positive brand and know that this is something that is core to who this business is. The home page is a picture of me naked, laid bare tastefully and cheekily. Read more>>

Susan Spells

My story of why I walk this walk and why I choose to become a doula looks very different from the typical doula’s story. It all started in 2017, I had just made a big girl decision to NOT pursue that nursing degree but to do something I knew my heart was set on and it was to be around, love on, and teach children. What I didn’t know when I walked away from nursing, I was walking into my gift and my purpose. I decided to go where my heart was set and at the time that was a preschool teacher. Read more>>