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.

Rebecca Harman

After retiring as a professional dancer, I decided to pursue other interests and started teaching at a relatively young age. While I taught in the evenings, I earned my undergrad in History and then my Master’s degree in historic preservation and ended up working in corporate America. It was definitely a long way from the dance studio. Then, after the birth of my first baby, when it was time to go back to work, we struggled to find childcare and I also realized I might not be the right fit for the corporate world world. It was scary but ultimately worth it to redirect myself to my passions, which now included motherhood. Read more>>

Pam Covarrubias

For a full year I was running two businesses, one was truly feeding my soul and the other one was taking bits and pieces of it. My own business coach advised me to close one business and I was scared. Do I have what it takes? I had been making money building brands for a decade and I could make money doing that pretty easily. I had clients on waiting list and people were loving my work. On the other hand, my coaching business was slowly taking off but it wasn’t fully sustainable yet. I slowed down and realized running two businesses was preventing my coaching practice from growing. Read more>>

Justin Isaac

I feel like my life path has been very circuitous, never straightforward. By the time I started walking the path of being a full-time creative professional, it was my third career. I had already had a career in the corporate world, then later I attended graduate school and earned my Masters degree. All the while I continued to work while I was a student. When my wife and I decided that I was not going to continue on to PhD work as I had planned, we had to adjust our expectations and I had to adjust my career goals once again. I had already made some connections in the commercial photo industry through a network of mutual friends. Read more>>

JC Ruiz

One of the biggest risks people can take is leaving their comfort zone of a corporate job and steady paycheck and trying to start a business on their own. When the entrepreneurial bug hits, it’s hard to ignore. Maybe it’s a hobby or passion you want to try full time or you’re just tired of making other people money and you want to make more for yourself; either way there is no such thing as the right time to take the risk of starting a business. You just have to do it. I was unhappy working a corporate job, doing the same mundane tasks day after day for a paltry salary. Photography was my passion. It’s what I lived for after clocking out. So like all crazy people, I left my steady paycheck to start my own photography business. Read more>>

Amy Clay

I’ve taken many big risks in my life, because when I know that something bigger is calling me, I can’t NOT heed that call. Even when it’s really hard. Here are 2 of the biggest risks I’ve taken:In my 20’s I was a fashion designer in NYC, climbing my way up the corporate ladder, with all the trappings and promise of “success”. After 5 years it became clear that this was not my future. I needed a more soulful, creative and adventurous life. So I bought a one way ticket to Australia, and a new life began, one that I never could have predicted. A life that would bring me around the world by bicycle, a life that would transform my future on every level. Read more>>

Michele Lara

As a child, I would accompany my grandmother to visit bereaved families. She had a lot of knowledge about making funeral arrangements and was a very compassionate woman. We went to countless services and would visit families for weeks after the funeral. As an adult, I planned to start a business to assist grieving families to make funeral arrangements. But God had another plan. As I was apprenticing for my funeral director’s license in 1996, I witnessed the anguish low-income families experience attempting to piece together funds to bury their loved ones. Read more>>

Elizabeth Price

Taking a risk…well, I’d like to think of it more as taking a chance on myself. A little over 5 years ago, my family needed change. I needed more flexibility in my schedule to work around our kids’ school and activity requirements. I had worked simultaneously with my husband in his mortgage career while still maintaining a small group of loyal skincare clients. I convinced the hubs to hire a full time assistant so that I could open a skincare studio and dedicate my focus to building a new business with control over my own schedule. Read more>>

Alysha Jeney

I think I’ve always taken “risks” and not really thought twice about them because I let my intuition drive. I know that seems sort of reckless and maybe at times my decisions could have been considered as such, but underneath my impulsivity to dive in is a strong foundation of knowing I can handle it. Knowing that the experience inherently comes with failures and challenges, but that they will ultimately teach me something about myself. I have taken “risks” my entire life. At 20-years-old I withdrew from college and moved to Melbourne, Australia simply because I loved house music and had recently made a connection with an Aussie. At 22-years-old I moved into (my now husband’s) tiny 1 bedroom apartment after 2 months of “dating.” Read more>>

De Lore`

One of the biggest risks I have taken was moving out here to Phoenix in 2018, to pursue modeling. I had just graduated from Western Kentucky University in December of 2016, with a Bachelors in Criminology, minoring in political science. I felt very accomplished for reaching that milestone, of graduating college, in my life but not at all fulfilled. Honestly, I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety during that time between graduating and moving, and the only thing that ever made me feel better was modeling. There wasn’t really a big modeling industry where I lived, so usually I had to drive 2-3 hours to participate in runway shows in neighboring cities. Read more>>

Jonathan Ochart

We all take risks every day, whether moving to a new city for a dream job or trying a new recipe in the kitchen. Starting my own business, The Postcard Agency, is the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. Quitting my regular 9-to-5 job to build a marketing and public relations agency from the ground up at the age of 25 wasn’t easy, but I’m so glad I took the leap. Picture it: A young, curious and sprightly 25-year-old in Miami dreamed of a job that gave him the freedom to work anywhere in the world. He wanted to seize every day and live life on his terms. At the time, he worked as a content marketer at an accounting firm, but dreamed of building a legacy of his own — one where he could work with legendary brands and nonprofits that make a difference in people’s lives. Read more>>

Ashley Brasovan

When I was coming out of college, I had to decide between two different location for job offers and two very unique positions. On offer was in North Carolina where everything was familiar and I had lived the last 6yrs (undergrad + grad school) or moving out to Colorado. It was actually a higher financial offer but the job was slightly less appealing and seemed to offer less space for personal and career growth. My other offer was starting as a Junior Account Executive in Golden, CO which was 1000+ miles away from anything or anyone I knew but seemed slightly more appealing. Read more>>

Cortina Jackson

In July 2018, I looked at a rope that I had tested out in my closet, made a cup of coffee; and stepped out on my balcony to make a video that I felt would encourage others who were experiencing the same hurt, guilt, and shame, that I had experienced for years. After the video, I decided to take my own life. I had managed to escape a life of domestic violence which resulted in me almost being killed by my former police officer husband. Here I stood with no self-esteem, no goals, and no light at the end of the tunnel. Suddenly, I began to receive messages and emails from people who watched my video on social media and needed help. Suicide was no longer a factor, as people needed someone who understood their pain, and it was at this time that I determined I had a purpose in life. Read more>>

Nicole Steele

After graduating from college and moving to Atlanta to start my climb up the corporate ladder, I found myself always looking for ways to volunteer and serve kids as I had done since a sophomore in college. I had always imagined being in a corporate space, but somewhere deep within there was always a pull towards the field of education and youth development. After continuing to serve youth as a volunteer, including helping to launch a mentoring program, called Sister II Sister, that served girls at a local Boys and Girls Club for over 6 years, the pull to serve youth never left. Read more>>

David Van Gough

The risk as a “creative” never ends-almost by virtue 0f the fact that it relies entirely on faith. Faith that the muse of inspiration will descend. Faith that the vision on canvas will be a simulacrum of the one in your head. Faith that something innately personal, slavishly produced, will connect enough with another person to want to own it. Faith of commitment to deadlines that can at the cost of time and relationships, a physical and mental toll and possible penury. Read more>>

Kadija Taylor

On August 5, 2016 I took one of the biggest risk of my professional career and left the affordable housing industry after nearly twelve years in the field. I was terrified but not more than I was miserable. Eleven years prior I had started taking real estate classes but quickly let that dream fall the wayside for the promise of a promotion and pay increase with my current employer at the time. This time I was willing to place all bets on me. I had only done that once before and it didn’t end up well but I didn’t care. I figured even it all goes to hell again I can always come back to the work I know. On August 8, 2016 I started classes again. Read more>>

MELINDA RIDER

I think risk taking is a skillset that needs to be practiced in all aspects of life. In my life as an entrepreneur over the past 9 years, I have had to continually take risks both small and large. My lifelong passion of rock climbing in the outdoors has really set the stage for the ability to think and solve problems in the moment, and make moves (on the rock and in life) weighing options and calculating risk. I have experienced the failure and rejection and the “no” the entire time. But what’s amazing is that at the end of a long path of “no” there exists the “yes” that we strive for, but there was always the loss and sacrifice that goes along with it. Read more>>

Jacqueline Padilla

Taking Risk I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t take risk. A lot have been lessons but now I understand why I had to go through them. I’ve always said how you do one thing is how you would do everything. So i decided to take a risk on myself, each time I noticed it developed me more. I see taking risk like pushing your limits. Exploring what’s out there, doing things you’ve never done. When I decided to take a risk in opening my company, I never looked back and changed my life completely. Read more>>

Dana Williams

About a year and 6 months ago me and husband took the leap of faith and packed everything we owned in Dallas, Texas and drove 24 hours to move to Los Angeles, to chase our dreams. This was in the middle of the pandemic, we both lived in Texas for many years and decided it was time for a CHANGE. We are both entrepreneurs in the entertainment and business fileds and no matter what we did, we knew we always had each others back. Even though it was a challenge living in a new city, with no friends or family around us this was a risk we were willing to take to better our lives and future. Now we are both florishing in our business & careers together! Read more>>

Jo Trizila

In 2016, after running my public relations agency for eight years, I decided to change how we practiced PR. In fact, I turned our practice upside down. For the past eight years, TrizCom PR’s slogan was “we get you in the news, or we keep you out of the news.” About 90 percent of our efforts were based on earned media. Our job, or so I thought, was to increase awareness and consideration. And, of course, awareness and consideration meant a lot of different things to whoever you asked. Read more>>

Lori Vann

Anyone that is an entrepreneur and is honest will tell you that there was a risk in starting that business. If they are really honest, they will admit the stress, worry, and even anxiety that they experienced in making the decision to start a business. There is a reason why I considered starting my own practice, leaving the secure world of corporate mental health with a salary and benefits a risk. Add to it, I started into my full-time private practice in 2008. For those that may not remember, 2008 was not necessarily the best economic climate to decide to go solo. Read more>>

Deirde Ball

The word risk to me used to be a frightening word out of a sense of fear when it came to me and my business goals. I worked at Wells Fargo for almost 5 years throughout my journey of being a collector and even before I’ve always felt like my purpose was too big for me to be sitting behind someone’s desk and helping that company build legacy when I could be doing that for myself. With being used to receiving a every two-week paycheck which most would consider that stability especially with me having two children how crazy would I be to leave that for full time entrepreneurship, although it was a two-income household my vision was starting to become much larger than my worries of “will I make it”? Read more>>

Cindy Twedt

Large rewards in life, sometimes require taking a large risk! From childhood, most of us learn all about the “lack of” in our lives. A lack of money to buy the newest trend in clothing, or a new car to keep up with the neighbors, or even a lack of opportunities due to our upbringing, our city, or our environment. This “lack of” mentality, was embedded in us at an early age and has now been carried subconsciously into our adult lives! I am here to tell you, that you “can” change your life, your job, your lifestyle, etc, by simply shifting your perspective and thought pattern. In doing so, this will also affect the way you feel, talk, and think, and what opportunities you may encounter on a daily basis. Read more>>

Jonathan Dritto

I’d say my story is more of a series of risks that I’ve taken rather than one specific event. I was a risk taker as a kid but they didn’t make an impact in my life until the day they started to sync up with my passions. As a creative person my whole life I’d find myself in this dilemma of working the nine to five while dreaming of being home working hours on a project I loved. I did it and worked many jobs I was passionate about but in the long run no matter what I did I always wanted to be in the studio creating. I knew it was going to take a big risk to make it a reality. I burned the candle at both ends until I was able to leap out of my comfort zone and take the risk to go full time for my dreams. Read more>>

Angie Yi

Buying Sumo was definitely the biggest risk my husband and I have ever taken. We just had our third child, and I took some time off from my corporate job. When it was time to think about returning to work, I decided to pursue a career change and went back to school to become a teacher. To supplement our income, I worked for my aunt and uncle in-law as a server at Sumo. Read more>>

Chelsea McGowan

In 2021, I knew something had to change. After shooting weddings for 11 years, I was just kind of done having no weekends. I felt myself outgrowing the genre… having less and less in common with my clients. I still love weddings (and I’m still shooting several this year), but it was time for me to move on in my focus. I’ve been shooting boudoir since 2008, and since a rebrand, my SKINbyMcG business has been half my income for over 6 years now. But still, deciding to make boudoir portraiture my main focus is SCARY. Read more>>

Diego Pérez

For as long as I remember, I always wanted to paint. My first encounter with art happened because I was hyperactive as a child. I was probably around 3 years old, of course, I didn’t create anything special, but at least I could settle down for a while. Now, I have more than 20 years of painting professionally, or at least I tried. There are many risks I took in my life, however, my major life changing risk was when I decided to immigrate to the United States. Although I missed my country and friends, Mexico is not a good place to be an emergent artist. When I arrived to Phoenix, I didn’t know anyone related to the art scene. Read more>>

Jamie Waller

I’ve been in the painting industry since I was 19 I’m now 50. I painted homes to support my music dreams. i played in Rock bands at night in the clubs in Phoenix Az.. I did it so i could eat and afford band equipment at first but quickly learned i was really good at the customer service aspect of the industry. So i was quickly moved to a customer service painter. After several yrs at this i moved to San Diego, Ca in 2006 with my then girlfriend who had just got a job with Sharp hospitals who asked “do you want to come with me?” i sad sure. I came here with no job but I knew i could get one within a short time.. Read more>>

Lyndell Werling

Life is a risk but the greatest exposure is not taking any risks at all. Playing small, staying safe, waiting until the right time, missing opportunities, and seeking permission rather than forging ahead with courage and tenacity are sure ways to not live one’s finest life and experience true fulfillment. Throughout my career, I’ve gone down roads that didn’t lead where I wanted. It’s never too late to pivot, re-route, and start over which led me to follow my dream of pursuing wardrobe styling. Originally, I didn’t know if I could make it work as a career which was my desire. I knew it could be a side hustle. The thing about side hustles is that they can remain passion projects that lead to self-actualization but not always self-employment. Read more>>

Candice Taylor

Let’s be very clear in the early ’90s when I quit a high-paying corporate job to run off into the Arts as a single black female in the State of Texas, Dallas at that. Risk more like suicide lol. However, I somehow made my own lane by staying quiet and learning every bit of art buzz words, and most of all listening. Instead of wanting to be known I championed the artist and became fast friends with so many fine artists. My life changed overnight instead of boring corporate dinners I was thrown into extravagant Avante gard events and soon a model in a part of the regalia. Whisked around the globe with beauty, bucks, brains athletes, and rock stars. Those connections I still nurture to this very day. They are my generational clientele. Plant your seeds well it may take a decade or so for them to bloom but oh when they Bloom it’s glorious rewards. Read more>>

Meghan Nutting

In 2017, I decided to run for the Colorado House of Representatives. Running for office is both risky and personal. People aren’t voting on a theoretical issue– they’re voting on YOU. I wanted to run for office not because I don’t love what I do. I honestly look forward to going to work every single day. I ran because I wanted to do MORE. When I see a problem, I want to help fix it. It wasn’t an easy decision. Most, if not all, state legislatures aren’t set up in a way that makes it easy or convenient for people to serve and very few of them pay a wage that would adequately support a family. Since most state legislatures meet only part-time, legislators have to find other work that can be flexible and that they can do when they’re not serving. Read more>>

Ashley Hence

I was involved in a hit and run in September 2018. It was pretty bad and totaled my vehicle. I was blessed to walk away with minimal injuries. At the time I was considering quitting my corporate job and starting a mental health private practice. I was apprehensive of walking away from what I considered financial stability. However, after the vehicle accident my whole perspective changed. I had the cliché “life is short” thought and created a plan to take the self employment leap. I turned my notice in to my employer in February 2019. Read more>>

Gilda DeLaCalle

Life always involves some kind of risk. In our case, we risked everything to begin a new life by moving from our native country of Cuba (currently ran under a communist regime) into the US (where American dreams happen frequently). In the US I had to decide whether to be a full time employee or a full time student. In 1996, my family arrived to the USA. My husband took over the role of maintaining the family with a $7/hour salary, while I dedicated my full time studying in order to pass the Medical Board exams and revalidate my medical license. Read more>>