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.

Tyler Hansen

I would love to answer this in a way that’s not cliché… but here we go: pursuing a career as an artist is already a big risk. So, if you’re doing that, congrats! You’re a risk-taker. But it can’t stop there. Every job you take, every movie you make, every canvas you paint, you should be risking something — like I just did in writing that in the vein of The Police’s “Every breath you take”. Besides pursing a career as an actor, I’d say the next biggest risk I’ve taken is creating my own work. It’s the advice given to everyone in this industry now, but it’s not the easiest to take. Read more>>

Evie Kevish

I knew I wanted to take a risk when I kept thinking “When is it time to leave my corporate job to fulfill my purpose?” I resigned from Corporate America a few months ago and it was the best decision I made, because in order for me to make room and energy for my real purpose, my corporate job needed to go. I graduated from college with a Bachelors degree in Marketing and always wanted to be in marketing and advertising. I truly enjoyed my career. I was a Project Manager at a Media Agency. However, a shift happened in my personal life that changed the path I was headed on. Read more>>

Natalie Lahr

Taking a risk on yourself and your dreams might just be one of the most rewarding moments I have ever done for myself. After being a full time content creator helping women with alopecia I realized I wanted to continue helping women around the world. I took the risk of starting my own wig company Radiant Hair Co. not knowing what was next to come, but I knew it was my dream and passion to help support women in their hair loss journey’s. Read more>>

Nicie Mok

It was a long process unlearning the idea that there was one way to survive. I was born to immigrant parents and brought up with very particular expectations. My life was an extension and reflection of them. Hobbies were good, but at the end of the day, I needed to be able to secure a good, steady job. For me, that was supposed to be investment banking. I guess I have two pivotal career points: how I got into art and how I got into branding and consulting. Both came about with me saying yes to something new and learning along the way. Some of my saying yes meant saying no to what was professionally safe, but I’ve always strongly followed my gut instincts and they haven’t led me wrong yet. The risk paid off, and I’ve been very lucky. Read more>>

Loud Forest

As a band, we create music in a variety of different ways, hoping to connect with an audience. When something lands, its hard not to think that it was because of certain qualities in the sound and production. “Oh people like loud guitars in our songs” we may say to ourselves after a song gets added to a big playlist. But when we are writing and producing new music, we have to follow the path of the individual songs in front of us. We have to create an atmosphere that expands on the energy that already exists in the lyrics and melodies. This may lead us to unexpected places, to creative risks that we did not plan. Read more>>

Bob Barry

Risking I have been in the arts in one medium or another for my entire life, In my journey, I have found out that the single most important factor in succeeding in the arts, or any direction or field one would want to journey in, has been the ability and willingness to risk. Like many young people starting out, I was wandering about, trying to find my direction, and purpose in my life. Read more>>

Jackie Anderson

Bringing The Adventure Dollhouse from dream to reality has definitely been the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. By no stretch of the imagination would I consider myself a risk taker; I prefer to play it safe and stick to my cozy routines. After hearing me talk about my idea for a modular dollhouse, my husband (the risk taker of our family) encouraged me to go for it. What’s the worst that could happen? Well, it turns out a lot of bad things can happen when bringing a concept to life. Every step of this risk has been plagued with problems, but it makes it all worth it when I see a child playing with my dollhouse. It took me over a year to work with a team of engineers to design the dollhouse and then navigate the complicated logistics of getting a dollhouse manufactured. Read more>>

Mary Baude

Taking risks is such a huge part of being a small business owner. About a year ago, I decided to take a leap of faith and move from the small studio that had been Whitetail’s home for years to our large showroom and design firm on Main Street in Chelsea, MI. My team and I spent the Summer of 2022 renovating. It was a busy few months of designing, working with trades, and schlepping everything from our tiny studio (and storage units) to Chelsea in an effort to make the new space our own. Read more>>

Chanise Parks

The biggest risk I’ve taken so far in my life was moving from Boston to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. Due to the fact that I had no family or close friends living in LA when I first moved, it was a challenge to get acclimated to my new environment. I had no job and no connections to help me find work which caused me to start from scratch in order to make ends meet. There were so many times when I questioned my decision thinking, “I left a great paying job in Boston to move out here to do music. So why am I working at a random store in the mall for minimum wage?” Read more>>

Alyssa Daniels

The biggest risk I’ve taken has been giving up the security of my 9-5 to pursue my passions as an entrepreneur and creator. During Covid, I had been laid off of my corporate finance job along with a large portion of the company and while I was devastated at first, it really was the biggest blessing and best case scenario for me. Being in that position in life had opened up this wanting inside of me to create more for myself. I had always known that I wasn’t meant for the traditional corporate route and that business and entrepreneurship flowed through my blood but I didn’t know how to make it happen. Read more>>

Kaytee Papusza O’Brien

The risk for my current business has been choosing travel as a lifestyle. I have learned to find my path as a business woman and creative advocate nomadically for the past couple of years. Prior to COVID lockdown I started building the dream of launching my own textile business, based on the regions around the Black Sea, which I named Black Sea Textiles. The pursuit of this dream has required me to leave behind all the stability of conventional life, and start a new story – a story where I am constantly adapting to new countries, customs, languages and cultures. This is a chapter where I have largely walked away from myself as an artist, and towards many other incredible artists around the world. The intention is to elevate their beautiful work, and hopefully help them obtain new audiences and marketing opportunities; ideally enabling them to thrive. Read more>>

Karina Cienega Allison

Darrius (Dee) Oldham

This biggest risk I’ve took thus far was the risk of changing careers. Athletics were the dominant force in my life for the 1st quarter of it, up to the age of 25 yrs. old. In 2019 I had made the conscious decision to walk away from playing professionally overseas to pursue business endeavors that could not only help myself, but others around me as well. I had a lot of years left in my body to withstand the impact that sports bring on you, however I felt then was the right time to really start building toward something bigger and more sustainable. Sports took me around the world and granted me the opportunity to live in 3 countries at a young age, but there was nothing more the game could offer me other than more money, and it wasn’t about that. Read more>>

Erin Germaine Mahoney

I moved to NYC in 2013 just as my creative career was starting to take off in Vancouver, BC. I had written and co-produced a successful play that had been picked up by theaters in Canada and the US, and as an actor I was invited to work with some of the best companies in the city. Despite skepticism from friends and colleagues, I followed my gut to New York, and went from working in TV and theatre to working as a personal caretaker, then freelancer, then gig-economy hustler and finally into full-time work, first in Venture Capital then Public Relations. I was proud of my adaptability, the acquisition of new skills, and the consistent application of my creativity across myriad settings, but in the hustle of surviving the big city, I lost sight of the dream I came here for: to be an actor and playwright. Read more>>

Jaime Chalk

In the wake of the Covid pandemic, I found myself emotionally drained and physically exhausted from my role as a bedside nurse. I was frustrated with hospital life and wanted a change – to find a way to use my skills and education outside the hospital walls and far away from the sterile scent of disinfectants. I didn’t have a solid plan in mind, neither did I fully grasp the enormity of the decision I was about to make. All I knew was that I needed a break from the constant cycle of long shifts and limited time with my family, especially my small children. The idea of owning my own business had never even crossed my mind! Read more>>

Joanna Garcia

Change or taking risks can be uncomfortable, it is not easy. The most difficult decision I’ve had to make to pursue my dream and passion as a professional makeup artist was to leave my full time career as a Registered Medical Assistant. Working in the medical field for 7 years was something I truly enjoyed. My experience took place in a couple of Urgent Cares, Family Medicine, and my absolute favorite was Cardiology. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to further my education and become a Nurse Practitioner with a speciality in Cardiology. something that I definitely still would like to pursue. However, interestingly, prior to me starting my career in the medical field, I had actually looked into several cosmetology schools in my area. Read more>>

Michael Beseda

Well – we opened the worlds highest tiki bar. It is probably in the last spot you ever thought to find it – Breckenridge, CO at 9,600 ft above sea level! We loved the idea of getting away from the usual burger and fry or pizza joints and wanted somewhere to enjoy that sunny beach vibe with fresh house made food, creative tropical drinks and exotic atmosphere. Having opened four months before the start of the Covid pandemic we were initially happy to just emerge from the far side of that. Now that we have moved passed that and we are watching the growth of business and the happy smiles we put on our guests faces it feels like we made the right move. Just the pure delight on peoples faces when they walk into our little island oasis and then the even bigger grin when they get to experience our food, drink and hospitality is rewarding on a daily basis. Read more>>

Katie Noble

I’ve always been a risk taker, whether it was in my career or investments or trying new things. Creating this page was a small risk. Was it going to flop? What would people think? Will the content actually be good? So many self limiting thoughts that went through my head. But as I started creating content and doing more business visits, I found myself loving it so much that I didn’t care what people thought. I wanted to give people in Ohio a page where they could find fun things to do and good food to eat. Now, 4 months and 60k followers later, I have worked with large companies such as the Hall of Fame Village, Cedar Point, Pepsi Co, and more. Read more>>

Aasir Mecca

As an artist, you have to be unafraid to fail. It’s all about falling forward and learning from what didn’t work to maximize your potential. I recorded my original songs on a phone in my dorm closet, and they weren’t that good, but I wanted the world to hear me, so I persisted. I kept at it and found a community that supported me and my efforts even against naysayers and lack of support otherwise. Be fearless in your pursuits because what you want in life is deeply personal, and there shouldn’t be any person or people who deter you. Artistry is vulnerable and inherently risky, but the reward is immeasurable. Read more>>

Rehanna Washington

This is actually a very good question with all the talk around my page. I started my social media account when I was 11, called Girlyvibesspamm. I built up my page all the way up to almost 50k, I was doing pretty good but the only issue was my page’s main focus was promo on lipgloss. As I got older I didn’t find the same things interesting as I did when I was 11, and that included the lipgloss page. I lost motivation along the way and stopped being active on the page. Of course when you’re not active people unfollow. So I was very stuck and then I had an idea. Starting my page over and becoming a brand ambassador. This would mean deleting everything and re-doing my page. Read more>>

Desired Admired

Taking risks can be terrifying, as it requires stepping out of our comfort zone and diving headfirst into the unknown. One of the biggest risks I have taken in my life was a significant career change from the field of science to the world of art. I was fascinated by the medical field, particularly the specialized role of an anesthesiologist. With dreams of making a difference in people’s lives, I pursued and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the prestigious University of Colorado. It was a challenging journey that required countless hours of studying, dedication, and prayer. However, as I delved deeper into my studies, I gradually realized that my passion for science did not align with my actual enjoyment of the work. Read more>>

Bailee Lewis

I have been a photographer for many years now but I find that I am still constantly expanding and needing to take steps to further my business. One thing I focused on this summer was how I had all this free time but summer is such a slow season for photography in the Arizona heat. I wanted to find a way around this so I could take advantage of the free time I have for productivity despite the slower business since most people don’t love the idea of posing for photos in 110+ degree heat. The first of two risks I took this summer was deciding to expand my business geographically. Read more>>

Joanne Gibson

Life is full of risk . Some jump off the ledge and others stay stagnant & choose to live life in a box. I am a complete risk taker. What’s life without FAITH? We often allow fear to stop us from turning our dreams into reality, when all it takes is to simply start. My career has been based around the risk I take, my hustle & manifesting my success. Over 10 years ago I took the biggest risk of all by believing in myself. I quit my 9-5 job & chose to dedicate my energy and time into my creative career. My faith overcame any doubts of failure. And thou there may be struggles I always remember the reason why I started !! “It’s Beautii N the Struggle” Read more>>

Beth Gatza

Once upon a time, I was a young artist immersed in the whirlwind of the film industry’s art department. The world of filmmaking held an undeniable allure—living out of a suitcase, traveling abroad, and always facing new projects and challenges. However, beneath its surface, a sense of unease grew. Health issues, financial woes, and the relentless demands of the job cast a heavy shadow over my path and forced me to summon the courage for a pivotal change. So, I took a leap of faith and stepped away from the world of filmmaking. Read more>>

James, Kelsey Garofalo

Starting ART.kg wasn’t just about introducing a new product to the market; it was about embracing risk and challenging the status quo. It was about encouraging others to be their truest, quirkiest, most authentic versions of themselves. James and I have always believed that true innovation often comes from stepping outside our comfort zones. When you look at the most impactful changes or successful ventures in our history as a couple, many of them have stemmed from a willingness to take calculated risks together, even when faced with skepticism or adversity. Read more>>

Shannon Dill

I took a risk on myself. I never thought that music would be one part of my life’s story, but it became the whole journey. I took a risk at investing time, money, mind, and skill into music. It has now been crafted, and developed into more of a destiny for me. Read more>>

Masha Schmidt

In Spring of 2022, I leased a storefront on Main Street in Beacon, NY with the intention of providing accessible holistic care to the community. The dream was big: rethink wellness, rethink capitalism, and move away from ‘self care’ to community care. I was recovering from hip surgery and barely able to walk – racing into this new project because I could not longer continue to provide care for a privileged few. As an acupuncturist, herbalist, and yoga instructor in private practice I knew that the people needing care the most were the least likely to receive it. Read more>>

Jaslean Ahuja-Michals

I feel many times in my life I took a risk in order to pursue opportunities that could change my life. My first risk was leaving my home state- Arizona- to move to San Fransisco where I pursed my doctorate in audiology. I did not know anybody in the city and walked into a room of unknown faces- faces I would spend the next 2 years with in class, Audiology has been a rewarding career for me and even though my doctorate program was the hardest 2 years of my life it brought me a fulfilling career, long lasting friendships, and led me to residency in Santa Barbara where I met my wonderful husband. The risk of moving to a new city and starting a whole new chapter in my life was SO WORTH IT. Read more>>

Natalie Alexander

Thank you for the honor of this interview. In 2011, I was a married stay at home mother of three young children, when my husband was told that he would be among the people in his department that would be laid off during budget cuts. We had just moved into our newly built home and the possibility of losing it was imminent. It only made sense to find a job to support my husband, however, I was spiritually advised to take care of our children, while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychology. Read more>>