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.

Jessica Noreiga

As a licensed medical Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), IIN-certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and registered Yoga teacher, I help others create daily habits that support their overall health and wellbeing. When I started my career as an SLP, I quickly witnessed the shortcomings of our healthcare and education systems in teaching us tools for disease prevention, stress management, and overall balance. Read more>>

Briana Morris

One of the greatest risks I’ve taken is deciding to start another business. Many know me from the work of my production company established in 2015, B Mor Productions (BMP). From the start, BMP has been an artist-driven entertainment company committed to bold storytelling that is intentional about shaping the culture and elevating cinematic media and digital content. However, a little over two years ago, I was called to start B Mor Studios (BMS) in Los Angeles, where we take bold storytelling to another level. I saw the need for training not only in production but in artistprenuership as well. BMS is an entertainment production house that focuses on making connections through storytelling, media, and thoughtful engagement. B Mor Studios was created as a training ground for artistic development. Read more>>

Raeann Wimberly

Right out of high school I wanted to go to cosmetology school, but I didn’t. I was told “that isn’t a real job”. So of course I went against what I wanted to do & perused a career in the medical field. Don’t get me wrong I loved my job, but it wasn’t my passion. So I finally I decided to take the biggest risk of my life. I quit my job & signed up for cosmetology school. I say some nights really wondering if I made the best decision for myself & my daughter. It was definitely a struggle, but it was totally worth it. I now get to really be my creative self. I have met some amazing clients that I get to now call my friends! Read more>>

The Blue Dolphins

I guess you could say forming The Blue Dolphins was taking a risk; Alfonso had quit performing in bands about 10 years before we started working together and it had been a painful relationship, almost breaking though with his band Vitamina Vil in Spain, when the lead singer and main writer quit. So, he had switched Sound Engineering and had no intention of being in a band again. Read more>>

Christine Ege

Trained as a translator/interpreter of multiple foreign languages, my “career” veered off in an entirely different direction when I married at 21 and had five children. However, THAT was not the risk I am addressing here. For more than a decade, I conjugated verbs under my breath in Russian or talked to myself in Norwegian while folding an endless pile of laundry and preparing all of our meals from scratch (including all our bread). Trying to manage a schedule that included sports and music activities for all the children (on top of homeschooling for thirteen years and tutoring other people’s children at odd intervals) provided plenty of challenges. Read more>>

Kevin Noyola

Taking risks can be scary, but it’s also how we learn and grow. As a Chicago food blogger, I believe that it’s important to be willing to step outside of my comfort zone and try new things. It’s the only way to create truly unique and memorable content for my audience. This relates to a story about my first food photo shoot, where I took my learned skills from the internet and took a risk to complete a shoot. Read more>>

Bridget O’Flaherty

Taking risks is inherent to the creative journey. Opportunities often knock at our door, yet, if you’re anything like me, the shadow of imposter syndrome can creep in. Countless times, I’ve talked myself out of pursuing a creative idea, believing I lacked experience, others were already excelling in that field, or it didn’t align with my creative strengths. In recent years, I’ve made a conscious choice to embrace these risks. I’ve come to understand that this journey is uniquely mine, and regardless of where I stand on it, my personal fulfillment and passions are what truly matter. Launching a podcast was an enormous risk. I had no assurance that anyone would share my interest in sustainability within the realm of textiles and quilting. However, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Read more>>

Gerardo Munoz

I’ve taken multiple risks throughout my life but the biggest one so far has been pursuing Photography/Videography full-time. More than a risk, it’s been a leap of faith. I say that because although I excel in it, there was no guarantee that it would work out for me. Pursuing this dream took a lot of discipline, dedication, and passion but I’ve been lucky enough to be at the right place and right time. I had gotten laid off from my job and I had a family to take care of so it was either look for another full-time job ASAP or take this leap of faith. Read more>>

Kristen Kabrin

I’m Kristen Kabrin, a nature enthusiast and a devoted photographer who finds solace and joy in capturing the beauty of the world around me. Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Northern Nevada, I embarked on a journey through life’s lens that has led me to moments of pure connection with nature and the serene simplicity it offers. I was born somewhere North of my current home of Northern Nevada, my academic journey took me down a different path, but my heart found its true calling in photography. I worked for the University of Nevada, Reno as an Administrative Assistant for the Political Science Department for 25 years. Photography was my escape on the weekends. It got me out with my dogs exploring the areas, first around my home and then the circles became larger and larger. The great outdoors beckoned me, inviting me to frame the scenes that resonate with my soul. Read more>>

Kate Mueller

In all truth, I think that building a coffin was the healthiest thing I have ever done. Working with my hands is my form of meditation. I think about death all the time. Those thoughts have changed form over the years. When I built my first coffin at 20 years old, I was processing the loss of an identity, processing change and death in general, trying to figure out my place. My mind will turn over and over on a concept until I feel like I can understand it. I have been meditating on death now—through my pieces– for over 13 years. The pieces I create have become less literal. For the last few years, I have been building porter chairs/ temple structures. I am interested in the creating spaces where consciousness and matter connect outside of linear time. Read more>>