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.

Marisa Rheem

The story behind the most notable risk I have taken in my fine art career begins with a nonplus decision to switch majors after my first semester of college from a BFA in Musical Theater to a BFA in Studio Art. Read more>>

Armoni Easley

I once took on a hosting role for an entire conference, despite the offered pay being below my usual rate. This decision paid off, the caliber of attendees and the potential networking benefits lead to five additional speaking engagements, with one of them being the most significant in my career so far. Read more>>

Xavier Figueroa

The biggest risk that I took was selling our home to start our business. I was fed up with working in the aerospace industry and I was unhappy. I was burnt out after years of dealing with demanding work schedules and with working 2nd shift. Read more>>

Joslynn Cortes

There are so many risks that come with running your own business, but the most recent risk that I’ve taken would be quitting my financially stable 9-5 job as an Assistant Office Manager, to pursue my performing arts career full time as well as operate Vocal Love FULL TIME!! Read more>>

Treasure Mallory

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk” is a quote that inspired me to start my own business. I was always raised to never use the word “can’t” and to believe in myself so – when it came to starting this journey of entrepreneurship, it wasn’t an idea I questioned. Read more>>

Jennifer Wolfe

My profession and life is all about growth, and I believe one of the places we grow the most is outside our comfort zone. This is belief is exactly what drove me to make one of the scariest, and riskiest decisions of my life- Skydive. Read more>>

Kayla Flamman

When we first opened our doors in 2017, The Miller Gallery was a traditional brick-and-mortar gallery in the heart of downtown Charleston. Our first space was the perfect beginning and a wonderful way to connect with clients in our first years. Read more>>

Chase Granat

Hello, I’m Chase, currently 29 and on the brink of 30 this coming June of 2024. My journey from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles five years ago marked the beginning of an all-in commitment to my music career. Read more>>

Cameron M. Williams

One of my biggest risks to date was starting my first business venture (Get The Bread Clothing). I was 18 years old with no money to my name, no credit history & I was a freshman in college with NO experience running or being apart of any business. Read more>>

Yulia Konovnitsyna

The year was 2018 and my freelance consulting venture had grown into a full-fledged marketing agency with an artsy office in downtown West Palm Beach, within walking distance from my fancy condo. Read more>>

Raj Vable

“I’m sorry Raj, we don’t have any tea.” I was white washed with panic as Kaliash delivered the news. It was April 2015, and two years earlier, I had started Young Mountain Tea with a promise to Kailash’s co-op that if they grew tea, I’d start a company to sell it. Read more>>

VERA NELSON

DURING the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to make a bold move and step out on my own, starting my brokerage, and I haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Stephanie Shanks

I Embracing risk has been my daily reality since making the leap from my 9-5 job to my path in the photography industry. And this journey is not at all what I thought it would be. Read more>>

D’Ann Julie

Nearly two decades ago I was encouraged to apply for a government job that I felt completely underqualified for, had never even considered might be an option, and quite frankly scared me. Read more>>

ViGi BOO

Taking the risk, Like the first pen stroke to an expensive sliver of paper, The first time getting that tattoo,Or the risk you take when eating questionable leftovers from your fridge. You leap or you go step by step. Read more>>

Ariane Sumlin

I remember the day I decided to take the risk and chase my dream as a musician. It wasn’t an easy choice, stepping away from the stability of a 9-5 job, but I knew deep down that music was my calling, my passion, my purpose. Read more>>

Nicholas Singh

Tivy (my co-host) and I, acted on conviction and inspiration in launching a YouTube channel and vlog style podcast centering around Bible-based Christian content as two regular guys without any formal Theology credentials. Read more>>

Webb Pickersgill

Now that I look back, I’m surprised how much risk I’ve taken over the years. It has taken a long time, but it has payed off. Immediately after college, from 1995 until 2005 I had a wonderful, stable, high-paying career as a systems engineer and programmer, and I was on a track to higher management. Read more>>

Yulia Burova

I took a risk to convert my Mercedes Sprinter van by myself, without help, knowledge or major prior experience. But what I didn’t realize is that it turned out to be much more than a DYI project to build out a tiny house that would take me on nature adventures. Read more>>

Bernadette Pleasant

In April of 2023 after years of pushing a stretching myself and my team to grow our business which had been struggling for some time, I decided to listen to my body and pause. Yes. I closed up shop to rest. Read more>>

Briana Jones

I give all the glory to the biggest risk I have ever taken in my life which have led to a plethora of many more in my life. I was working in a booth next to the Fox Theater. It was really awful. Read more>>

Shannon Mcinteer

After I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, I had the choice to either continue with a Master’s degree or take a risk and become an Ayurvedic practitioner. Read more>>

Dr. Jasmonae Joyriel

I believe every new risk I take is the next biggest risk because it is pushing me to grow, to evolve more than I have thus far, to more deeply understand myself, my values, my purpose in this life. Read more>>

Oscar Neidhardt

The biggest risk I ever took? Trading the familiar streets of London for the untamed beat of Los Angeles, all to pursue a full-time career as a songwriter and producer. Read more>>

Stacie A Buhler

When I was 23 years old, I had been doing wedding photography in my home state of Utah for a little over a year. I was making good money, but I was becoming less and less fulfilled by the wedding work. Read more>>

Matt Bodett

Most of my life I have followed a fairly straight forward path, this has included getting degrees, taking adjunct teaching positions, and maintaining a studio practice. Read more>>

Erika Luck

When my partner, Mark Tovar, and I first started discussing the idea of opening our own coffee shop, we were going to be starting from zero. Financially, speaking. Read more>>

Clare Watson

Reach out to that person you’re inspired by. Talk to that random person. Respond to that wild gut call. We are all in this wild adventure together and you never know what skills, advise, support or what exciting personal or creative projects can come from a little ‘hi’ Read more>>

Rosie Crocker

After successfully running my small business out of my home for 5 years, Sonoran Rosie, where I create skincare, self care & haircare out of hand foraged plants of the Sonoran Desert, my partner and I were going to be moving to a smaller house so I needed to find a separate work space. Read more>>

Juan Ortiz

The idea of being an actor for the rest of my life settled when I was still in high school. I knew that no matter what, I was going to pursue this career. Read more>>

MAXA

Last year I took one of the BIGGEST RISKS of my LIFE. I had been working with a local company assisting a local business. I’ve found that during my adult life I enjoy learning new things. Read more>>

Karla Pámanes

The biggest risk I have taken was deciding to go full-time in my business. I had been laid off back to back, the first time after a merger in 2018 and the second time after Covid in 2020. Read more>>

Danielle Nelisse

Navigating the varied tapestry of my professional journey, the most exhilarating chapter unfolded during my tenure as a Private Detective. Read more>>

Claire Hilton

In the fall of 2019, I had finally hit a groove as a freelance creative. I was getting acting gigs without having to audition, my choreography was earning me jobs at new theaters, and I was comfortably paying my bills without a secondary source of income. Read more>>

Angelina Arnold

It took me almost 4 years after I graduated cosmetology school to start my business. Taking risks can be scary, but don’t let that fear stop you from reaching your goals. Read more>>

Woody Woodward

I feel that most creatives or people in general get to a point where they feel stuck in their career or other aspects in their life. Taking a risk seems like the only way out. Read more>>

Virginie Garcia

Amanda Palmer said : You’re an Artist when you say you are, and you’re a good artist when you make somebody else experience or feel something deeply or unexpected. 2 years ago, I quit my job to pursue my dream. Read more>>

Charlie Robinson

I’m pretty sure that I risked my life by not telling my wife that I was secretly writing a book behind her back. When she found out she was not very happy either. Read more>>

Ruby Ballesteros

The most significant risk I ever took was quitting a 20-year career with no employment lined up. When I get asked how I got into pet care, my answer is simple. By accident! Read more>>

Jake Robinson

Just don’t wait for the right moment it’ll never come . Take the risk and break through you’re own expectations and forget what others say Read more>>

Olivia Kimball

I grew up a small town girl in Massachusetts and decided to move away from everything and everyone I have known and loved all by myself. This was the biggest risk I have ever taken. Read more>>