How do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career? Check out responses from hidden gems from our community below.

Cam & Dom Ryan

We both used to work at dumb tech companies, but left to risk it all on the dream of becoming a private chef. The safe option is to keep the cushy 9-5 with the salary and benefits and ride middle management to the grave. And most people I know do that and they make a ton of money and it’s totally fine. But personally that life led me to a dark pit of existential dread. You probably only live once so you might as well go face first into your dream job. No one else is gonna do it for you. It’s pretty scary leaving that safety net but if the talent is there, the risk is worth the reward. You’re not gonna be on your death bed wishing you had spent more time in the office. Read More>>

Nicole Knowles

I think of risk as knowing when to say no, but also recognizing the value of saying yes. As long as I stay grounded in my morals, I try to embrace opportunities—even the unexpected ones—and I haven’t regretted it. Recently, I acted in a film called The Needle Eye Killer, where I played the title role. Acting isn’t my primary focus, but exploring it has taught me a lot about confidence and creativity. I’m working toward starting my own production company, and experiences like this feel essential to my path. Read More>>

JoseMaria Marquez

When I think about risk, I see it as the foundation of everything I’ve built so far. Two years ago, I decided I wanted to be my own boss, and on July 5, 2023, I launched my very first business with pins for hats. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to create something that people could relate to and that also represented me. My first designs were a Richie Rich pin and, later, a 1911 pin, both of which I dropped while still in high school during my junior year. Sales were okay, but deep down, I knew I could do more. Read More>>

John Liwag

I strongly believe in taking risks in an artistic journey. Risks illuminate the path of finding exactly what you should be doing. Taking risks force me to rely on my intuition as my guiding force and to never betray my gut feeling. My career started the day I dropped out of college and quit my retail job in the same day, with no clients or back up plan. I effectively threw myself into the deep end, so that has set a recurring theme in my career if I’ve ever stopped being excited about what I was doing. Following the excitement is my personal tradeoff for risk taking. Read More>>

Diego Mendez Cortes

I see risk as that moment you are on the edge of a rock, about to jump into the cold waters of an ocean. That moment right before the jump, that is a risk to me: the very tiny moment your mind decides to move forward despite fear and uncertainty. The biggest risk I ever took was moving to a new country with no money, no professional network, and barely speaking English at the time. It was terrifying, but I realized the strongest barriers are often mental, not physical. Read More>>

Morissa

Risk has always felt less like danger and more like discovery to me. As a kid, I was a bit of a daredevil. I grew up climbing the massive boulder mountains on the Hopi reservation. There was always a thrill in finding a new route upward, not knowing if the path would open up or dead end, but trusting myself to keep moving. That same spirit has carried into my life and career. If I hadn’t taken risks, I never would have discovered who I truly am, who I desire to be, or have built my business, a creation that not only reflects me, but has given me extraordinary opportunities to shine, to grow, and to express myself. To me, risk isn’t about recklessness; it’s about transformation. Read More>>

Rachel Gariepy

I think of risk as a necessity. No, it isn’t the most comfortable thing, but sitting still and stagnating is even more uncomfortable. My perfuming journey started in Pandemic-ridden 2020, when I took the leap of enrolling in classes at The Perfumer’s Studio in Hollywood. It wasn’t a small financial investment, but each risk, signing up for the curriculum, and later committing to the professional-level workshop, brought me closer to what I really wanted. After finishing that training, I was like, dang, I actually have to do this thing, don’t I?  Read More>>

Julia Sloan

I can’t imagine what my life would be like without the risks I’ve taken. Pursuing a career in the arts was never a question for me, and that choice has always meant trading comfort and stability for growth and opportunity. I’ve built a life in many different cities, only to leave it behind and start over when I felt pulled toward something better for myself and my craft. Those risks have shaped me as both an artist and a person, teaching me resilience, adaptability, and the courage to embrace the unknown. In my career, relationships, and personal growth, I’ve learned that nothing truly worthwhile comes without risk. Read More>>

Oksana Tsvigun

Risk has defined my journey. Leaving behind stable corporate roles was a risk. Getting stranded in Panama during the war in Ukraine (I am Ukrainian) — and choosing to stay there instead of returning to Europe — was a risk. Moving to Los Angeles with no safety net was a risk. On paper, every one of those decisions looked “too risky.” But in reality, each became a turning point. Read More>>