By far, the topic that comes up most in our conversations with entrepreneurs and creatives is risk. We’ve had conversations about risks that worked out and risks that did not. We’ve seen eyes light eye sharing about career-trajectory changing risks as well as folks sigh about the risks they wish they had taken. Below, we’ve selected and shared some of those thoughtful conversations.

Gabrielle Mann | Owner of Golden Game Guild

It’s no secret that I am not a very risk averse person. I have always had big dreams, so has my husband, Ryun. After college, the two of us moved to Manhattan with hardly any money, no jobs, but a ton of drive. That was a small risk. In comparison, we moved back to Colorado (during COVID), and a couple of years later, opened a game store. Bigger risk for sure. A life-long commitment. Just a few months later we got married. Without risk, we would never be where we are today. All of the things I am proud of having accomplished, all had an element of risk. Read more>>

Cristen Alexandria | Creative Producer & Movement Artist

Risk holds a certain mysticism to it that as an entrepreneur and artist I’ve always found captivating. My interpretation of “risk” is that there is a kind of trust, an inner dialogue that plays out while embracing the unknown. Towards the beginning of. my career I spent a calculated amount of energy embracing stability in hopes of one day being able to free up and move towards goals and ambitions of greater freedom. Read more>>

Emily Kelly | Graphic Designer and Artist

I think the idea of risk—stepping into foreign territory—is subjective in the sense that said notion of risk is typically fueled by societal constructs rather than personal beliefs. It’s something we’ve all come to know as an intimidating thing to do because of [insert several reasons that usually loop back to societal norms here], when in reality, it can be easier to do than we think. Read more>>

Betty Lehman | Disability Advisor and Advocate

Taking risks is easy when you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. One of the risks I took over and over, and still do, is to not focus on being liked. I focus on being respected. Many years ago when I was a major advocacy figure at Colorado’s State Capitol, a highly paid lobbyist told me, “Betty, people here not only respect you, they fear you!” My beau at the time was Senate Majority Leader, Ken Gordon. He said, “When you think people are screwing you, you go nuts.” I responded, “No, when I think they are screwing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), I go nuts!” Read more>>