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.

Axel Learn | Director of Creative Services

Taking risk is a necessary part of life, and a huge part of my career. The content creation career path is very challenging, as there are many talented creators out there. In order to take the next step in my personal career, I had to take a huge leap of faith and moved to Wausau, Wisconsin away from everything I knew for a job opportunity. Read more>>

Carrie Mallozzi | Event Planner

For nearly two-decades I was an outdoor educator and wilderness leader, so naturally I spent a significant amount of time evaluating risk. Being responsible for students’ physical and mental well-being either in remote areas for 30-days at a time or while under my care at a boarding school took a significant amount of commitment while also offering tremendous rewards. Once my own kids reached elementary school, and I craved more time with my family, I began considering a change in careers. Understanding the nuances of taking risks is ultimately what allowed me to leap from a career in education to one in event planning. Read more>>

Troy & Amy Renee | Instagram Lifestyle Blogger ColoradoKisses.CarolinaWishes

Risk is what leads you to grow and experience life to its fullest potential. Without risk, there will always be questioning the what’s ifs. If you take the leap you’ll know the outcome. Together we’ve taken risks we wouldn’t have without each other, in the way we view the world around us, the decisions we make, and the places we choose to adventure together. We chose the risk of knowing each other rather than the alternative of walking away and we opted to take the risk of sharing the bits and pieces of our journey with our Instagram followers. It has been a great risk to open up about our relationship on social media and let go of the superficial opinions that may surround us but; documenting our story and revisiting the places we’ve explored has been a source of enjoyment and amusement for us all the same. Read more>>

Bea Rowell | Midwife, Birth Center Owner and outdoor adventure seeker

Risk taking is not for the faint of heart! To be a true risk there has to be a level of gain or loss involved. When choosing to take a risk with your life direction you are deciding if you are either happy to stay static with where you are in your career, personal situation or home environment. Taking a risk to change any or all of those things, may mean you elevate and reach goals, ending up in a better overall situation, or conversely, you may crash and burn, leaving you in a worse situation. Read more>>

Tracee Rudd | Mom & Director of Colorado Kids Belong

I hadn’t thought of myself as a big risk taker until a colleague said I seem to be open to risk taking. As we discussed that and I pondered I realized that I naturally was open to taking risks, so much so that I didn’t even see them as risks. At a young age I started to view my life as a journey and realized that I have been invited by the creator of the universe to join him in impacting the world around me. I started to live my life with my hands wide open and looking for opportunities and needs and I started to take what others would consider risks. My life and career have taken me on awesome journeys across the world. Read more>>

Todd & Melissa Nieber | Todd- Creative Director, Melissa- Creative Accomplice

“Looking back, all of our big decisions have been a little risky. Move to Denver, CO from the east coast without any job leads… not a problem, 6 years later start a branding & design studio… sure why not, 2 years later let’s move to the mountains and build our own house… great idea! ” With Todd’s ability to live in the moment paired with his creative mindset, and Melissa’s visionary skills and constant desire to plan and problem solve, these two are not afraid of risks and never stop dreaming of the next big adventure or how to make their current adventure even better. Read more>>

Marea Janae | Owner & Lead Wedding Planner

I don’t think you can be an entrepreneur without embracing a healthy love of risk. Everything I’ve done as a business owner has carried some element of uncertainty. As a sustainable wedding planner, I’ve carved out a niche for my business that only a handful of other businesses have attempted, and none in Colorado. Thus, there was no market research available to me and no one doing the same thing that I could look to and follow in the footsteps of. Read more>>

Jackie Shepherd-Pettis | Owner, Managing Real Estate Broker

I’ve not always believed in taking risks. When I realized that LIfe is about being open to change and that my decisions deeply affect all aspect of my LIfe, I knew it was time to stop being afriad of taking that first step. One recent example is Our Purchase of the United Country Real Estate Franchise in Westcliffe in June of 2019. My husband, Wade Pettis, and I left stable but demanding corporate jobs in Dallas to start fresh in a small town. It has proven to be one of the best decisions we have made in our lives. We Love this quaint little town and giving back to the community comes naturally to us! Read more>>

DNA Picasso | Recording Artist, Songwriter & Owner of Picasso Gvng Records

Risk taking is everything, but I’m not talking about walking a tight rope over Manhattan’s streets without falling for a big pay day. I don’t take those types of risks. That doesn’t mean YOU shouldn’t take those types of risks, though. I prefer to risks on myself. I left college, my scholarship and track team to pursue music. For me, risk taking is a combination of a few things; getting uncomfortable, facing fear and truly believing in yourself. You cannot grow in your comfort zone, you just can’t. Fear doesn’t help a single situation unless you’re trying to get away form a predator and even then, you’d have to consider yourself prey. Read more>>