To persevere or to pivot is a question that do-ers have been asking themselves since the beginning of time. It’s never a straight road when you are doing something new, blazing a trail, breaking a ceiling, or pushing boundaries, so it’s only natural to wonder whether to give up midway. How do you know whether to keep going or to give up?

Ekaterina Stetsenko | Flower designer

This is probably one of the most often question small business owners ask themselves -keep going or give up. I did too. When you have things to pay, rent, employees, product, insurance etc and not enough sales as you projected, this is the question that is in your head, what’s next, but for me universe always sends a sign to keep going, whether is wedding project or just a happy customer saying good things about my place. Read more>>

Les Lahage | Screenwriter & Photographer

No matter what the challenge has been in life, learning how to write a screenplay or taking a photo; staying the course has become a way of life. Giving up is simply too easy. There will always be obstacles in the road, but in the end you have to ask yourself one question; am I improving upon the craft at hand? I believe when it comes to your passion, you owe it to yourself to atleast try. The journey towards success is never easy but necessary in achieving your goals. Read more>>

Zachary Gold and RaceyKay Garnet | Van Builder

It’s impossible to avoid risks in starting your own business. You immediately lose the safety of a weekly paycheck and often work 60 hours a week with no income at all. Luckily for us, the very thing that we build has also allowed us to live life in a way that mitigates that risk. Because we live in a van and have very low monthly overhead, we are able to take bigger risks in our business without worrying about being able to support ourselves and our lifestyles. Read more>>

Bethany Oberg | Retail Specialist | Baker

I don’t often take risks, but when I do I make sure it’s something that I’ve thought a lot about and that it’s something I want to do 1000%, no matter what the outcome might be. I think the universe has a way of telling us when we’re ready for things, for me it’s when I have an idea that I can’t stop think about. Or maybe something I was once excited for, didn’t do at the time, and now it’s coming to my mind again. Read more>>

Korrie Yamaoka | Music Director, Vocal Coach & Audition Specialist, Composer

Risk is everything! I wouldn’t be where I am today without taking risks. And, sometimes I wonder where I could be if I had taken MORE risks. As a musician, every time you put yourself out there as an artist it’s a risk. And that’s terrifying. People could hate the songs you’re writing or the sound of your voice. They might criticize your piano playing, compare you to other artists, or take to social media to talk about how “NOT” into you they are. Read more>>

Alex Kosinski | Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach

I am a BIG risk taker. To me, taking a risk is walking the path less traveled. It’s attempting something new, perhaps a bit frightening, or doing something that others doubt we can accomplish. Since a young age, I have always lived my life with no fear of taking risks. For example, when I was a freshman in high school, I had a dream to play college football. That was risky. No one from my high school had earned D1A (Power 5) football scholarship in over 10+ years coming directly from high school. Read more>>

Ariadna Rodriguez | Digital Creator & Social Media Manager

In my senior year of high school, I realized that taking risks was essential for advancing in my career, education, and life. Attending SDSU and earning my BA as a first-generation student has been both a risk and a challenge. In my household, no one understood the struggles of selecting classes, navigating internships, or applying for FAFSA. However, I’m deeply grateful for the people I’ve met along the way, who have shaped me in both positive and negative ways. Read more>>

Samantha Jacob | Professional Wedding & Editorial Photographer

Taking risks have played an enormous role in my life, especially in getting to where I am today. I took a risk in packing up my life and moving to Vegas on a whim (with zero plan) due to needing a dramatic change to occur for me to move forward with my dreams. That risk led me into my photography career taking off, and eventually to San Diego. The whole “no risk, no reward” has always been instrumental in my decision making. Read more>>