Taking Chances: Tips on Risk and Rewards.

I commit to everything I’m at least 60% sure that I can do.And honestly, it usually, always, pretty much works out. The biggest chance you have to take is on yourself. Did you know that on average women are almost twice as likely to shy away from a job posting that they are not COMPLETELY qualified for? And that's just sad, cause no one's told us we couldn’t do it. If someone tells you need to poses a certain type of skill, don’t count yourself out of the job, just learn a new skill!. Take a course in html, binge watch Photoshop tutorials on YouTube or try your hand at Calligraphy. Test the possible before you discount it.

I have a laundry list of examples of times that I took a risk and reaped the rewards with only 60% clarity of what I was doing, and sometimes even less:

• It started with me excepting a position last minute as a social media manager for my now good friend Elaine Combs conference called Glow where I intern met Kelly Wallace, former DVF assistant turned CEO of Better Brands a lovely women who planted the seed of my inevitable move to NYC

• After that, I offered myself up for the lead positon as the university social media campaign manager for Nick Cannon's Wild and Out.

• I then was offered a spot on the Production & Social Media Team for Lil' Wayne's Kampus Krash Tour. An amazing experience that led me to uncover the AMAZING world of production. This position alone has gotten me so many other opportunities.

• After that I wrote about all of this in my application to the Fashion Institute of Technology risked leaving all of my family and friends for nothing and got in.

• Then I applied for a position within Build + Bloomalongside creator, Jessica Whitaker, a photographer and youtuber that I had followed for quite some time and was accepted onto the team as the NYC Program Manager.

The story doesn't end there, there are so many more amazing things that have happened over the last two years but the most important aspect to point out is that in all of the above examples I was broaching completely new, very unqualified territory while risking utter and complete failure because I knew with determination I could handle it all. And there is any even longer list of people that I would love to ask about how they do what they do and what they had to risk to achieve their goals.

Elaine Combs, writer and content creator

"I’m a writer & content creator. Currently, I am working on launching my own health & wellness brand and plan on releasing my website & social sites in July. I wanted to intertwine my love for healthy living and creativity and realized blogging would be the best outlet to do so. I have always known writing was my passion. College was really when I figured out which direction I wanted to go in with it. The biggest risk I have taken is believing in myself and the talents God has blessed me with. It was a challenge to pursue a non-traditional career route but it has quickly turned into one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. "

** Editor Notes: Elaine is an amazing woman and the author of the conference that started the creative journey in my life. She is a creative with an amazing work ethic, grind and zest for life. Through all that she still deals with her network honestly and with grace and loyalty. Nothing about Elaine is false and her large network of FRIENDS is solid proof of that. Because she was my first exposure to someone thriving in the creative world at such a young age age she is my example for how to be part of this industry. She took a chance on me and because of this I will always show respect, grace and humility to people no matter how small or large their instgram follower count is. I am proud to say that I know her and I will definitely be on the lookout for her new endeavors in her creative life.

Nicole Dawson , actor, writer, and voiceover artist: STORYTELLER

"Since first grade. I remember locking myself in my room for hours and drawing picture books. In middle school, my parents bought me a super cheap video camera and I would host sleepovers just so I could direct my friends in little movies.  Storytelling has always been a part of me. Before I even knew what a passion was, it had always just been an instinct. I honestly feel like everyday is a risk. Acting is a lot of rejection and a lot of financial instability. I got into NYU for acting and, my first two years, I felt like a failure. I definitely had lost the joy in what I was doing. I was no longer that fearless, uninhibited little girl I use to be. My junior year I got really sick and took a medical leave from school. Going back to acting school was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken because I was so terrified I would fall on my face again. That I would mess up again. That I was too behind. That my health would hold me back. My last year of acting school was incredible. I learned that fear is a liar and I learned to own my artistry again. I’ve been granted a lot of opportunities since stepping back into acting that I would have missed had I not allowed myself a second chance. Like I said, I love stories and I think God is a pretty beautiful writer. He rewrote my story and made it better than I could have expected. "

***Editor notes: Nicole is my connect group leader and one of the most gracious and creative people that I know. She always has time for you. There is a seat for everyone at her table and no matter how busy she is as a recent graduate of NYU, completing her first public reading of a script she wrote and doing a voice over for young adults novels. Nicole is a force to be reckoned with and I'm excited to see all of the amazing things she will do in the future!

TIPS (even if you didn't ask for them):

Stop asking yourself “what you want to be” and “what you want to do for the rest of your life”

Instead ask yourself: what would I love to do today, and do it. OR what would I love to accomplish tomorrow, in one year, three years, or five years max and work towards it within YOUR actual passion. This is a blog for “creatives” and we get bored VERY easily if passion is not involved. So keep switching it up. 

Start creating a portfolio: not a blog, a website or anything else that elicits the need for “engagement” but just a place to show your work or put your mind on a page. 

Take time to think for yourself. It’s okay to have NO CLUE what you’re doing. That’s the fun part about being a beautifully creative person, you’re pulled in so many different directions and it’s OKAY to follow them all.