We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Graham recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
Initially, when I started taking bigger risks and making more significant decisions, it often stemmed from being in a place of transition. My healing journey, which began in my late 20s, played a pivotal role. During that time, I experienced profound shifts and changes in a short period.
As I worked through old wounds and blocks that had kept me stuck, I discovered a sense of freedom and empowerment. All of a sudden, things I’d always dreamed of doing — like living overseas and traveling the world — felt like they could really happen! My dreams started to take more shape and I was owning what I really wanted a lot more.
I had people in my life who had taken those risks and did what I wanted to do and I saw that I actually had the credentials to make it happen for myself. But, I was still too afraid to take the risk on my own. Years later, I had the opportunity to go overseas with someone, and the risk of going felt safer and less overwhelming having someone by my side to do it with.
That experience led to many more risks in my life that I often faced alone. It was like I just needed to know that I could do it and survive, and the risk-taking became a little easier.
I’ve learned that risk-taking is a process of unblocking the fears or beliefs that hold you back. Now, whenever I want to pursue something but feel resistance, I reflect on what needs healing or addressing. From there, I focus on small, aligned actions that move me closer to my bigger dreams and the risks needed to get there. I also surround myself with or follow on social media people who’ve achieved similar goals, which helps me believe it’s possible for me too.
I’ve also learned to trust my body when making decisions. For me, it’s either an absolute “yes” or it’s not the right time. I try not to agonize over the ‘maybes’ anymore because I learned to just feel if it’s an intuitive, immediate ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Once I make my decision, it’s done and I don’t go back and wonder if it was the right decision or not. It’s helped me move out from living under a blanket of regret and move more into empowerment.
Another helpful tool is an exercise my therapist taught me from years ago: walking through the worst-case scenario. Often, fear of the unknown — those “what if” doomsday scenarios — can hold us back. By writing out those fears and examining them step-by-step, I’ve realized that most risks don’t end in catastrophe. Instead, the worst-case scenarios are usually manageable — someone might feel disappointed, or a plan might not work out as hoped. When I process these fears, they lose their power, making it easier to move forward with confidence.
Taking risks is still a journey, but with healing, clear vision, and thoughtful decision-making, it’s become less daunting and more empowering. By trusting my body, processing fears, and taking aligned actions, I’ve found a path to pursuing the life I truly want — one intentional step at a time.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a brand story strategist who helps impact-driven entrepreneurs, coaches, and creatives craft authentic narratives that resonate with their ideal audience. I guide my clients in uncovering and telling their unique stories to attract the right clients and build meaningful, long-lasting connections. My work is all about turning personal and brand stories into powerful tools for growth and community building.
The most exciting part of what I do is witnessing the transformative power of storytelling. A well-crafted story doesn’t just sell — it inspires, connects, and unites. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my clients light up when they realize the value of their unique experiences and how those stories can resonate deeply with others. It’s special to me because storytelling isn’t just a marketing tool — it’s a way to break down barriers, create authentic relationships, and build communities that truly matter.
At the heart of my work is a deep belief in authenticity and human connection. My approach isn’t about creating shallow, surface-level content — it’s about helping you uncover the essence of your brand and sharing it in a way that feels true to who you are. Whether you’re a coach looking to inspire, an entrepreneur driven to make an impact or a nonprofit with a vision, I’m here to help you bring your story to life in a way that attracts, connects, and leaves a lasting impression.
I encourage other women in business to check out the Your Stories In Action monthly meet-up. It’s a community of women who are embracing the idea that our experiences are our superpower. By embracing your full story — including the challenges and transformations — you unlock deeper connections, stronger communities, and greater success. Here, we believe that showing up authentically isn’t just personally fulfilling — it’s your path to business breakthroughs and real transformation.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Developing emotional intelligence and coping skills. It is not anyone else’s job to make you feel ok. That is up to you. You are responsible for your growth and your path to healing. There are so many resources out there now that making the intentional effort toward having inner peace is totally accessible. I’m thankful that I made the decision to prioritize my own healing when I did so that I could have better relationships, learn to love myself, and enjoy my own company. I see too many people who have not yet started their healing journey and are really suffering while also damaging other people’s lives in the process.
2. Belief in a Higher Power. Without this blind faith and inner knowing, I wouldn’t have hope. Having something bigger than me to surrender my fears to is what helps me navigate the hard times. Trusting that I will be guided to my decisions and held in grace when I make mistakes is relieving. Again, the anxiety that I have suffered through has often been relieved when I can rely on my faith. It gives me hope.
3. Building relationships with other people where you are safe to share your truth. I can’t tell you how much my friendships mean to me. The people I have chosen to build relationships with are people who have helped me grow into a better version of myself not because we mask up and pretend to be versions of ourselves that we aren’t, but because we are real and honest and able to process through the tough stuff together. Nothing is more freeing and transformational than sharing your truth with someone safe who still loves you despite what you’ve done.
Start listening to the people who have gone down this road before you and who have sound advice for anyone embarking on the journey of self-development and growth. When you find people who have done the work and have the fruit to prove it, they’re worth listening to.
Learn how to spend time alone and tune inward to know yourself more. The stripping away of all the conditioning and the stuff we think we believe but really just believe because we were taught to is a process that might take a lifetime. But as you strip this stuff away, you evolve and grow and get to experience life through a different lens which makes living so much more exciting!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I’ve had a plethora of mentors in my life. From the start, I had a wonderful therapist who understood the power of inner-child work, meditation, faith, and healing from codependent behaviors. She equipped me with tons of new tools that I still use today. And it worked because I was ready to receive it.
She also encouraged me to utilize the 12-step programs for people like me who had come from a home of addiction and enablers. In the rooms of Al-Anon and Adult Children of Alcoholics, I learned what truth telling looks like and got to be in the presence of people who had applied the principles of the program to their lives and completely transformed.
If you’re a willing student, you can learn a lot from the people who are placed in your life at different seasons. I continue to have mentors in my life, many who are friends but friends who I look up to and admire and really learn from. The thing they all have in common is intentionality around growth and sharing their truth. Look, life is tough. Unexpected things happen and if you don’t have safe people that you can share the ugly truths with, then you’re holding on to a lot of stuff that isn’t given permission or access to heal. You gotta learn to release that stuff and then fill those holes up with new, healthy behaviors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessicagrahambrandstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicagraham.brandstudio/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-graham-brand-studio/
Image Credits
Stephanie Allard
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
