The Power to Take Risks in The Most Uncertain Times
By Brittany Ristucci Warner
At the peak of the pandemic, my husband, Dr. Jeremy Warner, and I took a risk by leaving our corporate jobs and opening Warner Aesthetic & Reconstructive Institute.
People often ask, "What motivates you to take these risks? Don't you ever get scared?"
My answer is simple: it's all about perspective. Early on in my career, during a performance evaluation, I was told: "You're exceptional in every way and exceed our expectations, but you're just too positive and make it look easy."
That year, I was overlooked for all promotional opportunities despite the fact I had led our team to earn "Top Performing Practice" for six consecutive quarters in a row. With hard self-reflection, I left for an executive role at a competing healthcare organization.
That statement changed my life. I chose to take that "too positive" energy to create my own opportunities, which included completing an accelerated MBA program while working full-time, starting a private consulting firm, partnering with a well-known scientist to create a biologics company, completing an Ironman Triathlon, opening a private surgery center, being selected to the Board of Directors for The Volunteer Center of NE Chicago, serving as assistant Mission Director for Face the Future Foundation, being named a 2021 Power Woman in Sheridan Road Magazine, and finally, the newest part of my journey - acceptance into an accelerated Masters of Science in Nursing program to receive a registered Nursing degree.
I don’t say all this to brag - I say it because I realized that I wasn't “too positive” after all. Instead, I had been surrounded by a company culture of status quo. And when I was able to create my own space to push myself, take risks and determine my own path, I could continue to dive into new challenges and opportunities.
““I don’t say all this to brag - I say it because I realized that I wasn’t “too positive” after all. When I was able to create my own space to push myself, take risks and determine my own path, I could continue to dive into new challenges and opportunities. ” — Brittany Ristucci Warner #PowerToChangeStories” ”
Brittany Ristucci Warner is Chief Operating Officer of Warner Aesthetic & Reconstructive Institute. https://www.instagram.com/jeremywarnerinstitute/ https://warnerplasticsurgery.com/