I raised $125,000 in sponsorships for my wedding. It accidentally launched an 8-figure business.

Courtesy of Carrie Kerpen Carrie Kerpen's parents taught her to do what she loved—as long as it was stable. They were very risk-averse and taught her to be the same way. Carrie gradually became more comfortable with risk, which helped her as an entrepreneur. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Carrie Kerpen , cofounder and CEO of Whisper Group . It has been edited for length and clarity . My parents wanted me to do something I loved that would bring me joy. But they also emphasized that I should find a secure, steady career . My dad opened a private law practice for a very brief time before leaving to become a law clerk and later a judge. He wanted the security and pension that came with a government job, and he was willing to sacrifice a lot of potential income for that predictability.