Judy Owen, Forbes.com

Lately I find more and more people asking me if I regret leaving the stability of a job with the City of St. Petersburg to start my own company. So, I thought I’d set the record straight here for everyone to see. Not a chance. No regrets! I am so happy that I started my own company.

I have a mission to change the world. I have always thought that I needed to leave this place having improved on it in some way. I went through a Chamber of Commerce program, Leadership St. Pete (class of 2004, the best class ever!) and we were really forced to consider how we would make our mark on the community. I had always mentored students in schools. I was a big sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program when I worked for EDS. I also taught a Junior Achievement class to eighth graders when I worked for Xerox. So, I was always engaged, but Leadership St. Pete took that to a different level, made us consider how to think bigger in that equation.

Coincidentally, my son Zachary was born as I went through that class.  Here I am, really lacking any focus on what I will do and my son is born with these unique needs I never had exposure to. I quickly submerged myself into understanding this world of developmental disabilities. One event led to another and surprisingly, I found myself appointed by then Governor Crist to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. All of a sudden I find myself working side by side with State agency executives who are creating policy and providing services. It was fascinating.

I focused on education first, since my son is so young this seemed natural and comfortable to me. But, later I moved to the employment task force. It was challenging to see people so passionate about the abilities of people with developmental disabilities to work productively and competitively, but the employment statistics over the last two decades are largely unchanged. My company, Opportunity Works is on a mission to change that.

I now find myself surrounded by people who have reinvented and recycled themselves at least once in their life. It’s comforting. I don’t know how I have surrounded myself with people who have already done what I’m doing for the first time, but I see that it can be done and people learn and grow and succeed… even when they leave their comfort zone, security net and sometimes leave the countries they’ve always called home.

So, yes I am scared almost every single day. But, being scared never stopped me from going on roller coasters, rappelling or skiing that black diamond. Granted, I’m no adrenaline junkie X-Sports fanatic, but I like a good thrill. And, fear is not an unhealthy feeling as far as I’m concerned. In fact, I think it’s the only feeling that precedes conquering the impossible.