NO PLAN? NO PROBLEM. CHOOSING TO ACT WITH BOLDNESS ALWAYS WINS.
Here’s how I’ve embraced bold living, taken risks, and built my dream life and business in the Florida Keys. (All while facing adversity, losing my nursing career, my friends, my family, my home, my reputation - and the will to live).
In life, you’re either acting boldly or sitting on the sidelines—and let’s be real, I’ve never been the sidelines type. Boldness isn’t just a choice for me; it’s how I built Nauti Pics 360, the premier luxury photo booth in Key West, while crafting a life I love. From picking up and moving across the country without a second thought, to diving headfirst into nursing school at the age of 35, to buying an RV just because I wanted one, and creating the Instagram Series: "People That I Know and Things That I've Seen", boldness has always been my default setting. And it works.
That’s why Law 28 from The 48 Laws of Power: Enter Action with Boldness resonates so deeply. It’s not about perfection; it’s about making moves, owning your space, and letting the chips fall where they may. I’ve lived this truth—whether navigating life’s curveballs or building my business in the Keys. Acting boldly has never failed me.
Living Boldly: Lessons from Building Nauti Pics 360 in Key West
I’ve never waited for the perfect moment to act. When I was 18, I picked a random city in Florida, packed my bags, and went to college. When I decided I wanted to be a nurse, I didn’t need someone’s permission to start—I enrolled, put in the work, and made it happen. Boldness has always been my way of moving forward, whether it’s buying a piano and teaching myself to play or hopping on a plane to Albania because it was the thing to do.
Did it go smoothly? Actually, when I reflect on it, nothing has ever really gone smoothly. Not even moving to Key West. But I don’t think about that now. What I walked away with was intelligence, experience, and lessons I wouldn’t have gained otherwise. To me, that’s what boldness is about—it’s not about perfection or having everything go your way. It’s about taking action and trusting that you’ll figure it out, no matter how messy it gets.
Like this picture below. You’d think Matt and I planned a day like this—driving out to a bridge with the intention of jumping off. Maybe we’d have circled the date on our calendars, hyped ourselves up, and prepared for the big moment. But nope. That’s not how it happened at all.
That day started with an entirely different plan: hitting up the sandbars, soaking in the sun, and keeping it low-key. Life, however, had other ideas. Somewhere along the way, plans shifted, and we found ourselves standing on the edge of this bridge, looking down at the water, ready to make a leap. It wasn’t premeditated—it was bold, spontaneous, and, honestly, a little reckless. But that’s the thing about bold moves; they’re never about perfection, they’re about embracing the moment.
For me, this day wasn’t just about jumping off a bridge; it was about taking a leap of faith in something bigger—friendship and fun. Moving to the Keys meant opening myself up to new people and experiences, and Matt was one of those connections I’m so grateful for. He’s been a solid friend and a key part of my journey here in Key West. That leap we took off the bridge? It’s just one of many bold leaps I’ve taken since landing in this magical place. Every one of them has taught me something about trust, connection, and the joy of just going for it.
From Bold Moves to Big Wins: Launching Nauti Pics 360 in Key West
When I landed in the Keys, I knew one thing: I wasn’t here to play it safe. I launched Nauti Pics 360, the first luxury photo booth experience in the area, without hesitation. The truth is, no one was asking for it—but that didn’t matter. I knew it was needed. With that thought, The Key West Photo Booth was born.
Here’s the thing about boldness: it doesn’t wait for approval. It moves first and figures it out later. That’s exactly what I did when I started booking events. Before I even got to the Keys, I’d seen Gordon Ramsay on TV featuring Paul Menta, a local rum distillery owner and entrepreneur in Key West. His creativity, boldness, and fun personality stuck with me. I thought, These are the kinds of people I need to surround myself with—entrepreneurs who think big, act boldly, and make things happen.
When I moved to the Keys, I saw there was a festival honoring Jimmy Buffett (yes, I’m a Parrothead) and reached out to the event organizers to offer my services. I didn’t overthink it. I just knew I needed to get in front of the right people and show them what I could do. What I didn’t realize at the time was that Paul Menta happened to be one of the event organizers.
When I arrived at the event and found out he was involved, it felt like everything had come full circle. That coincidence was exactly the reassurance I needed to trust my gut. It reminded me that bold moves lead to the right opportunities, even if they feel uncertain or scary at first. Meeting Paul reinforced why I wanted to surround myself with bold, creative people who know how to take risks and build something meaningful. It also reminded me that believing in myself—especially when no one else knows you or your work—is the only way forward.
It wasn’t luck. It was boldness. That willingness to step forward, take the risk, and trust that I was putting myself in the right place is what opened those doors.
How Boldness Fuels Success in Life and Business
Boldness isn’t just about taking risks. It’s about taking ownership. It’s about showing up with confidence, even when you’re unsure of the outcome. It’s about believing in your vision so strongly that others can’t help but believe in it too. A friend of mine, Katie, that I met in Key West is someone who reminded me of this exact concept. In one of my days that I felt bad about my past experiences and worried too much about what people "could think" about me, she BOLDLY said "Desiree, the only way to change a possible perception of you is TO SHOW UP AND SHOW THEM WHO YOU REALLY ARE." (Thanks Katie! Love you!!) - Hey, even the BOLD need some reassurance here and there! And that is OK!
One of my favorite speeches, The Man in the Arena by Theodore Roosevelt, sums it up best:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
This is the essence of boldness: stepping into the arena, dust and all. And when you show up boldly, you don’t just survive—you thrive.
Boldness Always Wins: Especially In Florida Keys Events
Living boldly has carried me through every chapter of my life. It brought me to the Keys, built my business, and gave me the kind of life I’d always envisioned. Boldness is the energy that fuels success, creativity, and resilience.
So if you’re sitting on the edge of a decision, wondering if you should take the leap, let me make it simple: jump. Act boldly. Take the risk. The sidelines were never where you were meant to stay.
Ready to make your event unforgettable? Let Nauti Pics 360 bring BOLDNESS to your Florida Keys Event. DM us, call 305-676-1423, or visit nautipics360.com and fill out the INQUIRY FORM to book your luxury photo booth experience today. Want to email me directly? Send me your details - desiree@nautipics360.com
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