Is there ever a “right” time to start a creative career? Our goal has always been help people pursuing their passion. Helping those people often means helping them think through important decisions such as when to start, when to take the leap. Below, you’ll find our conversations with successful creatives reflecting back on when they had to decide whether to start or wait.

Shane Murray

I do , I was a late bloomer to the creative side . Looking back I would’ve switched from my business major to journalism/ business. Read more>>

Dorian Webster

Many times I find myself trying to piece together a thought of future in my head of where I would be if I had of started sooner, and many times I wished that I had of done so, but now I’m glad that I started actually making clothes for Grand Ave when I did. Often we think of many things in life as a “I wish I had of sooner,” but more often times then not we maybe weren’t ready to handle the weight or weren’t to patient to make the right moves if a situation would’ve arose if you had of started then. Read more>>

Stephanie Quintana

Since I was a little girl I always desired to be in the beauty industry, whether it were hair, nails or makeup. The year in highschool when I could take a regional occupational program cosmetology was removed. I explored the heath career & quickly learned blood and needles were not for me. Read more>>

Chris Wilson

I wish I had started sooner. I did my first open mic about 11 years or so ago. I was asked several times to go try it, but I actually have a phobia of speaking on front of people. I used to be the kid in school who would fake an illness and try to go to the school nurse to get out of reading a paper in front of the class. So, I ended up going, and it went well, but I was so stressed out about it that I never went back. Read more>>

Felicia Pride

I moved to Los Angeles at the age of 35 to pursue my dreams of writing for the screen. I did have a previous career as a journalist and author prior, but I had stopped writing for a long time. Read more>>

Kerry Hill

I wish I had started it sooner. I’ve always loved art and creating, but felt for a long time that it wasn’t a viable way to make money. I simply didn’t have the confidence that I was talented or skilled enough for people to pay me to do something that I would do on my own for the enjoyment. Read more>>

Simone Bonét

There was a point when I was younger where I rebelled against music and playing in general. Growing up my parents were pretty strict when it came to the violin. I wasn’t allowed to play any sports or do other activities because I did not have the time. I had something violin related almost everyday of the week, so it was impossible to do anything else. Read more>>

Ernesto Zapata urrutiabeascoa

Embarking on my artistic journey as a sculptor later in life has been both challenging and rewarding. While many artists may have started their creative paths earlier, I bring a unique perspective and life experience to my work. I believe that art knows no age, and my late start has only fueled my passion to express my creativity through sculpture. Every piece I create is a testament to the endless possibilities of art, no matter when you begin. Read more>>

STRLING

Both Jake and I are glad that we studied music at the collegiate level, but definitely wish we took more entrepreneurial leaps earlier on. Pursuing artistic careers definitely requires skill and musical knowledge helps, but it’s mostly about the gull and the willingness to repeatedly fail. Read more>>

Lanchen Mihalic

I’ve always been creating something but I do wish I would’ve stuck to one specific thing earlier. I’ve explored an extensive amount of hobbies in my time, and as fun as it was, committing to a particular creative pursuit sooner would only give me more experience.. Read more>>

Pamela Johnson

I wish I had started my creative career sooner in life. Read more>>

Keenan Powell

Sooner. I always had a feeling I could produce/direct films. I wish I had listened to myself at a much earlier age than people around me who said they knew. Now, that I’m no longer able to work, I have the time to pursue this. Read more>>

Kevin Komadina

It’s an interesting question because I believe that creativity is part of our human DNA. I often hear people say “oh I’m not creative at all”, yet they have an incredible garden, or amazing home decor that they selected or cook. Creativity is part of all of us – its expression is what differs. I happen to create art. So our creativity begins at birth, or soon thereafter. Read more>>

Tom Bartins

I do wish I started doing Youtube sooner. I feel like I would be much further along to meeting my goals than where I am currently. I always thought I would feel silly and lacked the confidence to just jump in there and do it. I do think that comes from age and getting older. Read more>>

SheLovesKiing

Honestly, I really wish I would have started my creative career earlier than when I did. With all of the knowledge about the industry that I’ve gained up to now, and just with how rapidly I started gaining more and more insight about the industry… like learning how to market and make a name for myself.. I could have reached a lot of goals in a shorter amount of time than I did/have. Read more>>

Christopher Morelli

Sooner. Read more>>

Zariah L. Banks

I’ve wanted to be a novelist since I was nine years old. I still have the notebooks filled with short stories tucked away in my basement. Every free moment since then was spent writing fiction. I would experiment with different themes, character quirks, and plot lines to see what stuck. Read more>>

Taylor Heath

I think most creatives wish they’d started sooner than they did. For me, I wish I would have really dug into music technology and non-performing career paths before pursuing music academically. Read more>>

Jennifer Himstedt

On one hand, yes, I wish I had started my creative career earlier because I believe I would have had more time to refine my skills and explore my creativity. However, on the other hand, I am glad I started when I did. I began my creative journey when I felt I had the capacity to truly enjoy the process and the learning that comes with it. Read more>>

Ryan Neely

I used to say that I don’t believe in regrets, and for the most part this is still true. Regrets are typically misspent creativity. Why spend so much time pining for or wishing for something that cannot be changed? The thing about regret is, it distracts us from what is directly in front of us. Read more>>

Kirkpatrick Owens

I really wish I started recording music when I was writing and freestyling on a daily basis. My flow and rhyme scheme I believe was a thousand times better back then. If you have the chance to do something even as a hobby, doesn’t matter if it’s rapping, painting, or anything. Please pursue it. Read more>>

Simoii Dalgetty-Douglas

I didn’t pursue my career as an actor until my junior year of college. At the time I was certain that my career path would be in the fashion industry as an aspiring fashion designer. Although art and illustration have been my creative outlet since I was a child, I realized performing was my real passion and where I felt the most expressive. Read more>>

LIAN SEVER

“Undoubtedly, I do wish I had started my creative career earlier. However, life has no discernable map despite the internal voice guiding us. Mine was the long road to my ultimate creative career. I am blessed with strong personal traits – stubbornness and perfectionism – that have sometimes led me to get in my own way. Read more>>

Tony Trujillo

Ever since I can remember I always wanted to be in the entertainment industry. From an early age, I wanted to be a professional wrestler, then a film director, then an author, and then a late-night talk show host. I wanted to pursue all of these career paths, but I didn’t have any direction. When you want to do these things, you really don’t have much support. Read more>>

Kessey Monae

Honestly, I think I am right where i’m supposed to be. I use to get discouraged when I felt I wasn’t doing enough or starting my career fast enough but God’s timing is always right. Over the years, I’ve watched people I knew elevate and continue to rise. I realized how much work truly went into being in the music business. Read more>>

Brandon Smith

I wish I had stood in myself more. I’ve always known I had the voice, the passion and the talent. I just didn’t apply myself to the extent that I could’ve because of familiarity or how it may be perceived. However, everyone always says…. You got it! Read more>>

Evan D’Orazio

Part of me wishes I had started a creative career sooner. Although I am now a visual artist, I began my career as a cellist. I had devoted about ten years to music, but the truth of the matter is I fell out of love with being a musician. Read more>>

Christina Gordon

If there is one thing I could change, I wish I would have started my permanent makeup/ tattoo career so much sooner Read more>>

Robert Miller

I started playing the piano when I was 5. My father played the trumpet and was determined that I would be a musician. But I hated piano lessons and practicing. All I wanted to do was to play outside with my friends. I told my parents that I wanted to stop piano. They agreed but only if I took up another instrument, so I chose trumpet like my father. Read more>>

Daniel OConnor

Sometimes yes Read more>>

Ahmed Animo

I feel like I’m at the right place, even if I’m not at the level I want to be. All depends on what I feel is the best direction and how confident I feel about my next moves in my creative endeavors. Read more>>

Joshua McCall

I believe everything happens for a reason, divine timing. However, if I could’ve chose I wouldve went back and told my younger self forsure to pursue the creative direction. Read more>>

Lav Luv

I wish I would have started earlier so I could have cause the wave of people being elevated for talent. Not just their social media output Read more>>

Ismat Shahid

I wish I had started my creative career sooner Read more>>