Risk is a topic that comes up a lot in our conversations with entrepreneurs and creatives, but a related topic is investments. Investments come in many forms – investing your time, money, heart and soul, etc. So, with that broad definition of investment in mind, we asked rising stars in the community to tell us the stories of the best or worst investments they’ve made.

Pretty Sister

well. as an artist or any kind of creative. Its almost imperative that you make investments. For me its been basic things needed for my work, computer, microphone, instruments, lessons. Even if its a keyboard that is expensive but unlocks some creativity for a period of time. good investment. when i think on all of those, in the end i dont regret any tour ive ever done, or any peice of gear purchased even if i lost money…but what i do sometimes regret are the bad investments. and those all tend to be people. be very careful who you invest your time into. wether it be romantic relationships, managers, band members, whatever…those are the ones i go “dam, yeah…if i could go back i would probably be better off if i didnt give that human all of my energy and time for that year or in some cases way more than that. Read more>>

SM Tone

The best investment I’ve ever made was to invest the time,energy & money into myself to give me a chance to show the world that anything is possible. I come from a single parent household, in and out of jail, dead end jobs and being a College drop out to being able to find my purpose through music and now I’m the owner of 3 businesses. I’ve learned that it’s never to late to bet on yourself as long as your willing to change your mindset. Read more>>

Sid Jerr-Dan

The best investment I’ve made is giving myself time to explore new territories as an artist and to grow and change. I feverishly researched country music artists from the 1920’s to the 1970’s for several years. In many ways this task is never completed because there is just so much music out there if you are willing to explore other avenues, like record collecting and seeking out curated radio shows. For me this was crucial in finding my own sound. You find some artists and a certain kind of instrumentation that you vibe with most, and you process that through your own creative process and what comes out of that is usually something completely unique to you. And obviously learning to play and sing in a new style, learning pedal steel and dobro, fiddle. Read more>>

elleVATE aka Elle R.O.C.

One of my wisest investments was when I purchased a used drum machine from a former co-worker. This purchase happened at a time when I wasn’t actively working on any music. I was focused on work and family, but I also had a desire to one day learn how to make beats. After making this purchase, I slowly learned how to operate it, mainly by watching YouTube videos. I practiced blending sounds and creating basslines, and finally succeeded at making beats. I say that this was a wise purchase, because it reinvigorated my desire to once again create songs. In the past, I had always depended on other producers to submit tracks, but it felt great to now possess the power to create my own music! Read more>>

Stephanie Scott

In the first days of 2020 I finally had the opportunity to do something I had been considering for years: live streaming my abstract oil painting practice on Twitch. I had seen a few artists on the platform in the past including: a 60 year old woman making watercolor landscapes, a potter in their studio with 4 cameras on the clay, and 24 hour marathons of Bob Ross tutorials. They all seemed successful to me, making money through the live streaming platform and forming new relationships with potential collectors. Read more>>

Ashley Perkins

The best investment that I have made for myself is my therapist. So often we concentrate on our physical health and forego the importance of mental health. Life has a way of throwing unexpected circumstances. By having weekly therapy sessions, I am able to better navigate life and parenting two teenage daughters. Read more>>

Karen Finch

The best investment I’ve made is in myself, by believing in my abilities & doing the work. I decided to switch brokerages 2 months into my real estate career & it has served me well. I had to trust & bet that I could accomplish my goals at this new brokerage that could give me & my business what it needed. I called Keller Williams Ann Arbor & talked to the broker, LaTanya Keith. Not minutes into the call she said, “you don’t need a team”. Hearing that from someone who didn’t know me, but knew the business, was moving. I met with the broker & decided to join in January of ’23. I have learned so much from how to truly run a business (having my own coach), what systems in real estate look like, how to explain contracts to consumers, lead generation, & CRM management! It took letting go of comfort & trusting in my own abilities to get there & have no regrets. Read more>>

DJ D-Mil

My Technics 1200 Turntables. This opened the door for everything in my carrier. Read more>>

Steffon Seay

One of the best investments I’ve made would be obtaining my business licenses of course, but also investing in my own equipment. As an artist I would spend more money paying for recording time, photo shoots, mixing and mastering sessions. To finally be able to obtain my own equipment has changed so much. I can now focus more on doing things for myself rather than spending more money on other sources. Now I am a source and I can help others. Cutting out expenses was a target goal for myself and to be able to save more money and invest that money is something I’m very proud of. Read more>>

Zoe Messinger

Investing in yourself so that you can show up fully for others. Read more>>