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.

Liz Putnam

While I like to think of myself as a talented, creative person, sometimes I think my true passion is for the number crunching side of the business. I have an engineering background, and I approach every business decision with the financials in mind. When I was first starting out my business, it needed to be bare bones. I was trying to use as little capital as possible to start out, and it was getting used up quickly to get permits, set up a website, buy gear, etc. So when it came to contracts, invoicing and scheduling, I decided to cut corners and use a cheap, but cumbersome option. Read more>>

Julie Ahmad

The largest investment that I have made financially was taking on a commercial lease and funding an out of pocket renovation to create my studio space without any partners or studio-mates. I had originally rented a space from another artist within the community and then waited an entire year for another unit to eventually open up for myself. I did this in order to gain credibility and to be first in line once something opened up. Due to an ultra competitive market in Austin, I snatched the first space available without having even seen it. Little did I know that the space was in desperate need of renovation. The first time I opened the door, I legitimately sat on the floor in disbelief at the state of the interior and cried. I repeatedly asked myself ‘how will I be able to work in a space like this?’ and was just unbelievably overwhelmed. Read more>>

Tracie Yamauchi

Let’s talk about investments in my PI firm, the good the bad and the ugly; actually just the good ones right now. I like to find the silver lining in everything, even what some might call bad investments. For me, it’s just a way to learn and allow others not to make the same mistakes I made. Lets focus on my top three good investments and I have one that is currently in the works. One of the best investment’s will be when I rebranded my company from T and C Protection Firm to Tracie Investigations LLC. Read more>>

Darian Williams

The best investment I made in terms of my business, was the investment in me and my talents. I decided that I will change my mindset, become my brand, and educate myself every chance I got to be better and more effective. I went back to school to get my license, asked other professionals in my field for advice, paid for seminars, and PRACTICED! I wanted to be taken seriously and professionally and one day work up my brand. Through this process, I met so many talented individuals that not only taught me things but an even exchange was made. So far it has played out for the better and each day I and working closer to my goals. Read more>>

Eric Elkins

When I started WideFoc.us Social Media in 2007, it was just me consulting with agencies and brands — providing guidance and insights. But once companies started asking for deliverables and social media management, I grew the company year over year, bringing on new team members, increasing revenue, and building out new roles and processes. But I was always a writer/creative/strategist first, so the running a business side of things was trial and error… with many errors. Read more>>

Aniya Tribble

In the very beginning of the pandemic, I thought it would be a good idea to make a substantial investment in my catering business. My reasoning for doing so was to gain more exposure. So, I decided to pursue a booth at the farmers market. I thought securing a booth would be relatively simple. But I was wrong. The process was extensive and complicated. I needed to obtain several different permits and licenses. Read more>>