Helping more people thrive doing what they love or are passionate about means helping more folks learn from those who came before them and so we asked successful entrepreneurs, artists and creatives to tell us what they would do differently, knowing what they know now, if they were starting over.
Mikey O’connor
As a voice actor and owner of my own business, MikeyOTheVoice.com, I have spent a great deal of time finding my footing in this industry. I moved to LA in 2017 to pursue my dream of being a voice actor for cartoons and video games. I didn’t know anybody in the VO community but managed to link up with folks in the world of film/ television. It helped me build a steady enough life for me to stick around LA, but did not grant me the time I needed to build my own business in voiceover. In 2020, you may remember the world came to a grinding halt. Productions shut down and the well of opportunity dried up in film/ television…but not for voiceover. As a matter of fact, VO picked up where every other medium fell off. Animation began to boom as the rise of the ‘home studio’ became ever more present. Classes switched to an online format where you could learn from industry veterans. All of a sudden, access to my dreams found itself readily available, so long as I was willing to invest in myself a little bit. Read more>>
LaCretia Allen
# Starting Over: Lessons from 20 Years of Entrepreneurship If I were to start my entrepreneurial journey over today, armed with the knowledge and experiences of the past 20 years, here’s how I would approach it: 1. **Embrace Networking Early**: I’d prioritize networking from day one. As a shy person, I now understand the importance of “showing yourself friendly” in a business context. I’d actively seek out and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, industry peers, and potential mentors. 2. **Seek Diverse Perspectives**: I’ve learned the value of getting advice from various sources, including both experienced entrepreneurs and newcomers to the field. Each perspective can offer unique insights. I’d create a diverse advisory network early on. Read more>>
Madeline Hornung
This is the million dollar question! Here are a few things I have learned on my entrepreneurship journey: 1. Don’t say yes to every client just because you want to grow your revenue. This was something I really had to learn the hard way- there were so many times in the beginning that I was just shooting for a goal and would say yes to projects that just didn’t align with me or my agency but I thought that financial goal was more important. It’s NOT! If you say yes to the wrong clients or people who just don’t fully align with your mission you are missing out on the right ones who will end up being raving fans of your business and refer other amazing people like they are! Read more>>
Dr. Angie Bee, Mmin
In 2023, I retired from, and closed my agency. Angie BEE Productions specialized in producing audiobooks and offering media opportunities for our clients. We created commercials, flyers, podcasts and radio shows. We also trained youth and young adults on voiceover skills and worked with them to narrate audiobooks for clients. When I shut down my website, I thought I would never look back. I didn’t even save the website content. As time rolled on, I divorced, entered mental health counseling and moved to a new home city. Clients would message or email me saying “I know you are retired, but…” and would ask me to take on just one more project. While narrating or designing a flyer, or while writing their script, I would find myself missing myself; missing the use of my gifts and talents, and missing my agency. Read more>>
Victor Ha
Wow, so many points in time where I could have done things differently, perhaps my skills would have improved faster or perhaps it would have changed my path completely. Let’s see, if I have to choose a small thing in my early stage it is: don’t be afraid to invest in yourself. At one point during my graduate years, I had an opportunity to learn from one of my favorite artists, but I needed to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure a spot. The supplemental class required a portfolio review to get in, I figured why risk a deposit if I don’t get in, “I’ll just wait for their answer before I place a deposit down” is what I told myself. As a broke college student, that just quit his banking job to focus on school, I wouldn’t risk any income no matter how small it seems. Days later I found out I was passed over for this coveted class and for a long time I thought I was just terrible. Turns out after speaking with a friend who had been accepted, it wasn’t a skill level thing because there was a student accepted who was more raw in talent, so why didn’t I get a chance I asked. Read more>>