There is so much to learn from investments that went really well as well as those that went really poorly and so we asked some of the wisest creatives and entrepreneurs in the community to tell us the stories of their best and worst investments.

Jackie Beaston

The best investment I made into my business was investing in a CRM system, which is a customer relations manager. I did this right before COVID and it ended up being one of the best decisions because it kept me so organized in a time where everything was up in the air. It helped me keep my client’s information, contracts, invoices and everything organized so that I could keep up with the constant cancellations and reschedules that I was dealing with daily. Without it, I am not sure how I would have managed it all. I still use it to this day and it has continued to keep me organized and allows me to send out forms to all my brow clients as well as manage my bridal clients. I think the biggest lesson learned was to not rely on pen and paper because having things digital makes my life easier as well as streamlines a lot of processes for clients. Read more>>

Erica Elle Miller

One of the most challenging investments I made was owning a salon. At the time, I saw it as a way to gain independence and create something I was passionate about. However, it turned out to be much more difficult than I anticipated. Managing staff, handling the hiring and firing process, and maintaining enough revenue to keep the business afloat required intense time and effort. I often found myself juggling multiple roles, from operations to customer service, all while trying to maintain a positive and professional work environment. Read more>>

Mackenzie Kruvant

In 2021, I moved from New York City to rural Massachusetts. It was an exciting move personally but professionally no longer living in a major city meant not co-working spaces or few opportunities to network in person. I knew I’d need to get creative in finding opportunities to connect with and learn from creatives I’m inspired by. In early 2024, I decided to set aside time to meet these types of people. I launched Office Hours. Anyone could book an hour to chat via Zoom about whatever they wanted. I promoted it on LinkedIn, in Slack groups, and with friends and family. Read more>>