One of the best things about video games is the ability to restart – you can use your learnings to move faster and avoid obstacles. We often think about what we would do differently if we were starting over in business and we figured others probably think about this as well and so we asked the community to share their thoughts with us.

Catherine B. Roy

If I were to start over today, knowing everything I know now, I would approach things with a much more strategic mindset. First and foremost, I would set a precise and clear business model that’s focused on well-defined customer segments and value propositions. This model would be designed to create multiple revenue streams, ensuring that the business could scale and sustain itself over time. Read more>>

Jimi Anderson

If I were starting over today, there are definitely a few things I’d do differently. I started with wildlife photography, thinking I could build a business around it. But I quickly learned that it’s tough to make a living when there aren’t paying clients. Sure, some photographers make money selling prints or leading wildlife photography tours, but I didn’t yet have the following to sell enough prints, and Nashville isn’t exactly a hotspot for wildlife photography tours. Read more>>

Joe Kelly

If I started over from day one, I would do a few things differently:

1) I would read The Artist’s Way (by Julia Cameron), before beginning anything.

2) I would go out more often just to see local artists, musicians and support everyone local.

3) I would learn how to do basic sound engineering and production. I wouldn’t necessarily rely on it for any ambitious projects, but I would at least make some demos or first recordings. Sound engineering is its own beast, which many of my friends have gone to school for. Read more>>

Giovanni Mondragon

If I could start over, I would’ve chosen a high school that offered more opportunities to learn about tools I use every day now, like Adobe and video editing software. My charter school didn’t provide access to those kinds of resources, so I had to teach myself everything later, which I’m still learning to this day. I also wish I had pushed myself to buy a camera sooner, though I’m glad I didn’t settle for less when I finally did. It all comes down to education and making the most of the resources around you—I know that now, and it’s something I would’ve prioritized earlier.” Read more>>

Louise Mcevoy

If we were to start over today, we’d take a much simpler, more focused approach. When we first started, we had big ideas, but we realized that trying to do everything at once can be overwhelming and inefficient. We would focus on keeping the core of the business tight—laser-focused on the message and value that we want to bring to our audience—without getting distracted by all the bells and whistles that often come with entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Amber Chapplain

The first thing that comes to my mind is that I would have taken my business more seriously, much sooner than I did. While I already had a successful career in sales, it was a different thing entirely for me to be marketing myself, as opposed to someone else’s product. I struggled with imposter syndrome and anxiety around my worth to clients. Because of this, I can see now that it held me back in my creative communication, practice and decisiveness. I was scared shitless every time I showed up for a consultation. I didn’t keep proper track of my income and expenses, because it actually terrified me to see profit, as it represented worth and responsibility. I basically treated my business like a side project, and that was how I showed up to it. Read more>>

Mason Ma

I always tell people that if you have your loved ones around you and feel generally happy in this moment, then don’t go back and change a thing. You might mess it all up, like in the sci-fi classic ”The Butterfly Effect”. I’m doing just fine now. All the life and work experiences from the past few years have shaped me into the best state of mind I’ve ever been in – a state my younger self might not have been capable of understanding. Even if I could go back in time to lecture myself, my younger self probably wouldn’t have listened. He was a fool, but that’s the point: we’re all supposed to grow and get better each day. Read more>>