Almost every entrepreneur has had to decide whether to take the leap now or wait– perhaps they wanted to acquire more capital, experience or connections. Given how common this predicament is, we asked some successful business owners to reflect back on whether they wish they had started sooner or waited for a better time.

Charles Rucker

Honestly, I wish I had started way sooner. Like, no doubt. Coaching people, helping them get their health and mindset right—it legit fills my cup. This isn’t just business for me, it’s purpose.

When I first started Active Shift, I was in a place where I was figuring life out, bouncing between ideas, but deep down I knew I had something to give. I had the passion, the discipline, and I’ve always been that guy people came to for advice or a reset. Read more>>

M.J. Schiller

I have always been a writer. I wrote my first book in second grade with Mary Ellen Murphy. It was called “The Black Cat” and was written on some blue hotel stationery my dad had brought back from a trip. The pages were hole-punched and tied together with thick white yarn. It was a page-turner, let me tell you! But writer isn’t a job in the same way that other professions are. Sure, you can be a journalist, but no one pays you to write fiction; you have to make your own money. So I wasn’t encouraged to pursue it. I became a teacher, had children, and went back to work when they were old enough to attend school as a lunch lady. A perfect job. You’re off work when your kids are off school. You can take a nap everyday before the kids get home, and you don’t take your work home with you. Read more>>

Stephen Proctor

I wanted to start doing what I’m doing a few times, but I’d keep taking the “safe route,” only to end up at a fork again a decade later.

I never had a good answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” At 42, I still don’t, but I’m enjoying the journey more than ever.

I went to college for broadcasting, but fell in love with photography and visual design along the way. In the process, I got my (then) 13-year-old sister interested in photography (this is important later). When I graduated, I wanted to be a nomad. Read more>>

Bao Su

Reflecting on my journey with Body Bling, I believe the timing of its launching was just right. In 2018, while balancing my role as a single mother and a career in the dental field, I was also competing as an NPC National Women’s Figure competitor. During my shopping adventures for competition jewelry, I noticed a significant gap in the market. High-quality pieces were either exorbitantly priced or made with subpar materials, leaving competitors like myself without suitable options. This realization sparked the idea for Body Bling—a brand dedicated to offering unique, affordable, and high-quality jewelry for female competitors. ​ Read more>>

Edie Waters

As I reflect on going back in time, I realize that amazing opportunity is a all around us,, We just have to be ready to accept the challenge.

I started my real estate business after years of being deeply involved in the community, raising our boys, and supporting my husband’s career. During that time, I had already built a strong network and had a deep understanding of the local market in the Kansas CIty Metro.. That foundation gave me the confidence and the connections to hit the ground running. Read more>>