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.

Kayla Webb

The best investment I ever made into my business was putting time into my clients when I was starting out. I learned a lot of what my ideal client wants and was able to use that to streamline the process for my next client as we grew. Another investment we made was in a team. Having additional team members have changed the business for us, allowing us to grow and not carry everything all the time. Read more>>

John Enger

The best investment I ever made was buying my Amish built sawmill. As I first started scaling up my woodworking business, I began to realize just how expensive materials were. Most people know how much they might spend on a few dozen 2x4s from the local Home Depot. Buying massive beams for timber framing, or high end hardwoods for furniture is so much worse. The cost of materials alone would often eat up most of my profit. Read more>>

Briceson Lee

Hello, I’m LeeSon Bryce. A musical artist, an amateur audio engineer, and an aspiring entrepreneur. I officially got into music back in the Spring of 2017 and started by booking studio time with Chapman Studios in Lenexa, KS back when it used to be open. After my first EP came within 2 months after my first studio session, I continued to release more music throughout the years and never stopped. To date, I have over 120+ songs and plan to release 100 more within the year. Read more>>

Amoye Henry

One of the most fascinating investments I’ve ever made was in the pre-seed raise of an agritech app revolutionizing the way consumers access fresh produce. I was captivated by the founder’s passion and vision for the app, and I saw immense potential in disrupting the traditional supply chain and connecting consumers directly with produce founders. Read more>>

Lara Cornell

As an artist and business owner, I’ve invested in everything related to my craft. From supplies, studios, marketing, workshops, photography, teachers/mentors, to traveling expenses, exhibition booths, and advertising costs. The list just goes on and on – and let’s not forget about the countless hours dedicated to building my businesses. Read more>>

Mason Staub

The best and the worst investment I’ve ever had is the one in myself. It is the best investment because it is empowering. I am driven to constantly be better and that comes from a belief and confidence in myself, which comes from investing in myself. Whether it is time, money or energy spent for the pursuit, I firmly believe that I need to invest in myself and that may potentially lead to a feeling of fulfillment. Read more>>

Khaleb Harvey

Purchasing our own studio equipment and a space to comfortably work in, is my best investment. We are free to work whenever we want, for as long as we want.. Plus, we can share our space with others for collaboration. Making upgrades over time is key, since we couldn’t buy everything at once. Knowing what our goals for the music helped figure out what was most important at the start. Read more>>

DeAuntay/Wayne Seymour

Wayne: the best investment for me I will say it is the camera that DeAuntay and I both share. I feel like that’s the best and this man because it allows us to be creative. It allows us to document our lives and our struggles in to share this amazing love that we both share for one another. So I do believe that the camera that we have is definitely one of the best investments I could’ve ever spent a dollar on. Read more>>

Max Grean

Best investment I ever made was in myself. Buying the tools to do various jobs. Taking the time to learn new things, to grow and a business person and artist. Learning how to negotiate pay vs labor was extremely valuable. Before venture out on my own, it helped me negotiate high wages from employeers. Know your worth. Know what your work produces and demand fair compensation. If my work is earning your company 10K and hour and all you offer is minimum wage, we have a problem. Extreme example, but not really all that extreme. Read more>>