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.

Christina Hoffmeier

Coming from a lifelong investment family, I have personally made both high profiting investments and others that have served as a real life lesson along the way. That is just how investment goes. It’s a game of luck more than skill sometimes often reserved for those who are most willing to take a chance in order to maybe succeed at something rarely even attempted by others. Whether you are doing it for the bragging rights or the war stories, investing isn’t for the faint of heart. Read more>>

Dean Pagano

One of the most interesting investments I’ve made as an artist was in my own talent and skill development. I’ve always believed in the importance of honing my craft and pushing myself to improve, so I’ve invested a lot of time and energy into practicing, experimenting with new techniques, and seeking out feedback from other artists and mentors.  Read more>>

Ellen Rid

Though the first post on my ellens.instashop Instagram page dates back to September of 2020, I consider this a rather new business venture. I’ve always had a full time job while making earrings, so the hours I’ve been able to put toward this business is far fewer than if I were making earrings full time. Read more>>

Erik Egelko

One of the best real estate investments I have made was a 4 bedroom townhome in La Mesa near Lake Murray. I was scrolling through new listings on Redfin late one night when I noticed a townhome in a complex around the corner from my house that was filled with old furniture. I have found that big life changes (death, divorce, retirement) make for great opportunities to buy good real estate deals. Read more>>

Nikita Coulombe

All I can say is that I wish that I invested in myself sooner. The worst investment I made was giving my time away to people who didn’t value it. As you get older, time becomes a precious resource. You realize that every moment you have a choice around how you can spend it, whether it’s taking action or improving your inner dialogue. Spend time with people who have your best interests at heart, treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping, and always be open to learning something new. Read more>>

Ryan Dawson

The best investment, without a doubt, is the investment in oneself. For myself it’s requires discipline, sacrifice, and patience. Learning anything new, including tattooing, can be challenging, involving learning art in a new medium, equipment, techniques, cleanliness, and everything else that comes with it. The term ‘starving artist’ couldn’t be more true. Read more>>

Myles McGuire

The best investment I made was in myself. When I dropped out of college in 2018 I worked tirelessly to fund my career. If I wasn’t paying for studio time to record a record I’d be paying for a visual or for a photo shoot, a dance class or new outfits to experiment with. It wasn’t until I loved to LA in 2020 that I started monetizing and professionalizing my craft. Read more>>