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.

Ruby Lee.

So are you one of those people who have like a million ideas but aren’t sure where to start or what to do? Yeah, hi- that’s me! Like I have so much passion for so many things, and I definitely have the dedication and drive to get it done, but sometimes that’s what can make everything seem like too much right.. the fact that you feel like you have to get everything done at once. Read more>>

Michelle Dorrill.

This question intrigues me quite a bit because I want to say, I absolutely do wish I would ave started my business sooner – but I think I’m a lot more effective now as a business owner because of the path I took to get here. I went to college straight out of high school and got a Bachelors degree in Fine Art focusing on photography. I went in bright eyed and ready to take on the world and somewhere between when I started and my senior year,  Read more>>

Christa Schiessl

Yes, most definitely! About ten years ago, I started as a hobbyist photographer right out of college, not really sure how exactly to run a business. As business began to snowball, I wish I had taken the time to learn how to set up systems. At that time, there were not a ton of business coaches, and business owners were not sharing how they got from point A to point B like they do now. Next thing I knew, I needed to legitimize the business because it was more than just a hobby. Read more>>

Molly Childress.

If I could go back in time, I would have definitely started my business sooner. I have always had a passion for photography, ever since I was a child. I remember watching behind the scenes for a movie with my mom and seeing the cameraman and saying to her, “that’s what I want to do when I grow up.” In my senior year of high school, I was named photographer of the year and only continued to practice my passion for a couple of years. My first job out of high school was at the portrait studio in Walmart as a photographer. I learned quickly that even though, I loved photography, studio photography was not for me. Read more>>

Melody Sipp

I started out as a student at Georgia Southern University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. From high school, I knew I dreamed of owning a business, though I was unsure of the type of business I wanted to start. I had hoped my college experience would guide me in the direction I wanted to be in. My college experience was soon cut short due to a major blessing that started it all. Though, I did gain friends and knowledge that I’d never forget. I like to say Graphic Designing called me. Read more>>

Kristin Joiner

I’m a big believer that everything happens when it’s supposed to. I’ve known I’ve wanted to open a brick and mortar shop for over 10 years. The first step was saving enough money while working full time elsewhere—I accomplished that about 5 years after going through a divorce that wiped out my savings. Around that time, I had the opportunity to move abroad which gave me the freedom to work for myself full time, but would not allow me to have my shop. Read more>>

Dareil Irby

Absolutely, much Sooner !!!!, without question…I honestly wish I would’ve started both f.Aa.T Brand & SURF Collective Management in high school, I had everything except the staff and names of the companies (laughs), and well of course the artist. However, that’s how the universe aligns things, I can’t question it, I just roll with it. I’ve honestly spent A LOT of time, energy, and money invested in other peoples dreams/visions, and that’s where my delay was. Planning and executing for others, and while I enjoy the process, you often find yourself at the will of your partner/clients, their emotions, their change of plans, their personal shit, their direction. Read more>>

Danielle Barbee

If I could go back in time, I wish I would have started my business sooner. I started my business in January of 2020 and during that time I was working for the school district. While working for the school, I enjoyed being on the same schedule as my child, as well as, the school breaks, weekends, and holidays off. However, I felt like there was more in life I desired. Career-wise I started working in healthcare and always wanted to branch off into holistic medicine, but life has its way of steering. Read more>>

Cassandra Bolden.

At the very beginning, I often thought or wished that we had started our business earlier than the year of 2019 and I say that because we are having a blast growing and working in our business that I sometimes wonder how much more fun we could have had if we’d started earlier. Truth is… we started our business in the season which was designed for us to start. Prior to 2019, we were not equipped to start our candle business or build-out our basement to accommodate such business. Read more>>

Hannah Butler.

I would have started my business sooner. I just became an LLC this year, but looking back I could have done that a lot sooner. I first started taking photos my freshman year of high school. It wasn’t until around my senior year that I was doing them more professionally. I entered college with photography as my major, and it was honestly what made me overwhelmed about starting my own business. I was extremely discouraged. I felt like everyone around me was thriving and knew so much about editing and creative apps. I began to lose my confidence and excitement for photography. Read more>>

Latarsha Bradwell

In full transparency, if I could turn back the hands of time, I would’ve lunged out into the deep years ago. I let fear and comparison hold me back for years. It wasn’t until 2018 when I decided to formally step out of the shadows of fear and into obedience. I truly “did it scared.” Read more>>

Candice Russell

Yes if I could go back in time, I do wish I would have started my business sooner rather than later. I say this because I’ve always had a passion for hair, I found it intriguing how you could switch up your look and express yourself with different hairstyles and colors. I’ve always wanted to start my own hair business since I was about 14 or 15. Now here I am I started my business in April of 2021 and I couldn’t have been more excited and nervous at the same time. I was working as a direct Support Professional before I stared my own business. Read more>>

Candy McBride

It’s quite interesting to dwell on a decision from the past. I try not to live in the past because it’s not here anymore. The timing of #GYMKITTY was positioned perfectly for the space it currently resides. All the lessons and rejections were learning spaces that are leading this company into the future. #GYMKITTY was started on the premise of smart nutrition, integration of social media, and the disruptive idea that ladies aren’t gymrats. Therefore, when you look at those parallels it’s quite acceptable to understand we are right where we need to be. Read more>>

Tonia Wilson

If I could go back in time. I wish I could’ve started my business earlier. As we all know in the financial markets, the younger you are, the better you’re going to be able to tolerate that risk. You’ll have fewer responsibilities, fewer commitments and much more time to make up any losses that you may incur. Therefore, starting a business as early as possible mitigates your potential losses & mistakes. Read more>>

Pearl Martyr

Honestly, I wish I started my business sooner, but I’m glad I started when I did. I wish I started sooner because, the knowledge and skill from culinary school was fresh. I wish I started while I was in school. Putting myself through a private school was a rough ride in itself, but I persevered. I started my business right after graduating college and life happened, of course, and I ended up just stopping all together for years. It took a long time for me to be inspired to relaunch and stick to it. Read more>>