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.

Oleksandr Biezmienov

of course I wish I could start earlier.. when you are already succesful in what you doing! I started photography in 2003 – with the first digital canon camera, did few projects and music videos, but parents never belived that you can make money with music or art, so I went to Univercity and finished MBA of Economics. Read more>>

Christian Hamrick

Since I was a child, I have always been making art. When we were kids, my mom would let us paint the floors and walls of our house. We grew up without a TV, so I would read books and make drawings of things that I read about. In grade school, kids would give me their lunch money to make drawings of cartoon characters…I remember doing a lot of Dragon Ball Z drawings. Making art, whether for myself or for someone else, has always been a big part of life. Read more>>

Ruben Resendez

I believe that there are no such things as coincidences and everything happens for a reason at the perfect timing. It might not seem like it at the time but when you look back it, it was all in perfect timing. My initial adventure into entrepreneurship was as a self employed financial advisor living on 100% commission. I didn’t fully understand the mindset nor did I have my core values in place to really make it as a self employed individual. The timing was not right for me at that time in my life. Read more>>

McKayla Mooney.

Gardening has been a lifelong passion of mine growing up, so I wish I would have thought to start growing herbs sooner for cooking, steeping, and everything in-between! My gardening prior primarily included perennials, annuals, and vegetables. Since cooking and baking are further passions of mine, I could only imagine how much more creative I could have made some of the recipes I was trying out with garden fresh herbs. Nowadays I certainly cannot go without using fresh or dried herbs from my garden, such as basil or lavender. Read more>>

Shannan Hunt.

Thinking back on my candle hobby in 2018, I believe it was a good time to start and turn it into what is is today. At times I do think if I could go back I would have started sooner. Around that time I was still finding myself. I was trying to figure out what I was passionate about outside of being a mom and a workaholic. What I could bring to the world and help others. Read more>>

Cynthia Espy

It is intimidating to start a business. When your plan was not in the business world you feel out of your realm and that you will make a mistake and it is best just not to try. Although we did many favors for friends and family we didn’t really know if we could make a business out of what really was just a hobby for us. Eventually, despite not having any background in business, my husband and I decided to take the leap and go for it. Read more>>

Darius Lawson

This is actually a great question because I have been in this industry now for about 24 years and just recently had the courage and support to go full time within the last year or so. Read more>>

Doryon McBride

If I could go back in time I would’ve started my business later. When I started my business I was an immature 19 year old. As in Immature, I mean business wise not immature acts. I was not cut out to be a business owner let alone an entrepreneur. Granted, I had the drive the hustle and the motivation but I didn’t know how to run a business. I was just having fun making money. From then to now, there have been a lot of obstacles that my business had to face just from me learning the ins and out, the do’s and don’t. Read more>>

Mercedes Jenkins-Carter

Absolutely! I wish I would’ve started my business in 2020 once COVID hit. It was the perfect opportunity however God’s timing is perfect and I feel like when it started everything just fell into place. I first started My Black Beauty Box or MY B.B.B. back in 2017 with one goal in mind giving black brands a platform to grow. We have since expanded into a retail store with endless possibilities and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Read more>>

Andraya Blair

If I could go back in time, I would absolutely start Rowan Muse sooner. Read more>>

Stella Hall

I wish I had started earlier with the knowledge I have now. I started 2 of my businesses in 2001 and 1 in 2009. However I did not have the business wisdom that I have now. My businesses were a hobby because even though it was called a business, I was doing things for free as if it was a hobby. I am a full time entrepreneur now. I was working a 9-5 and doing my businesses too. Read more>>

Josh Land

Well I often wish I would have made the leap into making my photography my career path back when I had less responsibility. As a father of 6 I really haven’t been able to really get out there and invest in myself. I have always felt more locked into my stable Monday – Friday job and unable to take that leap of faith to jump-start my career. Having 7 other mouths to feed and keep a roof over our heads has been my burden for almost 20 years now. Read more>>

Alexia Harris.

I absolutely wish that I had pursued photography as a career sooner! Read more>>

Morgan East.

There are times when I wish I started my creative career earlier in life or that I went to art school because now I am making up for it; whether it is teaching myself the basics by watching youtube videos, like how to properly varnish a painting, or trying to avoid bad habits. It is almost like I am in Art school and starting my own business at the same time. However, I don’t think I would have been ready to pursue art full-time without gaining business knowledge first. Read more>>

Star Swain

If I could go back in time and have started my creative career sooner, I absolutely would! Read more>>

Chris Jones Jr

Funny thing is, I have this conversation with myself more often than I think a person should. If I had the power to go back and rearrange some things, starting my artistic career at a different period in my life would most definitely be the first thing. Growing up in an environment that was a little tougher than others, it was a challenge for me as a kid/young adult to confidently express myself as an artist, primarily because it wasn’t the cool thing to do amongst my peers at that time. Read more>>

Jess Bundy.

Looking back, I wish I had made the leap into a creative “career” sooner….or maybe I just wish I had the courage to do it sooner. I knew from a very young age that Art is what brings me joy. If you would have asked 6yr old Jess what she wanted to be when she grew up, it was simple, an Artist. Since then, I’ve always found ways to express my need to create. I’ve gifted countless paintings and crafts to loved ones over the years. Read more>>

Gully Mark

It’s crazy you ask this, because I’ve had a similar thought for some time. Where would I be today if I shared more of my creative processes or publicly engaged better? The thing is, I’ve been on the music scene in some artist circles officially around late 2013, almost 10 years ago. Insert mind-blown emoji. I started writing music a few years prior, but didn’t have the confidence to actually push myself, that is, until I met a group of guys named X, Cecil, and AG. Read more>>

Kirsten Stingle

Stories are magic. They give us empathy and imagination, enabling us to understand who we are and where we come from. But, most importantly, they strengthen our understanding of others and the ecosystem in which we are a part. I am a storyteller. I am sculptor of stories. For better or for worse, I didn’t find my creative path until later in life, but I am thankful for the side paths that led me to where I am today and inform my work. Read more>>

Madison Landsness

I would not have changed anything going back to when I first started my business. I enjoyed the path that I have taken so far. I have very supportive friends and family which helped a lot. I have met a lot of people over the years through my business, the connections drive me to do more. It’s been so wonderful being able to be excepted in my truest form. My art is my passion, having people buy my art / clothing or anything I create is one of the most amazing things I’ve experienced in this life time. Read more>>

La’Shawnda Mansfield.

If I could go back in time I wish I would have started sooner. I started my business in 2018, when I officially got an LLC and started treating my love for art and creating as more than a hobby but I way to make a living and soon build wealth one day. At that time when I started I worked at Federally Qualified Health Center as a Community Health Worker. Read more>>

Ardele Monk

I had always been an artist, even as a young child I knew this was who I am. Unlike many of my friends who attended colleges and universities straight out of high school, I decided to work and attended community college. I did this for many years, but at 30, I decided to take the leap and finish my BFA. I was “running out of time” in my mind and needed to get things going. Read more>>