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.
Malik Johnson
Honestly I’ve thought about this before and overall I’m grateful my journey started when and where it did. As a kid I wrote songs, auditioned for commercials, and performed monologues at talent shows. As a freshman in college I auditioned for a role on the tv show Empire. I officially started my professional career in the fall of 2016 at 19 years old. Read more>>
Adryana Walter
I wish I could have gotten a head start on my career much sooner than when I did. Unfortunately for me I did not have a very supportive family. I was the kind of kid that enjoyed cutting my dolls/Barbie’s hair, putting on their makeup with markers, painting their hair with paints, etc. which always led me to getting into trouble, and I never understood why. Read more>>
Cheyanne Kurth
When I first started drag, I was working full time at a casino. If you don’t know what life is like working for a casino, it’s nonexistent. Casino’s work you every weekend and every holiday so it’s incredibly hard to have any sort of fulfilling performer career while working for one. So when I started Drag I could pretty much only go to weekday open stages to get my name out. Read more>>
Dr. Cryshaunda Rorie
If I could go back in time I wouldn’t have started my creative career any sooner than what I did. I started Noelle Model & Talent Group after spending years of doing research, figuring out the do’s and dont’s of the child modeling industry, making plenty of mistakes during the process with the experiences of trying to get my child noticeability and spending a lot of money on what I initially thought was the way to get into the industry. Read more>>
Martin Munoz
Everyone has a moment in time where they would like a “re-do” and us at Yo’z Moon Production are the same! Each of us have our stories, hardships, and successes and the idea that if we had started earlier in our creative journey, we would be enjoying what we are now. Definitely practice makes perfect, and as much time practicing reflects when the time comes to deliver, yet life happens, and that creates the character in each plot. Read more>>
Dorri Buchholtz
For over 25 years I had a successful business in the field of sports medicine and sports performance. I started sculpting later in life as a hobby. My sculpting hobby slowly developed into a business but I was limited in the amount of time I could spend creating because I was busy with my full time career. During the start of the pandemic I closed down my sports business and devoted all of my time and energy to my art business. Read more>>
Franklina Hovor
I always knew I was going to be creative full-time. In school, I was really only interested in projects that included some sort of creative tasks. I think for me its more so I wish I took it more seriously at a younger age. I had too much free time on my hands and I definitely should have painted more, drawn more, and created more youtube videos. I had a youtube channel where I created “artistic videos” for fun. All the things I did when I was younger for fun have laid the foundation for my creative career today. Read more>>
Kate Hunter
I wish I had been told that a creative career was possible. So much has changed in the world from when I went to high school, being creative or having the ability to take the time to be creative was seen as a reward for working hard at all of the other things you were supposed to do. Read more>>
Lexy Mogul
If I can go back in time I would have most definitely started taking creating content much more seriously. I started taking content creation seriously in 2021. It all started with a food review video I did for a take out hibachi restaurant in Kissimmee, Florida. From there, a majority of my food videos were food creations I made at home. Read more>>
Hunter Blalock
I started playing gigs right out of highschool, I would play a handful here or there & that kind of just snowballed into playing more & more. Although I was playing, & over the first couple years I started playing more consistently, I didn’t really find my path until about 4-5 years ago. I bounced around as a solo act, duo, fronted a jam band for a while, just trying to find where I was supposed to be. Read more>>
Chauntel Vital
I would have not started it sooner, now was the right timing for me, I was fresh out of high school when I moved to Texas, I needed time to figure out and discover what my creativity was, I needed to learn and make mistakes and figure out what I had a passion for. I got out of my comfort zone and took the steps to go to cosmetology school and figured out that wasn’t for me, I went to school for nursing and realized that wasn’t for me as well. Read more>>
Konnor Dolberry
I did not grow up around music at all. I only overheard the 90s country songs that my dad listened to in the car, or the occasional Bon Jovi song from my mom. As a child I was obsessed with sports, and played every single sports my parents would allow. When I was not at a practice or a game however, I was watching Disney Channel. Read more>>
Jameal Pullins- MDRD
Often times, I do wonder how things would have gone if I started my creative career sooner. In the same breath, I don’t regret nor question the timing. We’re taught to believe the people making decisions for us are in the best interest of us. As an adolescent we’re told what to do and what not to do but as we arrive into adulthood we make our own decisions. Read more>>
Bonnie Proudfoot
This is a great question, and certainly something to consider. I began a novel when I was in graduate school finding my way through an MA in creative writing. The novel won two major awards for work in progress at that time, and yet, both because I did not see a clear path forward, and because I measured the worth of the novel against other novels that I read which seemed so different, I set the project aside. Read more>>
Breagan Pittma
I wish I would have started sooner so that I could have my clientele built up and the time before I had my baby to be as creative as I can be with all the time in the world to do it. I started professionally doing makeup three years ago, just got engaged, not a care in the world just a helpful push that finally got me going and I love it. Read more>>
Jye
I began my creative carrer in Nashville, in the early spring of 2022. I packed my bags and set out for a city brimming with creative energy and the magic of possibility. I’ve always been aware of a certain frequency, like a secret radio station. I think most people are familiar with it. I call it wonder, or whimsy, play perhaps. Its probably the most valuable feeling-concept that I know of. Either way, it seems to have little place in the modern world. It doesn’t have a clear purpose. You could say it is meaningless. And its what I treasure. Read more>>
Jose ‘Chipi’ Estrada
I guess I wouldn’t have minded to start a year or two years earlier, not much before that tho, I think being a little older allowed me to see more clearly how things are, maybe if I were much younger I would be disappointed or frustrated on the industry. But at the end I feel everything matched well for me, the people I met, the state of the industry at this time and the opportunities I’ve found. Maybe I would be further ahead if I started earlier, or maybe I would’ve already quit, who knows but I think my time was right. Read more>>
Erika Mays
Wow! This is a loaded question for so many reasons. Mainly because my thoughts have changed so drastically over the last few years. I used to think like the majority of artists who probably feel that starting a career so unexpected would be best to do younger when you have the “least to lose” sort of speak. Read more>>
Crxss Bonex
Honestly I wish I would have started sooner. It’s crazy cause you look back and you realize that a lot of moments you had were opportunities and you didn’t jump on them in the moment. I remember back in highschool this artist came in to have a Ted talk kind of lesson, after he was done I saw his shoes and at the time I restored shoes. Read more>>
Kanessa Murphy
I joined the real estate industry 1 year ago as a wholesale Investor. Recognizing my limitless potential, i earned my brokers license during the tail end of the pandemic. In addition to my other professional pursuits, i began purchasing, rehabbing and flipping properties on my own at 29 years old. My advice is to start your journey now. It does not have to be perfect. Read more>>
Anthony Smith Chaigneau
I started the Uniquium business during the pandemic, but the heart of it goes back to the beginning of the iphone 5. Uniquium is an interesting story because I had been collecting or gathering photos of shop mannequins for years. not understanding the reason behind it, other than everytime I traveled for business Read more>>
Robert Gwaltney
There are moments I wish I had begun my writing career earlier, but I have no significant regrets. I am a disciple to the belief that life unfurls with intention and purpose. From the time I was a little boy growing up in Cairo Georgia, I wanted to be a storyteller. Read more>>
Mathias Fobi
Growing up around Atlanta, Ga and being influenced by cultural family events as a teenager, I developed a passion for good quality sounds and bringing people together. I started creating music at about 15 years old, but took it a little more seriously after the release of my first EP, “Mind, Body & Soul” on SoundCloud. Read more>>
Zylia Knowlin
I began my journey as a published author at the age of 45 years old after the death of my father. It was at that point that I realized that I could not wait any longer to share my stories with the world. Losing my father showed me that tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. I believe that starting my story sooner would have given me more years to share my story. Read more>>
Javen Oliver
I think about this often. My days as a kid & teenager was spent mainly on a basketball court. I was very into basketball growing up and athletics as a whole. Exercise & Health was and is still a very fascinating thing to me. But I’d be lying if I said that I don’t think to myself sometimes, where would I be if I took music as serious as I did athletics when I was younger. Read more>>
Essie Faye Taylor
Yes. I wish that I had started my creative career sooner. I am an author, recording artist, psalmist, podcaster, and improviser. I wish that I had the boldness to take a risk and bet on myself at an earlier age–perhaps in my early 20s. Instead of doing so, then I bought into the American Dream: go to college, get a secure profession–don’t follow your heart and become a broke creative. I was too afraid to go after my dream as a young person. Read more>>
Goodness Ihekweme
Yes, I wished I could’ve started my creative journey a lot sooner. I started my creative journey when I was In college. I honestly just wanted to test how creative I could be. When I was in college I always found myself more interested in Fashion. Fashion was a passion that I wanted to explore for me. Well, it all started after High-school when I realized I wanted to get into Fashion school In New York but it was too expensive. Read more>>
Kate Hendrickson
When asked this question, I don’t have to think about it very long. I am happy that I detoured from my original path. Many years ago, I had received a Master of Fine Arts degree and was living in Chicago with three jobs. Two were part-time teaching positions at a local college and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The third was gallery assistant. Read more>>
Lou Taylor
In hindsight, I do wish I started my creative career earlier. That being said, I began singing and writing in elementary school. But, I began to perform publicly in high school. As a child and growing into my adult years, I was very insecure about my gift of music and shied away from the mic. Read more>>
Maddie Jenkins
I really wish I would’ve started my path as a content creator sooner. It all started when I used to make videos on my family video camera for fun as a child, like 9 or 10, and I knew it was something I was passionate about, but I never thought it was a realistic career path for me. I would write scripts, create skits, make vlogs, and even made my own mini “talk show” interviewing different family members Read more>>
Tarrin Cox
When I look back over my time as a business owner, I sometimes wish that I would have begun sooner. I do not regret any choices or decisions made, just wish I would have made them sooner. Read more>>
Onyia Ali
After 2 years of doing digital design projects for friends and family, I decided to take the leap and form a business. At the end of 2019, I spent countless hours organizing my processes, portfolio, and business structure to launch at the end of Q1 2020. Then Covid happened and set me back months. I postponed my launch in the face of this global crisis and struggled to find the inspiration to keep going during lockdown. Read more>>
Mikelle Thomas
if I could go back in time, I wish that I started my business sooner. I started my business in April 2021. I was a college student trying to get my associates degree and I was about a year and a half out of the military trying to figure out what’s next in my life. I feel like if I started sooner, I would’ve been more confident in my skill and I wouldn’t have been so scared to just do me! What would’ve changed about? My experience is that I would have more time and experience under my belt. At the end of the day Gods timing is always right although I do wish I started sooner. I am exactly where I need to be. Read more>>
Darcy Birden
There are times I wish I didn’t “waste time” and started my own business sooner. I think the biggest thing was believing in myself. After college, I did what is considered normal and got a 9 to 5 job and started grinding it out working long days as a news reporter. Funnily enough, as a reporter you are shooting your own content and running your own social media while contributing to the tv stations social media. Read more>>
Christa Boyd
If I could go back in time I definitely wish I had started this business earlier! I was always so scared to take the plunge and invest in a camera, because they are so expensive, and I didn’t want to fail. I absolutely would have done that differently though because this business has been the best thing to ever happen to me! I think starting sooner would just have opened up opportunities earlier and allowed me to meet more people. Read more>>
Samantha Leung
I am one of those people that believes that everything happens for a reason – whether it’s good or bad, a win or a lesson, we learn something about ourselves every time we make a decision in our lives. Read more>>
Lena Nikolaj
Although I do believe that our lives happen to us in the perfect order of when we’re ready. I do wish I had the courage to start earlier, I thought about it for years but I was just so conditioned to believe that being a successful photographer was an unrealistic path. The reason I appreciate this question is because I can inspire anyone that felt the same way I did years ago to just start. Like now. Trial and error. Stop being scared of “failing.” I don’t even believe in that word because it’s all just a learning experience. Read more>>
Traquinta Smith
Growing up I’ve always been surrounded by hairstylists in my family or with older cousins who did their own hair. My mom in particular was a beautician and due to her being a single parent majority of my time after school was spent in the salon with her while she worked. As I got older I started paying more attention to the things she did with her clients while also doing my own research on YouTube. By the time I was in high school I started experimenting with my own hair and fell in love with extensions. Read more>>
Angel Jordan
If I had a chance to go back in time, I would honestly want to start my business sooner that I did because I would have more experience within my field of work and a better understanding of how to market to my audience as a result of learning marketing skills. I started my business back in 2019, brainstorming and learning the ins and out. The only thing I would change is learning more and more about my business and paying attention to the opportunities presented. Read more>>
Jasmine Moore
If I could go back in time, I would have definitely started my business way sooner. I’m only 29, but in today’s time with all the technology this younger generation is winning when it comes to advertising and promoting your business. There are so many ways to put yourself on the map and advertise your business. Back when I was in high school, we had cell phones and computers, but nothing compared to today’s time. Read more>>
Tasha Raquel
I started doing hair when I was in 6th grade. I fell in love with how creative I could get with different hairstyles. My big sister came to me and informed me that I could make this a profession and get paid. She told me to look into trade/vocational school and that’s exactly what I did. Read more>>
Erica Daniels
I started taking photos and showing interest in photography in the 6th grade. I had no idea that photography was an art form and no clue that you could own a business being a photographer. I wish I had guidance back then, to push me towards my passion because I feel I would be so much more advanced in my creativity & photography skills. Read more>>
Jessica Odom
I started my business in 2020. If I could go back in time, I wish I started my business sooner, There’s so much money out there, enough for everyone. If I started in my early twenties, I’m sure I’ll be making 3xs the income that I’m making in my sleep. A lot has changed within the years, especially with technology. Having available resources at your fingertips is a plus for this generation. Read more>>
Ben Butler
I’ve always made things. I was nailing pieces of wood together on my grandmother’s porch (loudly and much to her and my uncle’s distress.) I’ve always drawn and painted, mostly cartoons. Cartoons like Calvin & Hobbes were major influences. Hanging with my art school friends at conventions got me curious on how to get my art into strangers’ hands. Read more>>