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.

Kevin Iglesias

I wish I would have gotten into the business straight out of High School. I got into the Business when I was 26 years old. I had just got fired from my previous job but I promise it wasn’t my fault hahaha. Starting sooner would have helped me acquire a lot more Real Estate and achieve my goals much sooner. However, we can’t go back in time. Read more>>

Andria Thomas

I was in my junior year of college and was forced to leave school due to COVID 19. I started my business during the pandemic and at the time it felt like the perfect timing because the world was full of PPP loans and stimulus checks so business was booming week after week . Read more>>

Summer Rothrock

I started my business at the age of 35 while working a full-time job and parenting a then 5 and 8 year old. I had been making jewelry for friends, family, and myself for years – my passion for spreading joy through jewelry actually started with a friendship bracelet stand in the front yard of my childhood home. Read more>>

Sara Saldivar

When I first took photos for an artist in 2018, I was 21, going to community college and had a full time job. I was planning to study a field completely different from photography or any creative career. At this point, taking photos was just a hobby. I’d go to so many music events in LA and meet different people, from photographers, artists, managers, promoters. I realized how big of an industry it was behind the scenes. Read more>>

Michaela Robinson

Looking back, I would have started my business years sooner than my actual launch date. I developed an interest in candle-making and decided to start a candle business back in 2017, after coming across an article on the dangers of some synthetically fragranced candles/plug-ins. It wasn’t until the end of 2019, that I decided to actually pursue it. Read more>>

Swetha Janamanchi

It’s about the journey & achieving the dream. It would have been a smooth journey if I had discovered the interest sooner. But I am enjoying every bit of it. I remember the time after my MBA when I thought, what’s next? I have sailed a few career boats and slowly figured those are not something I would enjoy doing for a longer time. Read more>>

Shiquita James

Many would say they wish they had started sooner, but I believe my beginning of this journey began at its divine time. I began this journey in 2016 while living in Virginia, at that time I was medically retired from the Navy due to diagnoses of Lupus, six years into remission of it. Though experiencing lupus was a battle to be won, it also was a lesson to learning who I am. Read more>>

Erisa Nicole

My life always consisted of music from conception. My Father was a musician and he played the trumpet, piano, and organ. My Dad had a strong love for James Brown and he would often play the funky sounds of James Brown in our house. Although, my Dad had a love for James Brown he was a church musician and the music he had to play at church was Gospel music, therefore, Gospel music was the music he instilled in me at a very young age. I started my musical journey at the age of six. Read more>>

Lori Gravink

I spent too many years working what is often referred to as a “real job”. I exited Art School at age 21 and honestly was a bit lost. I’m those days no one taught the business side of being a creative and entrepreneur. So, I got a job and created in the side. I excelled at dining jobs that either gave me flexible time for creating or allowed me to be creative. I advanced in my corporate career and at age 50, I was self supporting and doing ok, till I wasn’t. Two lay offs on three years almost destroyed me financially. I was older and found it difficult to fond a lucrative corporate job. Read more>>

Bella Bosch

If I could go back in time and tell my younger self to start posting creatively earlier I would. I would definitely tell myself to just start. And start messy. I will take progress over perfection any day now! To go back to the beginning, I started posting online and monetizing it when I was a freshman in college. I had no idea I could make a career out of it, I just wanted the few extra bucks to be able to go out on the weekends and pay my sorority dues. Read more>>

Omaima Doghmi

Before we dive into this segment, I want to first start off by stating the following: There is a time and place for EVERYTHING! Okay, let’s dive right in! YES, of course as I am reflecting about my creative career I wish I had embarked on this exciting journey sooner. The social media journey thus far has been fruitful, celebratory, and just plain amazing. It is so nice to be able to connect with folks from around the world because I decided to share my lifestyle and travels with them. Read more>>

TiaMundria Christmas

If I could go back in time, I would definitely focus more on graphics than I did photography. I was very good at photography, but graphic design is where I am best at. Read more>>

Brian Fitzpatrick

Imagine being just 7 years old and accidentally watching the horror classic, Night of the Living Dead. Terrified but riveted, watching the zombie horror became the catalyst for a life-altering path for me. After a week of sleepless nights, I became fascinated with the idea that I could be so scared yet be perfectly safe. After mom suggested I write stories of my own, I put pen to paper and have been creating horror and science fiction tales ever since. Read more>>

James Rone

I started my creative career very young – I started performing improv and writing songs when I was 14 years old, and I haven’t slowed down since. I don’t have any regrets about when I began, but I do wish I had recognized the many different ways that a person can live a valid creative life sooner. Read more>>

Elle Eclectica

For the past 8 years, my day job has been “writer.” I like to joke that I’m a writer by day, circus artist by night. But it’s no surprise I became a writer. I was telling stories, even just in crude sketches, since I could hold a pen (or rather, a crayon). I always had that creative spark, that urge to make something. But while other kids were swinging on the monkey bars or kicking around a ball, I was anything but athletic. Read more>>

Ali WEnzke

My husband, Dan, and I moved ten times in eleven years, and I’ve lived in seven U.S. states. Our many moves inspired me to start my blog, www.artofhappymoving.com, and write my book, The Art of Happy Moving. It wasn’t until after my book came out that I decided to become a real estate agent. Read more>>

Benjamín Perez

As I reflect on my journey as a creator, I think it came at the perfect time in my life. Now I’m in a place where my mind, soul, heart, goals, dreams, doubts, and moment are aligned and balanced. I think it would have drained me if it happened in college and I would have lost control. Let me tell you how it all started for me. Social media has been part of my life since it became a thing. Read more>>

Ambrose Jackson

Actually, I think the timing for The 1937 Group is just right. My professional background is in hospital and medical group management, so having over a decade of experience in another highly regulated industry has proven invaluable. However, I’ve always had a relationship with the cannabis plant and maintained a connection to the culture. Read more>>