Everyday, somewhere, there is an aspiring artist or creative daydreaming about pursing their creative career full time. Everyday, there are countless creatives thinking about whether to pursue their passion more seriously and so we wanted to hear from folks who’ve made the leap. We asked them to reflect on if they wish they had started sooner or if they feel they would have been better off if they had waited a bit longer.

Bryce Pinchum

I started singing at church in the choir and on the praise team. I would write songs occasionally at home or on my way to school but for a long time, I didn’t do anything with my music. I was at a place in my life where I knew I wanted to earn a living as a vocalist, but I didn’t think it was really possible. Read more>>

Angela Oster

If I could go back in time, I think I’d still choose to start my creative career when I did. I began really embracing my art in my 40s, which is a bit later than some, but it felt like the right time for me. Before diving into my art practice, I was at a non-profit doing graphic design, which gave me a solid foundation in visual communication. But more importantly, those years gave me life experience, a broader perspective, and a sense of confidence that I might not have had if I’d started sooner. Read more>>

Millie Kimble

I got goosebumps just feeling into my response on this one. There are certainly parts of me that once ached at the thought, “I’d be so much farther along if I started sooner.” But, “starting sooner,” simply wasn’t my path. I trust, so deeply, that I was meant to live through the experiences I did first. I stayed in an abusive partnership for eleven years and woke up to my gifts and my life as an Artist (and my spirituality) the moment I left. Those eleven years of “being held back” bring a passionate rage that keeps the fire wildin’. They have brought me to a greater depth of compassion for others who find themselves in unsafe relationships, who are going through a divorce, or just navigating those complete 180ºs that life likes to throw at us. The timing was/is divine. Read more>>

Jorge Alberto Flores

If I could go back in time, I would not change the way I started my music career. I feel like I unintentionally took the scenic route when it came to starting my music career, and I got to experience a wide range of subjects. This allowed me to learn and study to become a well-rounded person, able to notice patterns and connect ideas together, almost like a polymath. Understanding myself through knowledge helped guide me and let me see that I had actually started practicing to become an artist since a little kid. Read more>>

Tiffany Brown

Knowing what I know now, hindsight is always 20/20. I WISHED I had started early, but I was undecided on my career path. I actually started college studying Psychology. But it seemed like anything creative found it’s way to me. During that time I was doing a lot of things in Calligraphy and making programs for events, etc. So I took that as a sign. At the time I was a student at Clark Atlanta University; back then it was Clark College. I left there and enrolled at the Art Institute of Atlanta for Graphic Design; which is also where I learned how to edit video. Read more>>

Dee Mcqueen

I think that I started my creative career right on time. In this field, it can be very discouraging. You are constantly having to put yourself out there knowing that your idea, pitch, or story may be rejected. You need thick skin to be able to have people constantly critiquing and criticizing your work. Being able to withstand criticism, which sometimes can be harsh, is very important if you want longevity in this field, and when you step out into this kind of work full-time, you need to be tenacious. Read more>>

Donny Teran

If I could go back I would have definitely started my creative career a lot sooner. I started doing makeup about 11 years ago while I was working in kohls as a clothing department lead. It started as me just doing makeup on a friend for a while. Then I had the opportunity to move into the beauty department as the lead. I was so nervous but I knew it’s what I wanted. I always loved makeup and the things it could do to a person and the way it could make a person feel. I wish I would have taken bigger leaps and really put myself out there more, but I was so scared of being judged or for not being good enough. Read more>>

Kristin Erhard

Throughline Design was born during the pandemic. At the time, I was teaching English as a Second Language to adult learners online, morning, nights and weekends. As for many people at that time, most of my waking hours were spent in front of a screen, or a “Zoom Prison” as I often referred to it. My life was literally and figuratively becoming a flat, one-dimensional version of what it had previously been. The immateriality of my day-to-day existence mediated by computer coupled with a DIY-attitude was my impetus for starting Throughline Design in 2021. Read more>>

Annika Stacey

Let me tell you a bit about my childhood to answer this question. Sitting at the green granite kitchen bar, with a pencil and paper, surrounded by slowly collected art supplies, is where my creative journey began. Growing up, I loved spending time creating! I especially loved paining and photography. My parents were incredibly supportive of that. They bought me sketch pads and praised me at my efforts. When I was in high school, I was taking a college level art class. My teacher was incredible. She had a way of gently nudging you out of your comfort zone to create something beautiful. Read more>>

Laura Delarosa

I certainly wish that I’d started pursuing my creative career sooner! Here’s the backstory: although I’ve been singing in choirs since I was just starting elementary school, I allowed a rejection in high school deter me from continuing to sing after I graduated, even as a hobby. Read more>>

Mpls Drew

I wish I would’ve started my music career earlier. Although, at the time I thought it was perfect timing, I didn’t realize how beneficial writing my struggles and pain on paper and to a beat would be. At the time, writing music was just an outlet for me. I didn’t have the intentions of uploading or even showing anyone my work. Until one of my friends was going thru a distant family relationship struggle that, I had just gone thru myself. So I showed them the song, “Miss Out” and they asked if I could record it and send it to them because it helped them thru that. Read more>>

Joni Landreneau

As a young adult right out of high school I enrolled in college for design. Being a rebellious and very sheltered kid I quickly dropped out and ended up having a child, tried going back to school a couple of years later, got pregnant again with twins and then my life was pretty much complete chaos for a number of years after that. I worked many different regular jobs but I’ve always done art. I obviously knew that I was meant for an artistic endeavor since I was very very young. Why I chose to finally finish college with a bachelor of science in environmental science is why most people don’t follow their passion…. I thought it would pay more. I also love the environment and have very strong ideals when it comes to the environment. Read more>>

Rolanda D. Bell

Over the years, I’ve learned that what’s for you is for you as long as you continue to show up, your journey will be what it’s always meant to be. There were times that I felt that if I was exposed to my craft sooner with the necessary mentorship, I may be in deeper with my career as an artist. Growing up I didn’t have the opportunities I know a lot of young people have now. But being an only child growing up with many cousins & the kind of imagination I have, I realize I’ve always had a “thing” for creating stories whether through writing or improvisation. Read more>>

Josée Klein

Honestly, becoming a professional musician is a process which takes years. Music schools don’t really help performers learn how to land a job, they just teach you the skills you’ll need once the job is landed. The work of a musician is a lot of trial and error. Your goal is to create a full-time job doing what you love, and what you’re good at, but you have to start that career from 0% meaning, most times, musicians have no connections or opportunities when they graduate from school and have to create something from nothing. It seems almost impossible. Read more>>

Stephanie George

I wish I would have started taking myself seriously sooner, I’ve been in the business for 16 years on and off and have worn many jobs and worn many hats behind and in front of the scenes. If you are thinking of doing something do it now, don’t wait and put it off until later. If you do it, love it master it and study the business you are in. A lot of show business is about representation and being qualified so I have learned. As a creative director I know this takes time and experience, I knew it was going to be a journey but I knew that it would be worth it for me because it is my dream. Read more>>

Andrea Augwe

I started my business in 2019 after a conversation with someone in the travel industry. At the time I had been a stay at home mom homeschooling my son. He was about to enter middle school and spending more time on campus. For me that meant more time to get back to business. Prior to homeschooling, I was a teacher. I had taught elementary school and once my son came along, I switched to early education so that I could be on the same schedule as him. Read more>>