Helping more people thrive doing what they love or are passionate about means helping more folks learn from those who came before them and so we asked successful entrepreneurs, artists and creatives to tell us what they would do differently, knowing what they know now, if they were starting over.

Alysa Chapman

Start small and grow big! The first thing I would do differently would be to start out on a smaller scale. I tend to dream big, have lots of ideas and probably get a little too excited. All of this is not bad, but it can get to be a little overwhelming and you can easily lose focus. SVDM was started as a digital media and marketing agency with my husband. Read more>>

Klaudia Williams

If I were to start over, I would learn how to buy supplies the smart way and not the fast way out. As a small business owner you want to make sure you get the supplies quick and easy, however I had to learn that it is okay to wait an extra week or two, maybe even a month or two. Sometimes we can be impatient and wanting to express our creativity. As of recently, I learned that lesson and it has made so much of a big difference with the spending and supplies. I have a great finance coach (my mom), who’s taught me to become more organized. Read more>>

Melissa Schroeder

If I could go back a few years and start my business over again, I would invest more quickly in continuing education and less in gear right away. As my business started to become profitable, I finally gave in and bought “that lens” or “that bag” that I had been looking at for a while. Eventually, I decided to invest more heavily in education and really push my boundaries from a learning perspective. Read more>>

Diamond Tubaya

If I was to start over, I would definitely take myself more seriously in the beginning. Things I would do differently would be promote myself more , network with local business owners and truly show my talent. In the beginning I wasn’t doing that and I had to learn that people will only take me as serious as I take myself. Read more>>

Eleanor Ward

I jumped into my magazine headfirst. I even initially offered free AD Space!!! That was a definite no-no. I just wanted it completed,done and out there. If I were starting over with publishing my magazine, there are many things that I would do differently. I definitely would not use my private capital as I have done in the past. Read more>>