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.

Megan Gilmore

If I were to start over today, knowing what I know now, I would focus less on efficiency and profitability and more on key performance indicators for collective well-being, wholehearted reciprocity in partnerships, and developing curiosity and a growth-mindset around decolonizing my organization’s systems and processes and equitable, accessible practices and spaces. I would also focus on developing unique rhythms of care, support and accountability for myself and my team based on our needs, personalities, and preferences. While I think there is always room for growth and development in both of these areas, it makes our work more dignified, compassionate, efficient and sustainable long-term to start with a great foundational place to function. Read more>>

Olivier Momma

If I were starting over, there are several things I’d do differently to build faster, more efficiently, and with fewer missteps. While the naivety of being a first-time founder fueled our boldness and creativity, it also led to avoidable mistakes. Here’s what I’d adjust, knowing what I know now: 1. Never Lose Sight of Innovation Read more>>

Taber Hespe

We’ve all heard the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare, with the moral of the story being, “slow and steady wins the race!”. I’ve often thought of that phrase when thinking of my own journey over the last 18 years of being in the photography industry. My path to success took a lot longer than some of my peers, which is due to some of normal life events (such as having kids, moving to new cities several times, having a “normal” job on top of a photography business, etc). However, as time has passed and I’ve had time to reflect, I see that there were several things I could have done to speed up the process to get to where I am now. So if I had to start over right now, here are several things I would do to achieve the same results in half the time. Read more>>

Ashley Van-de-cruize Lampkin

Honestly? I’d move slower. Taking my time, would have likely gotten me here faster. I know that simply sounds backwards, But the truth is slow-and-steady truly does win the race. I hate to keep throwing around all of these cliché lines and phrases, but when I get excited about something, or an opportunity to turn my passion into something bigger and more rewarding, presents itself, I have the tendency to think less clearly. And then I bulldoze through a project that required more time, and devotion. It was never about a lack of respect for my passion, it was a lack of respect for patience, and the process to see my passion come to its full fruition. Read more>>