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.

Hanni Egal

The idea of starting a photobooth and event service was never in my career path. I majored in media and worked in fields like media production and project management. I’d never owned a business before, and while I had experience in media production—which kind of does tie in a bit with Honeybooth—podcasting and production were really where I excelled. Read More>>

Dominique Thorpe

Being an entrepreneur definitely has its challenges, but there’s so much beauty in creating opportunities with no limits. If I were to start over today, there are plenty of things that I would do differently to have become a more efficient photographer. The first one is Pricing. I believe that’s a big one for everybody. Over the past few years, I spent time building clientele, creating pricing guides, getting a lot of yes’s and some no’s, figuring out my worth, being afraid to raise my prices, etc. Read More>>

Sam Karimi

Looking back, I have no regrets about my entrepreneurial journey. Every misstep or failure has taught me something valuable, and with the right mindset, what initially feels like a setback can become an asset in the long run. That being said, there are a couple of things I wish I’d embraced earlier on, especially when it comes to efficiency in building my brand and business. Read More>>

Scott Hays

Leather work is one of those things where you start participating in the art and immediately go down the rabbit hole or you shelf everything to “come back to it later”. Read More>>

Ana Tskhomelidze

I am starting over right now, beginning from ground zero. For the past eight years, I worked in the tech field. I started as a front-end developer and later transitioned into a product manager role. My job provided a sense of security—at least that’s how I felt. There was a distinct company culture, along with benefits and a steady paycheck; however, I have always been more interested in pursuing a creative career, but I was driven by the desire to get back on my feet soon and have a secure job. Read More>>

Sandra Atiles-tyrrell

If I were to start over today, I would be more decisive. When I first had the idea to start my business, I hesitated far too often, wondering when the “right time” would be to take the leap. A big part of that hesitation came from the uncertainty of leaving a job I loved and was successful in. The security of a steady income versus the financial unpredictability of entrepreneurship weighed heavily on me. Read More>>

Cara Pitts

Looking back, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of being intentional about the advice you take and the people you learn from. It’s easy to mentor yourself out—taking in too much advice from too many sources can be overwhelming and counterproductive. Be careful who you’re listening to and assess them as a whole. Read More>>