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.
Calandria Dennis
If I could start over knowing what I know now, I would definitely start with creating a strategy and checking off as I go. Then I would utilize social media to the best of my ability to build an audience and pull in clientele. If I would have took social media more serious early on I would be much farther. Read more>>
Susan Prunty
If I were to start over today, knowing the lessons I’ve learned in my entrepreneurial process, I would go much leaner than I did. When I started, I wanted to be prepared for anything so I purchased items, hired staff, and built a brick-and-mortar store as if there were going to be lines out of the door of customers. In hindsight, I should have started with the bare minimum to see actually what would be important. Most of my projections weren’t as accurate as I hoped and then everything was thrown out the window when Covid hit my second year of business. If I had kept down costs initially, profit would have come quicker. Read more>>
Timo Keisala
If I could start over today, the first thing that comes to my mind is the gear. When I first started my photography journey I used a Canon 600D with the kit lens. In my opinion, I didn’t really get much out of it—I was just trying to do something. After half a year, I bought my second camera, the Canon 6D Mark II, along with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. After that, everything changed. I’m not saying it was the camera, but in my opinion, it was the lenses that really made the difference in the beginning for me. Read more>>
Andrea Ocampo
Ah, the classic “what would you do differently” question—a real head-scratcher, because honestly, I believe I am exactly where I’m meant to be. Like a perfectly timed plot twist, every detour, every unexpected subplot led me here.
Growing up, I had two burning passions: become a film director and work for an international humanitarian organization. Today, that’s not just my LinkedIn headline—it’s my life. Could I have fast-tracked my journey? Maybe. But would the story have the same depth? Doubtful. Read more>>
Sawyer Smith Roque
Three years ago I started making an annual mood board. It contains lists of the work I’ve loved making, the type of jobs I like, and artists I admire. This practice helped me find focus and direction where I have previously felt scattered and aimless. I revisit my mood boards regularly and use them to gauge, year-by-year, whether I am generally making work that aligns with my larger goals or if my dreams have shifted. Read more>>
Mike Uko
If I were to start over today, I would have psyched myself out to have more faith in my work and to believe in myself no matter what. Coming from a Nigerian household and pursuing a career in something creative or artistic, it was frowned upon. I was always told to do photography “on the side”, which forced me to pursue careers in things that I was not passionate about. Read more>>