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.

Viktoria Kysil

If I were to start over today, knowing everything I have learned over the past 19 years, my approach would be significantly different. When I began my career, social media was not a tool we could rely on, and the nail industry was far less developed than it is today. Our primary sources of knowledge were printed magazines and in-person courses, and the only way to establish ourselves as professionals was through years of dedicated work and continuous education. Read more>>

Rachel Cantong

The reason I have always been drawn to photography and why I started my business was the pursuit and joy of producing art. In this career it is easy to stray away from that, and fall into routines of producing images that lack creativity. If I could go back in time, I would be more intentional with leaning into my creativity consistently; when I do this, it helps me let go of creating and delivering images that I think the client wants versus what the artist in me is drawn to. Every time I do a creative session or push myself to try something new in a scheduled session, the response from clients (and my satisfaction) is greatest. Read more>>

Nicole Auditor

If I were restarting my writing career, one thing I would do differently would be not to let fear hold me back from trying new things.When you are an aspiring entrepreneur or working in a creative profession, it is easy to let uncertainty and doubt hold you back. I was scared of things like failure, embarrassing myself, or simply not being good enough. I think that if I was starting over, I would just go for it. I would go to more events and workshops, talk to as many new people as I can, invest in myself, and put myself out there more. Read more>>

Jacalyn Rae

During college, the majority of students have an idea of what they want to do after, but they don’t have a plan to implement in order to get there. If I could go back to college knowing that I wanted to become an entrepreneur, I would actively apply the things I learn to my business. Read more>>

Mo Regalado

If I were starting over today, knowing everything I know now, there are three big lessons I’d take with me:

First, I’d understand that this is NOT a paycheck. When you step into entrepreneurship, you’re not just working for yourself—you’re running Me, Inc. Shoutout to Rod Santomassimo and his book Knowing Isn’t Doing for putting that mindset into words. It’s a shift from employee to CEO, and that change in thinking impacts everything—how you manage time, how you make decisions, and how you value your own work. Read more>>

Oluwasemiloore Ariyo

If I had to start over today, knowing everything I’ve learned from my journey, I would approach things very differently. My name is Ariyo Oluwasemiloore, and my entrepreneurial path has been anything but smooth. From selling clothes in university to struggling with pricing, rediscovering business through importation, and finally, finding my footing in product marketing, I’ve learned lessons that would shape my new beginning. Read more>>