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.

Brauni Orr

If I could go back in time and start my company from the bottom. I would have done my research on business credit first. I would never suggest using your own funds for a start up. Only because the first few years in business fluctuates. It’s a lot of ups and downs and those loses are coming solely from your own pockets. I would be soooo much further in business had I knew the things I know now about OPM (other people’s money). Read more>>

Jennifer Horvath

There are certainly a few things such as…trusting my intuition and not listening to well-meaning peers about things I should be doing in my business such as trying to do everything myself in order to save money. I jumped into entrepreneurship at 23 years old with no formal business eduction or experience. Because of this I sort of always had this subconscious ‘imposter syndrome’ without realizing it. I just assumed that other people that had more experience or had studied business knew more than me and I defaulted to their advice even when my intuition was telling me otherwise. Read more>>

Dré Perales

I feel like when creating a brand or a product I spent to much time on perfection… nothing is perfect. You can always adjust and grow along side your product and vision. What is important is to be authenticity. Read more>>

Cassie Fuertez

I often look back on what I could have done differently to break into a professional photography career more quickly than I did. I go back and forth—what if I had quit my corporate job sooner instead of waiting to be laid off? What if I had traveled more? Would that have given me a better understanding of who I am or helped build my confidence? Read more>>

SAMUEL DAVIS

I would have done more research on Hot Wheel fanfare and culture to get a better understanding of what the masses were into and what I actually had. My son and I had been track building since 2013. The first event where I sold cars was in 2023. Between then, we built quite the personal collection of cars we liked. A trip to any store with a Hot Wheels section would see us leaving with five to twenty easily. Eventually we had too many to open and play with and found ourselves with bins of cars. During that period we were only concerened with how well a car could perform on our track builds. In 2023 during the Winchester Community Fair, I made my first major mistake. Read more>>

Ronald Anderson

Advice to My Younger Self
If I could talk to myself 35 years ago, here’s what I’d say:
Think Beyond the Shiny New Thing
Be cautious about chasing the latest and greatest—especially when it comes at a steep cost. Take this example from today: Suppose I’m setting up TVs for a bar. Do I go to my long-time industrial supplier and spend $1,600 on a 70-inch Samsung QLED TV with no warranty for commercial use? Or do I buy the same model at Costco for $900, which includes a five-year, unlimited warranty? It’s not just about the price tag—it’s about long-term value and peace of mind. Read more>>

Amanda Seebadan

I would learn to network the right way and learn what rooms I should be in. Read more>>