One of the best things about video games is the ability to restart – you can use your learnings to move faster and avoid obstacles. We often think about what we would do differently if we were starting over in business and we figured others probably think about this as well and so we asked the community to share their thoughts with us.

Rodolfo Delgado

I’ve been leading a tech startup based in Manhattan for over six years now, and in this time, surviving and aiming to thrive in one of the toughest cities in the world has taught me many lessons. But those lessons don’t come without hardships and failures. Read more>>

Marc Kalb

If I were starting over as a 3D artist, here are a few things I’d do differently to get where I am today faster and without emptying my wallet. 1. Get Social: Networking is the name of the game! Get yourself out there by attending conferences, workshops, and events in the 3D art world. Rub elbows with industry folks and make connections. Oh, and don’t forget the power of online communities and social media! Show off your awesome work, chat with fellow artists, and you might just stumble upon some fantastic collaborations and cool opportunities. Read more>>

Denise Lawrence

Stay focused and not get distracted by trendy products that do not necessarily fit with my goals. I wasted a lot of money creating products that weren’t profitable and ended up being a poor use of time and energy. Develop my elevator pitch – this is an area I still struggle with. I know what I do and why my products are beneficial but I don’t have a concise way to articulate this. Read more>>

Maggie Miller

The biggest thing I come back to time and time again is how I would certainly have more confidence from the start to pursue my dreams. A lot of the set back and headache that goes into changing your career or starting a business comes from being too scared to start. Constantly living with the feeling that something may go wrong or you may fail hinders your ability to grow. If I were starting over I would be sure to gain more confidence and assurance that I’m doing the right thing and the best thing for me. Read more>>

Charissa H. Yong

This is a great question! Being a solo business owner can be a very lonely journey. You make hundreds of decisions every single day and think of great ideas, but when you run into challenges, there’s no one to help. Talking to your family and friends is great, but they don’t fully understand what you are going through. Read more>>

Amber Aisha

Confidence. It really goes a long way in this industry. Most times I wanted my work to be approved by others even when i already thought it was great. Looking back it was the times I had more confidence that people wanted to invest in me. If I could go back in time I would stand on my work more, I wouldn’t be so shy in rooms and in my head. I would most importantly sell myself more. I was so sensitive about my art I lost opportunities by just not speaking up. Confidence sells Read more>>

Alexandria Cozzolino

I feel when I started my food Instagram I would of done it differently knowing what I know now. I would of started with engaging with my audience. I would of asked more questions in order to have individuals come together. Another thing I would of done was trying to follow different accounts right away and engage in the community. I was stuck at around 100 followers for 3 years. But I’m 2021 I started expanding going up into 3,000 followers. If I did that from the start of 2017 it would of been different. Read more>>

Nikkie Davis

If I was starting over today I would have taken my business more seriously in the beginning and invested more into education. Also, I would have executed more quickly, I sat on a lot of ideas and had missed opportunities. I would’ve focused more on networking and connection, understanding the power of a moment and capitalizing on it. Read more>>

¥en Tran

If I were to start all over again – I would definitely imply the importance of time management & credit establishment early on from the jump. I would carefully analyze all of my moves before partaking steps into it, knowing that every cause comes with an effect even if it’s not visible here today. Keeping track of data and writing down everything when it comes to the business while keeping the overhead cost as low as possible & maximizing profit revenue gradually within time is key. Read more>>

Damon O’Steen

My filmmaking career began in the 90’s. I worked for local production companies making commercials while honing my craft with short films. I attended film school in LA from 1998-2001 and I learned a ton and made life long friends in the business. When I was making short films, it was before YouTube and access to affordable cine cameras. Read more>>