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.

Niyh Love

Starting over I would build a strong portfolio, creating a diverse portfolio showcasing my best work, including various styles , colors , and techniques, to attract potential clientele. Networking to connect with other professionals in the beauty industry through social media and local events to learn and gain referrals. Consistently work towards building strong relationships with clients by offering personalized experience’s and follow-ups for feedback. Actively seek client feedback to improve clientele services and adapt to their needs. Enhance my scheduling skills to maximize efficiency and reduce wait times for clients. Read more>>

Stella Li

If I were starting over today, knowing what I know now, the one thing I would absolutely do differently is to start earlier. When I was younger, I didn’t fully appreciate how much the journey of building something entrepreneurial is about learning through doing. I used to let my lack of a technical background hold me back. I assumed that starting a company or building a product meant I needed to have deep technical skills in software or hardware development, and that belief delayed my leap into entrepreneurship. Read more>>

John Webster

If I were starting fresh today (and I was younger) the first thing I would do is apply for internships, assistant gigs, or just being a production assistant in the local photo/video community. The amount of lessons I have learned by simply watching professionals work has been invaluable. There’s college classes and then there’s real world experience, I put a lot of weight on the latter. The second thing I’d do is start shooting anything that I was interested in. I’m known in the whitewater industry, which I appreciate, but that has pigeon holed me a bit when pitching to new clients that aren’t in that arena. So shooting anything that interests you and honing in on those categories of photography will show potential clients what you can do. Third, trust the process and do the work, it’ll show. Thats something I still have to remind myself ten years in. Read more>>

Kaleb Wrenchey

I think the most important thing I neglected when I was starting out was realizing how important your communication with the people you’re working with is, and in that, also making sure to set aside your ego. You’re trying to create art together, and that can get messy. People can get frustrated when their vision isn’t being realized properly, or when hurdles come up in the production process. Being able to calmly try your best to communicate, and to realize the artistic vision, without getting offended or hurt by what your client is saying or asking of you is huge. You want everyone involved to be able to feel heard and understood to make things go smoothly. Specifically in the mixing process, it might not be that the product you’ve provided is a bad mix, just not the mix the client is looking for. Read more>>

Robert Warren

If I were to start over I would prioritize my education early on. I did not have a great experience in high school, and so that caused me to be very against spending any time or money on higher education. I see, as I have gotten older, that was a big mistake. I had an aptitude for technology but didn’t do anything about it until I was much older and it cost me financially and I wasted a lot of time, the one thing you can never get back. If I could do it over I would have gone to school to learn more about technology even though it wasn’t near as prevalent as it is now. Read more>>

Nate Johnston

Some of the biggest things I would change would be, focus on building a strong brand that highlights your unique value and expertise. Use social media to showcase properties and success stories. Prioritize networking to build strong relationships with clients, other agents, and community members. Utilize technology like CRM tools and virtual tours to streamline operations and enhance client experience. Stay consistent with branding and marketing to stand out in the competitive market. Read more>>