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.

Darnell Hubbard

I would take my face away from the brand. I believe this can hinder a business. Myself I show love and keep it cordial with everybody there is not a specific group or section that can claim me or I belong to… To me that’s a way of limiting yourself, perspective, knowledge, experiences and overall your elevation in life or your preferred profession. It just comes with a certain bias in my experience, city or situation. But since I didn’t or don’t fall in line with that it seems people know me but don’t know me… But nevertheless I would thing I’m respected amongst my peers but overall I’m not a fan favorite or a person that’s sought out… Read more>>

Naomi Jemison

I have been working towards building this business for 6 years now. Of course, if I could go back in time; I would do it all differently. I started 6 years ago by just picking up a camera and photographing everything. I was constantly asking my friends to model for me, and I took my camera with me everywhere I went. I would post all of the photos I was proud of, and slowly but surely people started to recognize my work. I started having a few people here and there want to pay me to photograph their grad session, engagement, family, etc. I said yes to everything that came my way, and I was loving it. Read more>>

Will Gomez

If was to start all over again I would definitely hire an accountant and bookkeeper as soon as I could afford one. Keeping my books has been one of the most difficult things to do from day 1. Finding a good accountant is key to making sure your taxes are done correctly, and you are getting all of the deductions/benefits that you can. We hired a new accountant who was well versed in our industry and it has been a game changer. We also hired a bookkeeping service and all of the sudden our profit margins are better and we can keep track of projects more efficiently. My advice to those starting out as a new business owner is to make sure you have the right people in place who will help guide you. Read more>>

Brittany Knight

If I was starting over in Real Estate I would team up with a mentor right away, I would sit down with veteran agents and ask a lot of questions, I would start branding myself on social media, set up a brand photoshoot, join networking groups, and starting building my sphere of influence. I would also set a monthly marketing budget. Things I have learned… Read more>>

Bouquet Kramek

If I could start over, I would never stop working on improving my crafts. When I moved from Thailand to the U.S., I stopped doing photography since I did not believe in my potential. I did not think I was good enough and no one would ever want to pay me for my work. Even though I was planning to be in the U.S. for only a short amount of time, I should have taken advantage of being here to work with those like-minded creatives and learn from them. I would get here a lot faster or more skilled than I am now. Read more>>

Chanze Ashorn

I would have started with doing what I love, saying no to jobs that I wasn’t passionate about. I would have invested in more workshops instead of going into the industry blind! But we all start somewhere and learn from each mistake. I’ve grown a lot personally, and professionally within the last 8 years, and even more so in the last 2 years since I went full time with Lifestyle sessions. But, I am thankful for all of the adversity. I’ve overcome so many obstacles along the way and if I’m being honest, looking back I wouldn’t change a thing. I wouldn’t be the woman that I am today if it wasn’t for all of the successful failures. Read more>>

Angela Laviena

If I was starting over I would have not doubted myself. In my industry we tend to underestimate ourselves and let people put a price on our work. I also would have let myself be mentored and not let my pride take away learning opportunities. There is always something new to learn and it doesn’t matter the years of experience you have you need to be humble and accept that you do not know everything. Read more>>

Alexis Desarae’

If I was starting over I would go all the way back to 2012 after my high school graduation. I would make the decision to move to NYC and intern with wardrobe and fashion stylists, magazines, and showrooms. This would’ve set me up for earlier success and gave me more access to the industry. However, I didn’t know I wanted a career as a fashion stylist until after I graduated out of college with a bachelors degree majoring in Fashion Textiles and Merchandising. Things worked out differently but still in my favor so always I’m grateful for the journey. Read more>>

Marlis Rosetti

Our company started over 10 years ago and a lot has changed. There was not much social media, and building a website was a luxury. If I were starting over, I would invest in a website early on, and utilize more of the social platforms available to help us grow early on. Read more>>

A.J. Bingham

If I was starting over again with founding The Bingham Group, LLC there’s not anything I would change. A good portion of where we are today is from lessons learned in the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship. I think we could have gotten where we are today faster (potentially) if we had a parter/COO with complimentary skills to mine. Read more>>

Diego Aray

Well, if I had to start over but with the knowledge I have today, I would start with some changes that I already have done by now, one of them being paying more attention to networking. When we started back in 2019, we had the idea that having a great website and having social media up to date would be enough to attract clients, which of course was true and it is very important for every business to be on top of their online presence; turns out that even when that is a fact, business owners usually underestimate the power of networking and how knowing the right people in your industry even if they are not your clients, can bring you more opportunities. Read more>>

John and Stacy Currie

We learned a lot in the first year or two. Some highlights include: 1. No one will understand and take care of your business like you will. 2. We learned when to do it ourselves and when to hire an expert. 3. If someone you’ve hired is moving in the wrong direction, it is best to part ways early. Read more>>