The uncertainty of entrepreneurship causes many entrepreneurs to put off starting their business. For others, losing a job or other economic hardships push them starting their businesses earlier than expected. In our conversations with thousands of entrepreneurs we’ve seen so much variety in when, how and why people started their business and so we wanted to share a wide variety of views and reflections on the question of whether these folks wished they had started sooner or waited longer before starting their businesses.

Lee Stockner

When your passion project is also your means of living, challenging choices are made. No matter what, even if I went completely broke, there would be nothing holding me back from working with students with special needs on the piano. I believed completely in myself and in my program. I also believed in myself to run my business, however, the purposes of my programs kept evolving and as I could offer more programs and products, my business began to lose its identity. Read more>>

Samantha Johnson

My love for photography started at a very young age, from my grandfather. He would take my grandmother all over the world and he would document every second with her. Naturally, he gave me my first camera, so that I could document my life. But, I didn’t truly understand photography until High School. Read more>>

Nia Hines

If I could go back in time, I would say that the timing of starting my business, Notiq Agency, was perfect for me. Let me provide some context to better explain why. Read more>>

Jing Liu

I believe that everything that has happened in the past is perfectly aligned and unfolds as it should. Life is filled with imperfections, which in turn make it even more perfect. My entrepreneurial story carries a lot of impulsiveness and youthful enthusiasm. Just after graduating, I had a strong desire to prove myself and wholeheartedly pursue what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Doris Garcia

I started baking when I was very young. I was always very fascinated with the science of baking. Unfortunately as I grew older I chose a different path/ career and I stopped baking for a very long time . Looking back I was never truly happy with my career, I always felt like I was meant to do something different. 3 years ago I was not in my best mental state during the pandemic, all the uncertainty took a toll on my mental health. Read more>>

Taylor McCollum

I think as people we innately spend head space pondering the “what ifs”. What if I had started sooner? What if I had started later when I was more established? What if I had more resources or knew more about myself when I started? I mean you could go on forever. Read more>>

Jenn McKinney

Life is a journey of experiences and life lessons. I feel that our experiences and struggles help prepare us for our purpose. I also feel that the people that we allow to speak into our life can also hold us back, can give us fear in pushing towards our dreams. I have learned that surrounding myself with people who do not value what I believe my calling is and do not encourage me are people that I need to politely push to the back burner and find those who will help and encourage me to succeed. Read more>>

Ashley Torsiello

I started in the wedding industry in 2009 at a small wedding chapel at the south end of the strip. I knew even that early on in my career that I would someday have my own operation – what that was going to be or look like I didn’t quite know, but what I did know was that deep in my bones I was an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Sharnesa Lamb

Well, if I had a choice and time clock to change when I started my baking business, I would say I honestly don’t know. The reason for that is I may not have been ready years ago. It all happened when it was destined. I officially started KateringIIyou in 2012. But began creating custom cakes in 2020. If could change anything being more prepared. Fully understanding the business so that way I could profit more . Other than that, I’m grateful for how God placed me in the now. Read more>>

Briar Dougherty

As social media continues to push images of young and successful entrepreneurs and we see aspiring business owners thriving, I admit that I have on occasion, wondered what might have happened if I ventured out on my own earlier, before having children. Read more>>

Christi Falls

I’ve always loved plants. There’s something about growing something and watching it thrive under your care- or fixing whatever is wrong. Read more>>

Mari Jay

I would like to think I started my business at the perfect time in my life. In middle school, I dabbled with a Nikon camera. From there, it help me see my city from a whole new perspective and it made me want to learn more about the art of photography. Once I got into high school, I didn’t have the flexibility to enroll in digital media courses, due to the extracurricular activities that I was engaged in. Read more>>

Silvia Anaya Godinez

I started my business when I struggled with my mental health. My mental health journey started in April when my mental health was really hard to manage, but I didn’t open my business until October. If I would have started in April I do think that I could of be more advanced in my clay skills and learned how to better manage my anxiety. Read more>>

Jasmine Townsend

If I could go back in time, I would have started my business sooner than now. It’s funny to me how I started my business because I have always been a lover of all things crafting, but it took a pandemic for me to take the leap and create JazzCrafted. I started my business during COVID. I was working from home at the time with a toddler and the days seemed so long especially with limited access to outdoor and extracurricular activities. Read more>>

Claudia Cabrera

If I could go back in time in relation to my professional or work life, I would definitely change some things and I would have liked to start earlier. At the time of my life when I wanted to take the risk of working for myself, I was definitely not at my best. Doubts and fear did not let me sleep, and the question we all ask ourselves when we are taking a risk is: What if everything goes wrong? We don’t want to step out of that comfort zone, and sometimes we need a push that we don’t know how to recognize when things happen to us in life. Read more>>

Kelsey Schuepbach

Owning a business is not for everyone, especially in the beauty/ Salon industry, it is hard work! I have gone from graduating cosmetology school to working in a Family owned salon, to a corporate salon, to my own suite, to Co-owning and working in a large Salon and Spa. I believe that everything in my journey and the timing for it all was meant to be. Read more>>

Timeka Green

Let’s start here – I NEVER wanted to be an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Stephanie Newman

Before I turned my love of photography into a business I was (and still am) a stay at home mom and home educator to my 3 boys. When they were little I would document all the little things that they experienced as they grew. After helping a couple of photographer friends 2nd shoot weddings, I fell in love with helping other people capture these precious moments in their lives. Read more>>

Bella Mae

Technically, I started my costume sewing business at age 13… I know, crazy! Read more>>