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.

Piera Pugliese

I waited till the pandemic to start being a full time artist. We had a family restaurant that just didn’t make it through the pandemic. Although I had studied painting and drawing at Ontario College of Art and graduated in 1992 I divided my time taking care of my family, working at the restaurant and what ever time and energy that was left over went to my art. Read more>>

Brittani Burgess

Yes, I do wish I would have started my creative career sooner. I am a former D1 collegiate and professional basketball player. Since I was 5 years old my entire life has been about basketball, and I was embarrassed to be seen as something other than a hooper. In the dark I was always writing, drawing, and watching documentaries. Read more>>

Queen Naja

Honestly, i feel like i started my creative path at a very young age it just took time for my skills to develop. Talking and being on camera was always a fun thing for me. Im just now at the point where I can take this skill and have fun with it in my own way. So I believe i started in the right timing. Read more>>

Kenny Zablotsky

Design and creativity have always played an important part of my life, but I was too afraid to fully step into that pursuit for many years. Instead of attending architecture or art school, I chose a liberal arts journey at NYU Gallatin followed by graduated school in Construction Administration at Columbia University – both educated me on many useful subjects for business and operations. Read more>>

Julia Wells

If I started tattooing any sooner I don’t think I would have made it, and I would have regretted starting later. My previous job required me to be ready at a moments notice 24/7. I was an animal caretaker, and I had to be available for the animals at any point if needed. In a strange way this prepared me for clients, because I also have to be available as much as possible just in case there’s a question, concern, or someone cancels last minute and I need to fill the spot. Read more>>

Beata Mierzwa

My first impulse is to say yes – I wish I had started my creative career sooner – but upon further reflection, I realize that it is my path as a whole that has allowed me to pursue my passions as both an artist and a scientist. Read more>>

Tamera LaShawn

As I thought about this question, I could only think about how I would have loved to have started my career sooner but as I reflected I realized how unprepared I would have been then. My career didn’t officially start until late 2019 and there was no better time for that. Life has this wonderful thing called “lessons” and while I am still learning valuable lessons, there were important ones that I needed to learn before I took that next step. Read more>>

The Walking Flame

I wish I would have started my career sooner! I started rapping music back in high school and even in college. I remember I was on a YouTube video back in college and it was a video of me rapping during a party, But I played college basketball, so I never took it serious. Read more>>

Jermaine Kenney

I feel like I started at the time I needed to. Some may wish they started sooner to accumulate more experience, while others might appreciate the benefits of a later start, bringing different life perspectives into their work. It’s never too late to pursue a passion for photography and create meaningful images. Read more>>

Margaret Phipps

It does cross my mind often whether or not I should have started my creative career sooner. I know when I went to school for acting, each year I wondered- am I good enough to make it Right Now? And the honest answer was no. I can be really impatient sometimes especially when I am looking at my future. Read more>>

Janara Banks

I absolutely wish I started my creative career sooner. Creativity is in my DNA, always has been. But I also loved science and for as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a doctor so I went to school on that path. By my junior year of college at Howard University, my heart was no longer drawn to science but I wasn’t being pulled in any other direction either. Read more>>

Shauntia Dyson

I actually believe I am right where I need to be in my creative career. I started The Emerging Adult in 2017. Although it has existed for six years, I believe 2023 is the year that I have found my sweet spot. I am more confident in my brand and the vision for The Emerging Adult is the clearest that it has ever been. Read more>>

Erick Jhon

I have always worked on writing music and acting but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I sat down and started working it on it professionally. I learned the Ins and outs of the entertainment business. I wish I had the tools when I was younger to pursue my entertainment career more. Read more>>

Chris Ross

Tricky question, because I have been drawing and painting for most of my life. I used to get commissioned to do portraits for people as far back as 16 years old. Usually it was around holidays and I remember telling them a price and being so insecure if it was good or not that at the last minute before giving it to them I would drop the price drastically not thinking it was good and they would love it and I walked away disappointed about doing that. Read more>>

D’andre “Dredoe” Hodge

I definitely wish I dove into my music career earlier. Music has always been around me, and has always been a big influence in my life and journey. When I fully embraced the call to music a lot of doors opened and I haven’t regretted a moment since.. Read more>>

Ann Perry

This is a hard question because when you are a young artist you do all you can to make a name for yourself in your field, but I wish I had had the courage to choose another career interest that would have given be a better financial power while I was raising my children. Because I am achieving success later in life I see those early years as some that could have been dedicated to the things I want now in life; things that are not as front of mind when you are a young, passionate artist. Of course having said that, would I be the writer and actor I am now if I had not lived all the life I led? Read more>>

Kate Boytek

I believe I started my career at the best time I possibly could’ve. I actually am I asked this question often because I am 33 and not starting at 20-something. People usually wonder why I wouldn’t have wanted to begin earlier in life. For me, it has nothing to with age. It’s where I am now in my mind and heart. Read more>>

Cynthia Osaseri

The answer is sooner, absolutely. When you add up the time you spend thinking you are too young to pursue this, or that you don’t have enough knowledge or experience to do this or to really show your stuff , it adds up into months, years you spend, instead of actually doing “the thing”. Honestly the sooner you start, the sooner you get better, the more time you have to change or pivot, and evolve, even if it is small. Read more>>

TÉ

I don’t wish I started sooner because I’ve been making music since I was a teenager, however I do wish I had taken it more seriously sooner and removed all distractions early on. When you’re young you think you know everything already, but the reality was I didn’t have the wherewithal to help me navigate the spaces I was in to capitalize on the opportunities. I also wish that I hadn’t stopped for as long as I did. Read more>>

Natalia Marchese

I have always worked in creative, artistic, or production type environments, and even though it wasn’t always a smooth road and a straightforward career, all those experiences prepared me for what I’m doing now. I think everything happened exactly the way it should have happened. Read more>>

Anez Ka

That’s a fascinating question – when I reflect on the dynamic advancements in my non-artistic pursuits, the obvious answer would be of course I wish I had started sooner. Yet, deep down, I believe that the timing of opportunities is crucial in our lives. Embracing chances that exceed our preparedness can lead to catastrophic outcomes. Read more>>

Gene Barron

Tho I began my professional career as a artist in my later years art has always been my passion Since my teens I use to make flyers for local bands , tried to start a comic book , wrote poems and spoken word you name it but I feel that all those various types of things lead me to where I am now and the type of art I feel most passionate about Read more>>

David Haerle

Neither. My story is one of being a late bloomer, which has worked out well for me from my perspective. Read more>>

Melanie Tirado

Do I wish my creative career started sooner or later? Neither. These past years, I have learned that timing is a factor in building a career. I think the timing of the events that have placed me here in this moment, is where I am meant to be. Read more>>