Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Todd Hostetler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Todd, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

If I could go back, I don’t think I’d change the timing of when I started. I was figuring things out back then, splitting my time between design and music and trying to make both work without really knowing where either would lead. It was messy, but it taught me a lot about who I am and what I want to create.

If anything, I probably would have started getting good reps in sooner. I didn’t realize how much consistent practice shapes your instincts until later on. But I also know that every misstep and slow start gave me perspective. It forced me to learn, not just how to design or make music, but how to trust the process and keep showing up.

So no, I wouldn’t start earlier or later. It all happened when it was supposed to. And honestly, I’m still figuring it out, just with a bit more direction now.

Todd, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Music was the first thing that pulled me into creativity. I grew up taking piano lessons, playing in band, and singing in choir. It gave me an outlet and a way to express things I didn’t always know how to say. Design came later, and it clicked in a similar way. It felt like another form of storytelling, just with different tools.

Now both are part of my life. I work with business owners, creators, and marketers to help them bring their ideas to life through design that actually connects with people. It’s not about making things look fancy. It’s about making them make sense. That’s the part that keeps me interested.

I’m proud of how far things have come. I dropped out of college and worked hard to teach myself along the way, not really knowing exactly where it would lead. It’s cool looking back now and seeing how that curiosity turned into a career. It definitely wasn’t perfect, but that’s what made it work.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

A few books have had a real impact on how I think about business and leadership. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Extreme Ownership, and Can’t Hurt Me all hit me at the right time. Rich Dad, Poor Dad shifted how I see financial literacy and decision-making. It showed me that there isn’t one right way to do things. People operate from different values and perspectives, and that helped me understand not just money but people too. It taught me how important it is to recognize the roles everyone plays.

Extreme Ownership changed how I think about accountability. It’s not about carrying everything on your back, but about taking responsibility for what you can control. Things go wrong and mistakes happen. That’s part of being human. What matters is owning it, learning from it, and moving forward.

Can’t Hurt Me pushed that lesson even further. It showed me what perseverance really looks like and how much more we’re capable of when we stop setting limits for ourselves. It reminded me that most of what holds us back lives in our own heads. Together, those lessons shaped how I approach my work: stay humble, stay hungry, and keep moving.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I understood the power of collaboration and mentorship earlier in my journey. When I first started, I was pretty stubborn about figuring everything out on my own. I didn’t realize how much easier growth becomes when you let people in who have already been where you are. I used to hold my work close, like it had to be perfect before anyone else saw it. Over time, I learned that collaboration doesn’t take away from your ideas. It expands them. Some of my favorite projects have come from working with others and seeing things from perspectives I never would have reached alone. It taught me that good work gets better when you stop guarding it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://1000-sun.webflow.io/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhostetler/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@1000-Sun