Risk is a topic that comes up a lot in our conversations with entrepreneurs and creatives, but a related topic is investments. Investments come in many forms – investing your time, money, heart and soul, etc. So, with that broad definition of investment in mind, we asked rising stars in the community to tell us the stories of the best or worst investments they’ve made.

Reese Hendrik

The best investment I have ever made was in community. When I first procured Laughs PDX from its creator, I thought I’d be able to lean solely on my ambition and relevant skills in order to enhance an already meaningful resource. I have a background in communications and multimedia with focusses in graphic design, website development and marketing – All valuable skills to possess when expanding the presence and functionality of a web resource. The only problem is that no matter how effective I think I am at leveraging my skills, I am but a single mind attempting to drive a community resource. Not only is it counterintuitive for a single mind to drive a community resource, but it is nearly impossible – for me at least. Read more>>

ooch Comedy

Best thing we did was switch to digital platforms instead of live theaters. Best investment: buying expensive filming equipment, lights, green screens, microphones, editing software, etc. It was hard to get 50-100 butts in seats for our live shows, now we have tens of thousands of audience members online! Before Covid, we used to write, produce, and perform a new 30 minute sketch comedy show at various theaters in LA, like UCB and The Pack, but then Covid shut it all down. Read more>>

Arie Rose

Best investment I ever made was investing in myself. Nourishing myself, learning myself.. taking the time to figure out who I was and truly believing in all of my hearts desires. I think for many we are always on the go, always working for someone else, always building somebody’s dream for them. I decided to invest in myself and double down on my dreams. I have grown so much through the process, I have elevated and become a new woman in the process. I have endured many lows and enjoyed many highs but I am honestly thankful for them all. They are the blueprint to who I am today. Read more>>

Julian Thomas

The worst investment I’ve ever made was paying for people to like me. I paid with my creativity, my artist freedom, my sanity. What I mean is doing things that weren’t from my most authentic self. I’m not talking about those commissions that we roll our eyes at, or collaborations that require you to work within the framework of someone else’s vision. This is par for the course. I mean the moments when i sat down to create my own work and id consider whether or not people would like what I’m doing. Read more>>

Joey Grace

As a music producer, the best investment I’ve made has been purchasing lighting, decor, objects, and instruments that I vibe with over the years. Having my own space filled with these things brings me joy and allows me to relax from the outside world and get into a creative flow. My studio is my very own little “nook”. The space is quirky and fun. There’s a hot pink neon sign, signed art from my favorite artist, a projector playing music videos on the wall, instruments such as my keytar and laser harp, and glittery roller skates hanging as decoration. Read more>>

Allen Tucker

The best investment ive ever made was investing in myself and going all in on my personal brand. What I mean by that is, putting myself first in life and doing what I believe is best for myself and my business. Early on in a business is can be easy to get caught up in what others are doing around you. Being a creator specifically, makes this even harder because as much as we all like to pretend it’s not a competition, it usually is. You want to succeed in your craft and focusing on others that have “already” succeeded can make you want to replicate what has already been done. Read more>>

Nesli Akkol

Best investment is an investment in yourself, whether it’s learning new skills or working on becoming a healthier and happier version of yourself! Return on Investment (ROI) doesn’t only apply to finance. If you invest in yourself consistently and persistently, you will benefit from many different types of ROIs: character ROI; professional ROI; emotional and physical wellbeing ROI and the list goes on… Read more>>

Abhinay Pandit

Dedicating time, energy, and resources to your personal growth, artistic development, and well-being is the wisest investment, and I recommend this to all fellow storytellers. Being a cinematographer or pursuing any creative endeavor demands knowledge and experience. Allocate as much time and effort as possible to hone your skills and expand your expertise; the rewards will ultimately surpass your expectations. Read more>>

Jake Karls

Our best investment to date as a business has been in THERAPY. My partners and I (my sister and brother-in-law) are family. We didn’t become partners because we’re family but we partnered because we compliment each others skills. When we launched the company in 2018, my partners decided that it is crucial that we protect our business partnership but also our relationship as family. So we decided to commit to go to a business therapist once per week in order to protect these fragile relationships. These were and still are mandatory sessions. The reason we committed to this investment in terms of time, resources and capital is because this is a place where we can work on becoming excellent communicators. This is a place where can have very difficult conversations but feel that it is a safe zone. Read more>>

Rishi Deka

I started creating abstract psychedelic art pieces in 2020. Doing so allowed me to not only process my emotions at the peak of the pandemic but also allowed me to connect with nature. In addition to being therapeutic and highlighting the beauty of our natural world, this particular art has brought me some financial benefits as it has been showcased throughout mainstream media outlets in North America, Europe, and Asia. Read more>>

Jennifer Molina

Embracing My True Investment: Belief in Myself and Online Growth In the world of investments, some treasures aren’t measured in dollars but rather in personal fulfillment and growth. My most precious investment ever wasn’t in stocks, real estate, or traditional assets—it was in myself. This path of self-discovery and self-belief wasn’t always smooth. The transition from the security of a full-time job to the uncharted waters of entrepreneurship was daunting. I faced raised eyebrows and concerned glances from those around me, who often thought I was merely a dreamer, or perhaps even a touch delusional. Read more>>

Ian Jamison

Best (or worst) investment? I love old scores. They’re very dear to me. I don’t even consider it an investment, but I always find myself buying more and more sheet music books. I put a lot of time and energy into sight reading other people’s music at the piano. I think of it as conversing with the greats, whereby I can learn from them and respond in my own way with my own compositions. I like to explore the legacy of Western art music . Read more>>