Getting started sounds so easy – but for millions of aspiring artists and creatives, the uncertainty of the path forward presents a very real challenge. So, we wanted to gather some artists and creatives we admire to open up about their experience and how they think about whether they should have started sooner or waited for a better time.

Katie (KT) Harlan-Thompson

This is an interesting question. I’ve been passionate about creating art for as long as I can remember. However, it took me a while to figure out where my passion fit into my adult life. I don’t really have regrets because I know things fell into place as they were meant to. I did attempt to pursue painting professionally at 19, while attending college and working retail jobs. I even got my first commission jobs at that time, but I lacked confidence and took criticism very personally. I crumbled internally when I couldn’t achieve “perfection”; Read more>>

Alain Gonzalez-Mule

I started doing stand-up comedy when I was about 21 years old at the original Miami Improv in Coconut Grove. Doing stand-up back then included waiting 2-3 hours just to get 5-10 mins of stage time, but its what I loved doing so you just suck it up. After a few years of doing stand-up and getting eliminated from every comedy competition I entered in the first round, I decided to give stand-up comedy a break. That was a big mistake. Read more>>

Nick Snyder

If I could go back I would’ve definitely started sooner and learned to play any instrument I could. I didn’t start playing guitar until I was seventeen and I feel like I missed out on so much! At that time I was just figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, I was going to community college and had no plans of pursuing a career playing music. With every new thing I learned, though, I was pulled deeper and deeper into what I eventually ended up doing, which was playing music for a living. I definitely would go back and join the band in school, maybe learn how to play the horn or drums. Read more>>

Constance Martin

Looking back on it, I do wish I had started my creative career sooner. A lot of the content I create are YouTube videos, corresponding e-books, and more. If I had started on YouTube a few years prior it would have allowed me to keep doing what I love without as much physical stress on my body. I started creating food content during the pandemic. For many years, starting at the age of 23, I had owned restaurants back in Guyana where I’m from and transitioned to private catering when I moved to the United States in the 1980s. Read more>>

Shack Deville

Sometimes I wish I started my creative career sooner. I was always writing lyrics and making beats, even back to when I was in middle school. I didn’t take it seriously enough, though. It was always more like a hobby for me back then. Nowadays, I look around and I see people who applied themselves around the time I had that side of me on the back burner, Read more>>

Christine Kirby

I have always known that I’m a creative. I graduated college with an interior design degree and began my career just before the market crash of 2008. Professionally, I struck out on a new path that had nothing to do with my artistic talents and dabbled in painting for myself. It wasn’t until July 2015 that I opened my wedding business. And while it’s changed and grown a little over the last seven years, there’s a part of me that wonders what goals I’d have already accomplished if I’d started sooner. Read more>>

Cory Robinson

I guess it would have happened around the same time to be honest. When I got my first break with a solo show at a coffee shop in Philly (Shout out The Bean) I was right out of college (2004). It was well received I couldn’t believe it like “people like my art?” It happened pretty fast and I was able to get more work and showing opportunities In Philly so I cant complain too much. My only wish would be that I would have utilized social media platforms more or could predict that it would have such a strong hold on society. I guess I’m going to date myself… Read more>>

Jerell Gantt

I’ve been a full time artist and entrepreneur for about 6 years now. Before I didn’t have the courage to take the leap of faith necessary to follow by dreams. I wish I would’ve had the audacity to bet on myself before I finally did. But God’s timing is divine. Read more>>

Jose Nissan Cohen

I believe that we are spiritual beings carried by the most luxurious car that God can give to us. Our own body.
And with a purpose of growth in all areas of our life. As a Spirit that we will take the knowledge to followings eternal life. And by that we have our own time to learn and experience what we are building for our own. Read more>>

Matthew Alec

This is a great question that I have a very easy answer to. I absolutely wish I had started on my musical path sooner. I started playing the alto saxophone in 5th grade at about 10 years old, but to say I really started that early on would be a bit misleading. Much like most of my classmates, those first few years the saxophone spent the vast majority of its time in my locker at school! I remember the reed I used developed a fine green mold on it… Read more>>

Carlos Cabrera

I started making music around 20/21 years old. I was attending UNT, getting my degree in business marketing and decided I wanted to pursue music as a career during my junior year. I felt like I was already behind, with music production there is a huge learning curve. Starting sooner would have given me an advantage, as I was attending a university with thousands of people my age. I spent my last two years in college learning the basics, when I wasn’t yet comfortable or confident in my craft. Being able to network and advertise my music there would have had a larger impact at the beginning of my career. Looking back, I would have definitely started sooner. Read more>>

Bri Wesson

I wish I would have started painting and drawing a long time ago. I’ve actually been drawing my whole life (not great by the way) but didn’t take it seriously until Nov 2021. Starting sooner for me would have given me a much more peaceful outlet when I was trying to figure out who I wanted to be in this world. I already had my promotional business but one day I was looking on Instagram, and I seen drawing tutorials and it immediately caught my attention. As far as my Obituary business , Read more>>

Tamara Abrosimova

I grew up in the small town of Kherson in the south of Ukraine. Due to poor upbringing, I didn’t pursue acting until I was in my twenties. And even in my twenties I had zero idea about the industry, how to find an agent and red flags I needed to avoid. Fast-forward a few years later, I booked my first co-star, have agents in four different markets, and I am definitely more informed on how the film industry works. Read more>>

Ashley Nicole

Part of me wishes I had started my acting and singing career sooner. I’ve always had a lot of fear of rejection that has held me back (and still does sometimes). But, at the same time, I have learned so much from the journey that I have gone on. So, I am not sure if I would go back and change anything. Maybe trying harder sooner? Some actors and singers launch into their careers as soon as they can. However, I took the route of going to college to major in both Theatre and Music. Read more>>

Jesse Gillenwalters

I started making music very young. I starting learning guitar at 14, and by 15 I was at the least creating godawful demos on my computer. But I didn’t start really trying to make actual songs until I was 17. To be honest, I’m grateful how young I started. I think the years between ages 17 and 23 were absolutely crucial for teeing up my adult musician life. Read more>>

Ja’Nia Harden

I started my career at the same time I started college so I guess I wouldn’t say sooner; what I will say is that I wish I would have continued at the pace that I’m at right now, which is full throttle all cylinders running. I was just using the talent of being a musician/singer and just doing that instead of using every gift I was given innately or learned outside of what was already put in me. I am a musician, composer, producer, educator, author, host, visual artist and actor. All those talents work hand in hand. Read more>>