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.

Chelsea Bizub

I would have started my creative career later after building more personal capital to buy time to research collectors and businesses that reached out to me. I would have waited to gain more wisdom and perspective on myself and my environment before putting myself out there as an independent artist. I started selling artwork right after college without fully assessing the emotional, social, and financial risks. However, time is a fleeting resource, and I’m grateful that I produced artwork that connected with a large audience and that I had the opportunity to learn so much through the process. Read more>>

Claire Whitcomb

If we could go back in time, we do wish we had started Southern Strings sooner. By now, we would be even more established, but at the time, we were hesitant to take the leap. Fear of the unknown and the challenges of starting a business held us back, but looking back, we’re so glad we finally went for it. Once we did, we realized how much we loved building something of our own and providing beautiful music for so many special moments. While an earlier start might have given us a head start, the timing still worked out—we learned, grew, and took the leap when we were ready. And now, we couldn’t be happier with where we are! Read more>>

Ian Hubbell

I’d like to think I began drumming before I was born. I was very bored stuck in the womb from what I can remember. The only thing to do was hand drum on the walls. My mother thought I was kicking, but I was actually playing very complex conga patterns. Fast forward 21 years later. I’ve been playing drums all of my life. But then I found a new musical love: Singing. I wish I had started singing earlier. My whole singing/songwriter career has felt like playing catchup. It’s fun, rewarding, humbling, all the rest. But sometimes I wonder where I’d be if I started singing earlier in life.  Read more>>

Savannah Locke

I remember sitting in a studio downtown with a newly signed songwriter, still riding the high of her 24th birthday. I asked about her dreams for the future to which she responded, “I only have five years left to make it as an artist. Everyone knows once women turn 30, it’s over.” I smiled, knowing she didn’t know I was 33. Read more>>

Morgan Hastie

Honestly, I think about this question a lot. I grew up in quite a rough area where creative careers weren’t really encouraged. If you showed any academic ability at all, the expectation was that you’d take the “sensible” route. So even though I took every art, graphics, and design course I could in school, I ended up studying Biomedical Sciences at university. Read more>>

John Pronto

I started playing guitar when I was in college and become more serious about it after I couldn’t play football anymore. Football was my first love and the thing I was most passionate about it. When it was over I kind of used the energy I was accustomed to putting into sports into learning how to play and make music. I think the two are not as far off as people would like to think. Both take a lot of discipline and regiment to be successful. I think everything kind of happens for a reason and if I started playing earlier in my life I feel like the songs I would have created wouldnt have been as good and maybe that would have discouraged me later in my life. Read more>>

Pumkin Spookerella Grim

If I could go back, I would absolutely start my social media career earlier. My husband has always been my biggest supporter, encouraging me to pursue content creation. We’ve been together for 10 years, and, funnily enough, we actually met through social media—he came across a video of me singing on Facebook, loved my voice, and reached out to collaborate. We recorded a few songs together, and people really enjoyed them! Read more>>

Sabir El Bey

If I could go back in time and tell myself to begin my career in music at a younger age, I don’t actually think that I would go through with it. I truly believe everything has its appointed time and day, and that rushing or delaying anything could actually be harmful to the success of your journey overall. When I was pulled into a recording studio for the first time, there had already been a yearning in my heart to discover my life’s purpose for quite some time. I had already tried all the other things that called to me and took them as far as I could take them until there was no longer a passion for those things. It is truly a miracle when you discover something during your life experience that ignites a flame inside which can never dim or die. You could get up one day and completely lose your reason for doing whatever it is you are trying to do, but there is a certain thing that once found, will keep a fire lit underneath you your entire life. Read more>>

Hazen James

I honestly don’t know. I think if I would have been doing this for 30 years, I’d be in a totally different place artistically. Maybe I would be a lot better as a singer or guitar player, but you can’t really play that game. This was my particular journey. I think the time that I wasn’t writing songs and releasing music has allowed me to gain perspective and develop at my own pace without trying to make it big or write hit songs. I have a nine-to-five gig that pays the bills, music is a hobby. And music is a way for me to challenge and express myself. The recording is more of a recent thing as way to share with the world. Read more>>

Sweet Pea Cole

As most kids do, I loved markers and clay and glue but I grew to believe that creativity wouldn’t lead me to a “real” job. In my twenties and thirties, I stumbled around in legitimate employment – 40 hours, Monday through Friday, sick and vacation days, etc. Much of this work was for non-profits; I found ample meaning in it but little financial stability. I was good at it but always felt like I should be doing more. There was a part of me that was missing. It was a part that felt so impractical but important so I squoze-in drawing, collaging, and various forms of printmaking on evenings and weekends. Read more>>

Sam Tobey

One of the questions that comes to mind when I’m feeling lost is this: Where would I be if I had known that I wanted to be a dancer much earlier in life? Of all the artistic endeavors to choose to be a part of, the dance community is most notorious for pushing the idea that “you will only succeed if you start young”. That idea haunts me when I am feeling most vulnerable. But I look at how far I have come in the world of fire dance and I realize that I have made it farther than I ever possibly imagined, despite going to my first official class at the ripe age of twenty one. Read more>>

Pooja Umathe

If I could go back in time, I think I would have loved to start my creative career a little sooner. I’m a lifestyle content creator, and my work includes fashion, travel, and all things lifestyle. I started this journey after spending some time exploring other paths, but once I found content creation, I knew it was meant for me. Read more>>

Kat Fieler

I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember. While I’m not entirely sure what inspired me to start, I suspect it was my way of exploring possibilities and “what-ifs.”

In junior high, I had a dream. In this dream, I was not myself. I was someone else living in a strange city. I had different parents and eight siblings. What fascinated me was that I was completely unaware I wasn’t this other person until I woke up. This tickled me no end and led me to obsess over the idea that perhaps we all live multiple lives simultaneously, where each night we become different versions of ourselves, existing in other realities. Read more>>

Jenny Turnbull

I’d always had a passion for creative writing and had children’s book ideas floating in the background for years. It wasn’t until after working in film and television for 15 years that I made the slow realization that writing picture books is something I wanted to dive into, and I got serious about learning the craft. There have been times I’ve wondered if starting on this journey sooner would have changed anything, but I also believe I wouldn’t be the same writer I am today. The ideas became clearer, and the inspiration to make this transition became stronger with time, and at the time meant for me. Read more>>

Connor Stelle

You know, it’s actually kind of a tough question and one I find myself thinking about in moments of insecurity. There are certainly times when I feel in over my head, like I’m falling behind with what I should’ve accomplished by this point in my life, and I worry about the time I think I’ve wasted not getting started sooner. Of course, that’s all based on hindsight. I always come back to the conclusion that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and every decision I’ve made up to this point has gotten me here. Read more>>

Jeramy Kahle

I think we started our podcast at a great time, but I do wish I would’ve focused on releasing video content much earlier. When we started in 2013, it really wasn’t difficult at all to get our podcast going. Podcasting wasn’t new in 2013, but it was just starting to get a name for itself. Getting guests was a breeze and our downloads kept climbing, so despite people recommending we make video content as well, I never felt the need to evolve. Read more>>

Miguel España

I’m 37, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade launching my career as a recording artist at this point in my life for anything. Back in 2007, when I first wanted to pursue this dream, the music industry was still very conservative—big record labels were the only way to get your music out there. I did get some interest from executives, but I was constantly pushed to adjust my sound to fit production trends. It slowly pulled me away from what made my music original. At one point, I was even encouraged to give up my songs in favor of more established songwriters’ work, just to get a shot. Read more>>

Jack Lilley

I have always been torn between two passions: one for history, politics, and culture, and the other for creative expression, including painting, singing, acting, and photography. I grew up believing that to be successful, I had to choose one path, dedicate myself fully to it, and measure my achievements by financial milestones such as salary, retirement savings, and career advancement. Read more>>

Chief Griffey

I think I started right on time. I started making music back in 2020 when my director at work upset me and I said out loud that “People are sitting on million dollar talents but rarely work on them due to a job” I went home after my shift and wrote my first song “Grind it on me” after recording it i was shocked like this is really good, I should release it. Which I did and the rest is history. I believe if I started earlier in life I wouldn’t take it as seriously, I was playing college football before making music and that’s where most of my focus was. I wouldn’t change anything, I feel God had this plan for me at the moment I started, so I have no regrets. Read more>>

Vivian McDuffie

When I was 17, math and art were my favorite subjects. I opted to major in engineering at Ohio State because it seemed more practical. It was not a fit. After two years I dropped out of college.

While there, I took one art course. One day the instructor said to me “While I tell most of my students that they have something to get out of studying art, you have something to give.” Read more>>

Amin

I began my creative career seven years ago, right after earning my master’s degree in nanotechnology. Engineering was never my true passion, and when I graduated, I didn’t want to simply follow the path that society and my family had planned for me. Instead, I decided to take a chance on myself and pursue my dream of becoming a content creator. Read more>>

Nicole Slatin

The million-dollar question. If only I had a crystal ball… or a little fairy dust to sprinkle on it to finally answer that one.

For years, I kept wondering, did I make a mistake? Did I let fear or practicality pull me away from where I was supposed to be? I used to think timing was just chance, but now I believe it’s sacred. Whether you call it fate, the universe, or God, it has a way of preparing us for the moment when we’re truly ready. Read more>>

Mireille Noel

I definitely would have started sharing my songs earlier if I could go back in time. I’ve always love melodies and have been writing songs since I was 13. Now in my mid-thirties, I sometimes grieve the years I spent holding back—years when I was writing and creating but too afraid to put my music into the world. Read more>>

Omar Qassim Kaisi

As a 23 year old today I can say my career as an “Artist” started at the right time, in Gods time. Before I was even conscious of being an “Artist” I always knew that there was something about me I thought was super natural. My love for creation. As a kid I’d draw, paint and devour books which had everything to do with the complex matters of the human mind, body & soul. Because of such interests my work has always been inspired by everything that comes from within, what I feel, my thoughts and everything around me which will then be translated in whichever art form I see necessary- a good example of perfect timing is my writing, after experiencing my greatest tragedy of losing both my parents God woke something in me, a literary ambition I never knew I had which only became apparent to me 3 years ago. Read more>>

Allaina Maria

I definitely wish I had started sooner. I always dabbled in the arts. As a child I sang in the choir and lead a lot of songs. I always could sing, but I only sang in church. I also acted in plays with my home church, but that was the extent of it. Now that I am exploring all angles of my gifting, (acting, screenwriting, singing, songwriting and authorship) I wonder how far could I have been along had I started earlier in life. I never knew or fathomed that I could have achieved all of the things that I have thus far. However, I don’t dwell on it. I celebrate from right where I am today. Read more>>

Olga El

I’ve been an artist/storyteller since I was a baby. However, I didn’t start calling myself a playwright until I was in my mid-30s. Once I started doing that, a whole new world of opportunities and recognition for my work started opening up.

I often wonder if I’d be at least twice as accomplished in my playwriting career if I’d started 10 years earlier. However, starting then probably would’ve required a level of knowledge, direction, and focus that wasn’t accessible to me at the time. Read more>>