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.

Vicki Genberg

I was working on a PhD in education when I started drawing classes to mitigate my isolation working alone at home. So I started in my late 30’s drawing, then painting. I did various kinds of sculpture, clay, plaster, metal and also printmaking. This continued for a number of years. Read more>>

EJ Sarà

I don’t often think about that I could have done this earlier or later in my life, because I feel like it’s something that I fell into, that I felt God was pushing me forward to do. I had an interesting journey to become a professional singer/songwriter. I never thought that I would have my music on TV, ads, and in films. Read more>>

Tabitha Andelin

Sooner absolutely. When I was in school, I was so focused on achievements that I paid almost no attention to social media. I realize now, if I had just started making my creative clothes and selling them on social media, I could have ridden the wave of designers that used those platforms. I, unfortunately, was focused on getting good grades or internships, which I thought would make money. Read more>>

Anquenett EbonyK Kiplin

I’ve always been the live without regrets type everything I’ve have went through in my past I’ve have came to peace with it and I’ve made it my strength but honestly yes of course I wish I would’ve gave more energy in my craft. I was on the right path but I was so focused on making money that when acting opportunities came my way I was unavailable because I was content with working at a bar in a restaurant I wasn’t seeing my independence potential. Read more>>

Rebecka Rubio

Well, I believe like so many other creatives, we can all thank the pandemic for being able to tap into our creative sides. I’ve always been creative and artsy but I never would have thought that it would have led me on this amazing adventure. I believe everyone has the opportunity to live so many chapters in their lives, this adventure just turned out to be my next chapter. Read more>>

Chapo Maffio$$a

Sooner, but there’s a time and a place for everything. And there’s nothing I can change about that now, because if I started sooner maybe I wouldn’t have all these stories to tell through my music like I do now. God has his purpose for you, but it’s not always clear. Read more>>

Jeff Hibbard

I don’t think there is a perfect answer for this or a way to predict how we get into a certain career that is compromised of completely different elements opposed to a traditional 9-5. You have to simply be passionate and obsessed about whichever field or area you are interested in. But ultimately, yes I did wish I start in my 20s opposed to my 30s Read more>>

Mark Cross

A part of me wishes that I had taken music more seriously from a younger age. I was always obsessed with music and performance in grade school. It wasn’t until around the 8th grade that I realized I had an affinity for playing guitar and singing. On the other hand, I like to believe that my music journey has been playing out exactly as it should. I definitely view myself more as a songwriter than anything else. Read more>>

Macca Edwards

When I think about whether I wish I had started my creative career sooner or later; my gut reaction is yes, I wish I would have started earlier. I think about how I could be so much farther along. If I had stayed consistent in sharing my love for fashion I would be reaching more amazing women. Read more>>

Garrett DeVaughn

The short answer is “No”. The longer version is, that’s a difficult answer to come to and reconcile. Read more>>

Abby Houghton

I have been singing since I could talk, so I started basically as soon as I could. When it came to taking it more seriously, I wish I did it sooner! Growing up, I was in musical theater, choir, and was a leading woman in 2 plays. I was growing quickly in the industry and was getting recognized for my talents. Read more>>

Yahman Berry

Yes, I do at times. I wanted to start a clothing brand in high school but unfortunately, I didn’t have the resources or the motivation to do so. If I had started sooner I would most definitely be further than I am now Read more>>

Robert Leckington

This is a very good question since I had started being an actor later on in my life. Sure, it’s always on my mind about whether I could have started earlier. What could I have booked? I know my type leans toward dramatic blue collar worker types, but I also do comedy pretty well too. There’s just no telling what roles I could have done. I’d like to think that by now in my acting career I could have booked a few more bigger roles though. Read more>>

Raven Herschel

I feel like I started later than most makeup artists, I was in my late twenties but looking back at my life I think it was divine timing and I would not have been ready if I had started earlier. Read more>>

Sara A. Freites

I wish I had started sooner! Mainly when it comes to my books. I wish I had sat down and written them and shopped them around agents and publishing houses much sooner than I did. I feel like I wasted a lot of time on other things when I should have been focusing on my writing. Read more>>

Melissa Lee & Heidi Peterson

Starting a Creator Business mid life has had it’s challenges. Learning the relevant skills, such as. Video camera use and video editing was a first for us as we had always shared our adventures with others via photography and stories. Establishing a goal and a plan to move forward in a field that mostly consists of younger creators was a huge decision. What will our challenges be, How to grow an audience, Will we have the time needed to hit our deadlines. Read more>>

Rebecca Bolland

There are times where I do wish I had gotten more serious about being an artist earlier in my life, only because I didn’t realize it was a realistic option for me. Looking back, I don’t really regret starting when I did, because I feel like it gave me more time to not only develop my skills, but it also gave me more time to figure out who I am as a fashion designer. Read more>>

Paola Coroba

Looking back on my creative career, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I had started sooner. But then I realize that everything happens for a reason. My journey as an artist has been shaped by every experience, every challenge, and every opportunity that has come my way. Read more>>

Brit Phatal

I believe my timing is divine!! Read more>>

Jac Hell

Definitely wish we started sooner, as a new band we go through a lot of trial and error. That comes down to the writing process, playing live shows, equipment failures etc… we are still trying to get our foot in the door as a local band and really get our name around south Florida Read more>>

Miriam Moran

Yes I most definitely wish I started my career sooner. Dealing with low self-esteem growing up or thinking you only can work 9-5 can play a huge role of delay in your gift. I remember going to high school in St.Michaels Maryland and allowing the guidance counselor at the time to discourage me into thinking that being an artist is not a career. Read more>>

Catherine Baumhauer

I am a an artist and a mother of three young children ages 12, 14 and 16. I spent the first part of their lives staying at home with my kids and trying to keep up my art though it was challenging to do both. Read more>>

Martin Morrow

I started comedy when I was 18 and I think I grew up faster as a result and didn’t have the best moral figures because comedians in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s in the 2000’s were natural degenerates. I had a lot of fun but didn’t have the most normal of growing experiences so while I’m grateful to have had the moments and opportunities I did at a young age Read more>>

Raquel Rhodes

I do wish I had started my brand a lot earlier I feel like my journey if at all possible may have been greater I’ve just spent a lot of time doing what I was raised to do is go to school and work and save money but that wasn’t getting me anyou were so I wish I had had spent time holding in on my gifts In my craft Read more>>

Liv Peterson

As a full time events producer and artist that really feels like she is just getting started in her career at the age of 31, I often think about where I would be in my life and career if I would have been full time at the age of 18. Read more>>

Aaron Valenzuela

For years, I used to beat myself up over not having started my current creative path much sooner. I often felt that I had wasted years of my life. Wasted time is one of the hardest losses for me to get over. I like to say that I started on my current path in my early 30’s. Read more>>

Deyanna Denyse

Timing is such a beautiful thing. I feel as though I am always on time, at all times. I used to wonder how far along I would have been if I started when I was 19. As I ground myself, I am reminded that 19-year-old version me decided to go to the military. That decision created a foundation and framework for my entire life. I started right on time. Read more>>

Ronald Joseph Kule

When six years old, I knew I wanted to write books. My father encouraged me by editing my essays but never evaluating their quality. Read more>>

Maxi Rodriguez

I honestly wish I had taken my creative career more seriously when I was younger. My first official paid commission was in 8th grade and a friend paid me $20 to draw a color piece of Spawn. I didn’t charge my friend but he was insistent on paying my worth and at the time, little me thought $20 was too much but I couldn’t give it back so I just saved it for a rainy day. Read more>>

Shana Simone

I started singing at the age of 5 but didn’t realize my deep passion for it until around the age of 14, which is when I wrote my first song, recorded my first demo then started getting into local talent shows. I grew up with the impression that you had to get a record deal in order to have financial gain as an artist, but it wasn’t until my late twenties while dating a local musician that I realized that there were so many other ways to make money in it Read more>>