There is so much to learn from investments that went really well as well as those that went really poorly and so we asked some of the wisest creatives and entrepreneurs in the community to tell us the stories of their best and worst investments.

Stephanie Selby

The best and scariest investments I have made are in education, mentorships, and hiring help. Some mentors (usually the best ones) have a high price tag. When I was starting out anything above a couple hundred dollars was huge to me and the mentor I chose was significantly more. However, I trusted and believed that she could help me, so I did it. It was 100% worth it! She helped me with everything from lighting to posing to business strategy. Another huge investment has been hiring a studio manager, but it has been so worth it! I didn’t realize how bogged down I was by all of the smaller tasks until I began delegating. Thank you, Caroline!! Read more>>

Natalie Lopez

The best investments I’ve made have been upgrading my photography gear and putting the time in to building my vision for myself as a photographer. Years ago I was gifted my first camera with kit lenses and was able to learn from it but I wanted more oomph to my photos. Anyone that knows photography knows equipment is not cheap, so I invested in myself, hustled, and eventually my gear paid for itself and then some after booking gigs. Read more>>

Lindsey Rae Howard

The worst investment to be quit honest, is investing in people who don’t invest in return. Who don’t take the initiative to better themselves. Relying solely on you to provide that level of success or happiness, for them in the workplace. Who forget, and don’t believe in you, like you believed in them. Who wants to bring you, or your fellow co-workers to their level of insecurities or reasoning. Read more>>

Kamini Wood

The best investment I made was on my continued growth. Often times there is a mentality that spending money on further training or support is “not in the budget”. However, what I have learned is that when you invest in yourself the ROI is multiplied by such a greater factor. I routinely say that a wise lawyer never represent himself or herself. And the best coaches have coaches. When we invest in ourselves we give ourselves the opening to expand what’s possible. Read more>>

Eriel Cleveland

The best investment I’ve made is taking a class called How to Travel Solo. I took this class because I work 14 days in a month, which allows me to travel more. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anyone to travel with because my friends and family don’t have the same work schedule as I do. I wanted to start traveling by myself, but my parents didn’t like the idea. They didn’t like the idea because their main concern was my safety due to being a young woman. Read more>>

Jordan Dye

One of the best investments that I have made, was hiring someone to handle my business’ targeting, marketing, and running ads. This has not only saved me time, but also money in the long run. I did not have much experience or knowledge with marketing or running ads so making an investment with someone with expertise in this space has allowed me to focus on my strengths and other parts of the business. I can see now I am not wasting time, energy and money trying to learn marketing and running uneducated and often ineffective ads. Read more>>

Erin Williams

The best investment was investing in myself. It’s hard and everything doesn’t always go to plan, but it feels great to know I took a chance and am thriving on me. Don’t deny your skills and knowledge. Take the leap! Read more>>

Madison Weisenseel

The best investment I have made is in myself and my business, and purely an investment of time. When I started my business I was not a mother, and had no plans to be one anytime in the near future. I was fully prepared to dedicate any available time I had to my creative venture. However, things can change quickly, and a year into forming my own business, I was now forming a human as well. I knew that both were what I wanted, but I was unsure how I was going to be able to manage both aspects of my life. Read more>>

Aishia Cobb.

The best investment I made was going through business coaching courses. Before making a firm decision on joining programs to further my business knowledge, I would procrastinate and give every excuse as to why I could not invest. Lack of investment kept me at a stagnant space. Once I finally decided to take the courses, they catapulted me to be the best CEO possible. Read more>>

Eduardo Donawa

Best investment made was the patience to acquire the skill set needed to pursue long term goals. I can’t express how many people quit due to lack of the patience, mental capacity, lack of hustle. You have to see things through or trust the process. For me personally it was a brick by brick system in the beginning. Alot of people expect the reward before the work and that’s not how I view things. Longevity is key so the short term gratification has to be eliminated from your ways of thinking to see things clear. Read more>>