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.

Rachael Langley

The best decision I have made as a Photographer is to invest in my own education. Once I left my teaching career behind to pursue photography full time, I knew I wasn’t where I wanted to be as a photographer yet. All I knew is how much I loved it and that it would allow me to be home with my son more. I started to scroll through social media and compare myself to other photographers. I just kept thinking, “Why don’t my pictures look like that?” Then I chose to change my thought process to, “What do I need to do to get where they’re at?” Read more>>

Ross Barber

The best investment I have ever made was when I bought my first camera set up with my tax refund back in 2014. Before then I didn’t have a camera, just knew I wanted to start taking pictures. I’ve always loved landscape photography and that’s where I started just taking pictures of ducks, the beach and summer sunsets. Soon after I decided to to take my money and invest more in my craft by later getting lights and editing software. Which later lead me to shooting music videos and wanting to learn how to edit. My drive of wanting to edit lead me to the Art Institute of Houston. Read more>>

Jon-Michael Narvaez

As a business owner and freelance creative, the best investment I’ve made was learning to code. Programming has made me a stronger problem solver and now I can create the digital tools my business needs to allow us to grow online and in-person. Read more>>

Roscoe Smith

I think the best investment I have ever made as a business owner and throughout my career is in people. I have what I like to call a servants heart. Because of that I am so fulfilled when I get the opportunity to invest in people and help them. I don’t wanna fix everybody, but I have had such a wonderful time in helping people. I have had so many people that have worked for me that I have been able to pour into and help them in life, personal issues, careers, life advice etc. Read more>>

Gerald Hendrik

Thank you so much for the opportunity to jump on with yall today. It is an honor. As a financial advisor I often get asked what is my best investment or worst investment I have made so this is a great question. In this story, I will tell you about a good investment I made that had a terrible outcome. Read more>>

Ginger Lou

Quite honestly the best investment I have ever made is investing time in myself. Striking a healthy and productive balance deems necessary in one’s own creative practice as well as being able to survive the ins and outs of the changing times by expanding inside of one’s own creative field. During these past 2 years I have invested a great deal of time in educating myself in order to spread my wings into other avenues of creativity in order to monetize my trade not just by selling art but teaching a variety of classes as well. Part of this process included learning a great deal of technology, Read more>>

Ryan Struck

The best investment I’ve ever made was to go all in on myself. The only thing I can control in this life is how I operate here on Earth. I am choosing to be my own biggest supporter, and have the conviction that this creative journey is the right path. I’m not saying that I know what will happen, in fact, I am sure it is the exact opposite. Read more>>

Osmium

Lucas: Our biggest and most important investment to date has been the time we put in in our first year to book and play 60+ shows. We hit the ground running and used every opportunity as a stepping stone toward the next bigger thing. Putting in that work, touring and playing locally, paid off by bringing in over 200 people at our one year anniversary show. Read more>>

Angela Adams

The best investment that I have made as a business owner was investing the start up fees to begin my own travel agency, Boujee Tours. I started making candles during the pandemic when I was teaching from home and had a lot of extra time. The candle business still does well. I sell scented homemade soy-based candles, Bossy & Boujee Glamtique. I have always wanted to travel yet have an extreme fear of heights. My Goddaughter, Kendra Childs, suggested that my daughter, Teriana Ward & I look into selling travel. Read more>>