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.
Crystal Espanol
The best investment I made was in rental properties while working full-time as a lawyer. Interestingly, I initially wanted nothing to do with real estate because I had already been exposed to the industry. Having graduated from law school during the Great Recession, I witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of homeowners losing their homes, which led me to become extremely risk-averse. However, my perspective shifted years later when I was unexpectedly fired from a legal job. I realized I had all my financial security tied to one source—my full-time job—and this prompted me to dive into personal finance and real estate investing. Though I secured a new legal position shortly afterward, I became captivated by the idea of building multiple streams of passive income. The concept of earning money while I slept fascinated me, so I dedicated my nights and weekends to learning everything I could about real estate. Read more>>
Osceola Dubois
Most of my business revolves around capturing both video and photography, so having a camera that can keep up with my creative demands is invaluable. When I’m shooting, I need equipment that not only delivers technically but also gives me room to experiment with style and storytelling, whether I’m on a fashion set, documenting an event, or creating cinematic sequences. The Canon EOS R5 has proven to be that perfect investment. It gives me the ability to blend technical excellence with a bit of creative spontaneity, allowing me to capture those unexpected, authentic moments that resonate with people. Read more>>
Sarah Fois
Honestly, maybe this will sound like a cliche, but my best investment was in myself. After a messy ending at a haircare company in which I was a senior member of the marketing team, a messy divorce from a man who terrified me, losing my car, and moving out of my apartment abruptly, I had to take a look in the mirror and ask myself how I was living my life. I couldn’t avoid the fact that in all the messy endings, I was the common denominator – I was the one who had made all the choices that led to all of the catastrophes in that time of my life. I had to ask myself – why? Looking around, it was as if I was my own worst enemy. I had never been able to see that until that moment of my life in which everything came to a crashing halt, and in retrospect, I am grateful it all happened. Read more>>