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.

Paloma Hassell-curiel

The water ionizer in my home is the best investment I’ve made. Not only has it provided me with an incredible financial opportunity to achieve success, but it has also increased my awareness of health and wellness. Having a machine that supports your well-being daily is truly priceless. I remember hearing someone say that even if you didn’t succeed with the business aspect, you’re still winning just by owning one. The health benefits alone put you steps ahead of others, and that perspective really resonated with me. This investment has been a constant reminder that success isn’t only about finances—it’s also about living a healthier, more intentional life. Read more>>

Ashley Robinson

One of the best investments I’ve made as a photographer was in a high-quality lens over upgrading my camera body. Here’s the backstory: When I first started, I was eager to upgrade my camera body every time a new model came out. I thought better specs would make me a better photographer. I was using a mid-range DSLR and started noticing some limitations in low light and sharpness. So, naturally, I began saving for the latest camera body on the market. Read more>>

Rebecca Maguire

One of the best investments I’ve made as a business owner has been building my office—my “she shed.” It’s given me a dedicated space to focus, stay organized, and truly immerse myself in my work. As a mom to two toddlers with a busy household, this space allows me to separate my workday from home life, making me more productive and inspired. Having a creative space has been a long-time dream of mine. Growing up, I always imagined having a little shed in my mom’s backyard where I could carve out a corner of the world that was entirely my own. When I launched my business, I didn’t think something like this would be possible. I was still new to the business, and the financial investment seemed daunting. Read more>>

Sam Derose Jr

I’ve made some great decisions and of course some terrible decisions in my career and win or lose you have to take responsibility for all outcomes. As of late the best decision I made was to record and produce my music at the world famous Abbey Road Studios. Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John’s Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931. Some of the studio’s most notable clients were the Beatles, who used the studio as the venue for many of the innovative recording techniques that they adopted throughout the 1960s. Abbey Road Studios also hosted the likes of Pink Floyd, Lady Gaga, Radiohead, Ed Sheeran and Adele to name a few. Read more>>

Melanie Wong

Definitely investing in a Cricut cutting machine and a craft table are my best investments.The Cricut helps me create origami artwork more efficiently. Before, I got the Cricut, I needed to have iron-clad focus to fold heavier paper precisely and cleanly. Because my origami is more sculptural, I prefer to use mediumweight to heavyweight archival paper over using traditional lightweight origami paper. The downside to using heavier paper is that you need to score the paper beforehand to minimize puckering with each fold. Having a machine to make score lines makes the process easier. Read more>>

Mikey Salvatore

My best investment is in myself. It’s going to sound cliché, but if you are serious about your craft, you have to be willing to take any extra time/money and put it into yourself. However, it can be a lot at times. I live with this internal struggle where if I catch myself with free time and I’m NOT working on music, I start to feel guilty. It’s probably not healthy, but at the same time it keeps me in check. Comfortability kills progress. Read more>>