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.
Corey Penelton
The best investment that I made would be getting my own studio. I was dealing with some issues with one of my engineers and decided that I wasn’t gonna let anybody play me for my time anymore so I went ahead and invested into my own studio and got one of my other engineers to teach me how to record myself. Every time I will go to the studio I will sit there and watch instead of just recording. I would ask questions and show interest of other things other than rapping into the mic.I want to be able to produce the music. Read more>>
Canon Herring
The most valuable thing we as humans have is our time. To invest into anything means to set aside the time to make it succeed. Growing up, my dad set aside his time to teach me music, and now I set aside my time to make a career out of it. My best investment was putting the time into gaining industry experiences. I realized at the beginning of my career that experience is everything. Without gaining the needed knowledge through hands on experiences, I couldn’t build working relationships, knowledge of the industry, or a professional portfolio. In order to pursue this passion I needed to prove to myself and potential clients that I could do it. Time is the investment, but it is also the greatest risk. Read more>>
Kirsten Gollier
The biggest investment I’ve made in my business also turned out to be my worst. In December 2024, I was feeling vulnerable and discouraged about finding clients when I was invited to a networking event. On the spot, I was sold a $750/year membership to the group. While that amount might not seem like a lot for some businesses, I was really focused on keeping my expenses lean during my first year. I remember getting off the call feeling like I’d been “Jedi-mind tricked”—I couldn’t believe I signed up without taking a moment to step back and do more research. Read more>>
Ck Jones
Funding my EP Floor de Flor was both one of the most meaningful and challenging investments I’ve ever made. I used a pandemic loan to support my music career, which allowed me to release both Floor de Flor and the So Far Beyond EP. While Floor de Flor is still one of my favorite projects, the cost of those years went far beyond the financial. Read more>>
Dezi Cartier
The best investment I’ve ever made has been in the things I love. My best advice is to enjoy the parts of yourself that make you who you are. I used to think I needed to change those parts of me at times to get where I would want to be in life. Those thoughts are groomed by listening to the wrong things or people in life. One way or the other enjoying what you find interesting and being proud of those parts of yourself are the best investments you can make. Read more>>