The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Mackenzie and Chris Schranz and Ray | Media Agency

When it comes to a creative business or any business for that matter, it requires a thorough thought process and planning to start. In terms of our business we are made up of two creatives who strive to share the vision of our clients. We took our passion for creating content and began defining our brand, conducting market research, establishing an online presence, and putting that all into a business plan. We wanted something that would stand out from the crowd and offer our services to those who have a vision but not the tools to showcase it. Read more>>

Penny Husted-Gamm | Fine Art & Humanitarian Photographer

It happened fairly quickly. My husband came home from work one day to find me crying while reading the biographies of the women photographers of National Geographic. There was a desire I didn’t realize was there. My husband surprised me with my first professional camera later that year. I started shooting, and within a year I had enough images to show at local art fairs. Desire drove the decision for both of us. It was almost like we couldn’t not do it. And with my husband being an Air Force pilot, we had to move every 3 years, so the business also worked well within that lifestyle. Read more>>

Sukhmanpreet Singh | Owner of TheTurbanTyer & Cultural dance instructor

Turban is one of the most important symbol of honor and self respect in Sikh culture. As someone who ties the turban himself religiously everyday understands wearing the turban is a form of expression of my faith and the commitment to serve humanity. Read more>>

Robert Avery | Drone Photographer + Videographer

I have always been a person who recognized that there is more to this life than what is offered. Starting my own business has allowed me the opportunity to fully express my thoughts, ideas and perspective and thus, be able to share them with you. Read more>>

Fern Ward | Retired

Our children grew up in Laveen in the 1980’s and 1990’s while it was still a rural agricultural community. My husband and I were a part of organizing the original Laveen Summerball League and coached our children’s teams through high school. Read more>>

Beverly Rivard | Life Coach and Artist

I began practicing mindfulness meditation in 2012 after studying research related to positive psychology and neuroplasticity. I had been offering wellness classes and retreats on a remote island in Alaska, so it seemed natural to add life coaching to my business, in addition to psychotherapy. Read more>>

Lindsey Reynolds | Licensed Esthetician & Permanent Makeup Artist

I worked as an esthetician at a small number of salons in my career before opening my studio. I learned and perfected so many skills at each of these jobs, and met many talented and influential colleagues along the way. Even so, I felt I was being held back and realized my full potential wasn’t being utilized. Read more>>

Matthew Smolich | Business Owner, Dog Trainer, & Animal Behavioral Specialist

I was working for a large company as their Dog Training Mentor for a few years training clients and other dog trainers the methods and proper ways to training a dog. My clients were always asking for deeper examples and help with very specific training items, the company I worked for limited the types of services dog trainiers were able to offer to group lessons and social private lessons in the store. Read more>>

Emily Klein | Creator behind Arizona Native

What a great question! The idea for Arizona Native began when my boyfriend and I were at First Friday here in Arizona and he encourage me to use my love of art to start designing a brand of our own! Soon after, a friend of mine from college was visiting Arizona and wanted to know the best spots to shop for gifts/souvenirs to bring home to her family. I knew then that it was meant to be as there was an opportunity and a need. It was the perfect time to launch Arizona Native Read more>>

Kris Young | Chile Roaster

To be honest, I did not “start” the roasting business that I own. I worked for the previous owner for some years helping and learning about how he operated. The time came when he no longer desired to run his business and offered me the opportunity to purchase it. After careful consideration I really just went with the old saying “opportunity only nocks once” so I went for it. Read more>>

Lovely Poole | LMSW-Licensed Mental Health Professional/Co-founder/CEO

I have worked in multiple social social services settings all but not limited to counseling/therapy, residential treatment, schools, juvenile courts, hospitals and hospice for over 15 years. I discovered the barriers that individuals from marginalized communities face when trying to access services and mental health support. Read more>>

John & Brittany Keovorabouth | Owners & Founders of Saap Saap Thaiger

The thought process behind starting our own business was to be fully immersed into the food industry. Before beginning, owners John and Brittany were passionate about attending local farmers’ markets, food events and mom and pop restaurants to discover the latest and greatest eats. Read more>>

Hasnaeen Rizvi Rahman | Founder & CEO at Astha IT, Serial Entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, Venture Builder, Startup Advisor, Technologist

My childhood dream was to become a mathematician and unravel the mysteries of the universe. The dream took a different turn when my father bought me a computer during my ninth grade. In that same year, I began to dabble in programming with a book on the BASIC language, writing various programs with great enthusiasm. It was like an adventure, learning one programming language after another. Read more>>

Rome Tmskrew | Event Promoter

Becoming a event promoter was not at all on my radar to begin with. Growing up I always wanted to be an hiphop artist. It wasn’t until my mid 20’s when i snapped out of this “i cant do it mindset ” and start pursuing my career as a rapper. In 2019 I went on my first tour as an artist, however about half way through our two week long tour I noticed the promoter needed help on each of our events and I stepped forward to fill the void. I took a liking to really enjoying and gaining an interest in the behind the scenes aspect of a hiphop show. Read more>>

Brooke Westlund | Artist – Painter

12 years ago when I opened my first art studio at Pike Place Market I didn’t really think I was “starting a business”. My first space was a tiny dark studio at the end of the 3rd floor down under in the big market building without any foot traffic or customers. I was living near the market and bartending at a hotel downtown and I had just started painting, after being inspired by by uncles friend who was an artist. I just thought of my space as an art studio work space and not really a business. Read more>>

Christian Brim | Small Business Champion

I only worked 5 years in corporate America before I decided that I was not satisfied. I realized then that I would never be paid what I was worth working for someone else. It was also frustrating to see ways to improve things and serve customers that I was unable to implement. Read more>>