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.

Rosie D’Apolito | CEO of Made by Ro

My name is Rosie and I am the founder and creator of Made by Ro. I started my business Made by Ro in January 2018. I never thought that I would ever be a business owner, but it just sort of happened. Growing up, I loved to draw and paint and use my creativity as an escape from everyday life. My mom, Doreen, is very creative and is constantly coming up with creative ideas when it comes to arts and crafts, clothing, and home decor. I get my creative talents and my fun personality from her. Read more>>

Elizabeth Black & Megan Moore Elizabeth Black & Megan Moore | Podcasters

We realize the name “Beheaded” is a little startling, but we wanted to stand out! To give more of a back story, one of our first social activities together was going to the Arizona Renaissance Festival where we paid the extra $5 to view the infamous and gruesome torture museum. Afterward, we admitted to each other we were both strangely fascinated with the dark stories of medieval and Renaissance crime and punishment methods. We found a common ground with being equally horrified and mesmerized by executions like Anne Boleyn, Marie Antoinette, and William Wallace. This led us to realize that some of the darkest moments in history are the most intriguing because while they are in fact disturbing, they paint an intimate narrative of who these victims were and the trials that they faced. Our podcast takes a light-hearted approach to some very serious topics and add a comedic element to real-life historical events. Read more>>

Shanda Watts | Creative Director

My motive for starting my own business was born from a deep passion for problem-solving in web design and a desire to help other businesses flourish. I’ve always been fascinated by the challenges and opportunities in this field and the immense satisfaction of crafting marketing solutions that drive business growth. Read more>>

Alec Clawson | Filmmaker & Creative Director

My thought process behind starting my own business was plain and simple; do the work while the world is stuck inside. When COVID was on the rise, I began venturing into my prodcution company. I was in between what I was used to my whole life, which was dancing, choreographing and creative directing, and my dream of becoming a writer/director. Read more>>

Josh Kasselman | Director

My wife and creative partner, Stephanie Lucas, and I had been making short films and documentaries for a few years and loving that. Meanwhile, I was toiling away as a freelance corporate copywriter and suffering major burnout in that arena. It dawned on me that I could start to purchase more and better video equipment if I could use it to make some money, then slowly transition into a new career. Within a year or so I had some regular clients and felt like it was a good time to incorporate and make video production a full-time endeavor. Read more>>

Bryce Fritzel | High-Speed Imaging Technician & Cinematographer

Professional level, ultra high-speed imaging has always been expensive, difficult, and hard to access. Since my teenage years, I always wanted to dive deep into that industry, learn the ins and outs, own the top-tier equipment, and be able to provide it to the world. No matter the industry; ballistics, defense, cinema, commercial, manufacturing, I wanted to be able to offer my experience in the field, my equipment, or both. I knew it would be a long haul plan. And now, over a decade later, I’m able to deliver on most of those plans I had many years ago. Read more>>

Loui Jover | independent artist

the process of staring my own business resulted as a type of obvious fiscal evolution. I was working as a warehouse supervisor and dabbling in online galleries as they were just starting to gain in the online world, my works which are simple bold ink drawings on recycled paper became popular and the result was that I was making more money online then the wage I was receiving for my job. so, it was a natural progression into becoming a full-time business. there was the risk which comes with leaving a steady occupation however my passion was my work so the risk was worth it, my thought process was if I didn’t try now when would I? Read more>>

Taylor Faminu | Certified Personal Trainer & Transformation Coach

I started MyTayloredBody, LLC. as a safe place for women to receive personal training from a woman who can relate to the experiences of other women. In 2014, I discovered my love for fitness in college. I would help women who asked for my assistance with their workouts at our college fitness facility and grew a small community of women who were interested in my help. This is where the brand, MyTayloredBody began. As life happened, I graduated, got married, had my first child, trained clients in several gym locations, my desire to work for myself never wavered. Once I had my second child in 2019, I knew that I desired to help women with their health and fitness goals and also stay home with my newborn. This was the turning point into making MyTayloredBody an online based personal training service. Read more>>

Betty Busby | fiber artist

I’m too abrasive to work for anyone else Read more>>

Marie Rodriguez | Entrepreneur & Business Owner

My thought process when starting this business was getting out. I thought of my family, the lack of money & freedom. I was determined to get out. I was screaming for freedom. Read more>>

Stephen Jones | Chef & Partner of the larder & the delta

The thought process behind me wanting begin my journey was simple….. I wanted to tell the story of my ancestors through my food. Read more>>

Debbie Hart | Customer Experience Specialist

I started my own business because I wanted to educate business owners on how to improve their customer experience while increasing revenue. Read more>>

Antonio Agosto | Creative Director, Cinematographer, Fimmaker

I knew the from start that starting my own business was going to happen at some point. Everything I was doing at the time was leading up to it and the different pieces that was placed around me only made the path more clear. My thoughts were clear as ever and once I made the decision, I just needed to include my business partner in it. Read more>>

Shetal Walters | Owner and Executive Director

Desert Garden Montessori began in 1996 through the interest of a small group of parents. When I became a mom, I was looking for a school that will meet the needs of the whole child, not just academic but the whole being. Montessori was the way for me, but there were not a lot of Montessori schools back then.  We held our first session in a home-based environment (my living room), and over the course of three years expanded into three homes and served 40 families. We continued to listen to the community, and created an environment that is filled with authentic connection, not just for the students but also for the staff and families. Because of increased community interest, the program was expanded to include full-day programs, a toddler program, as well as late day school to meet the needs of the families involved. In March of 1999 we moved into our current facility, which was designed specifically for Montessori. Read more>>

Jen Wagner | Font Designer

While I always appreciated learning from those I worked with, I learned early on that I would always invest more time, effort, and energy into myself and what I wanted to build than anything else. Whenever I was working for someone else, I found myself watching the clock so I could leave and start working on my craft or whatever was inspiring me. I would daydream about building my own business, and get frustrated by the lack of control I had to create change or advancement in a traditional environment. I wanted to experiment, play, push – all things that, when working with a staff, require more time, resources, and permission than when you’re doing things for yourself. Starting my own business always felt seamless and was always something happening in the background, in one way or another. Making the full leap was just the last step. Read more>>

Virginia & Sara | Virginia – Chief Visionary Officer and Jewelry designer // Sara – Chief Operations Officer

We are best friends that trust each other completely and always knew we wanted to start a business. We were constantly encouraged by family and friends to start an event planning business. We tossed the idea around for a long time, but we wanted to start a business that we would be passionate about and we’re problem solvers, so we wanted to make sure we solved a solve a problem with something we love. Jewelry of course! The problem with bracelets and jewelry we love, is getting it on with out needing to call your husband in the room to help you. Our magnet clasp with catch chain lets you put a bracelet on one handed! Together we decided something in jewelry was so US! Read more>>

Ben Halem | CEO

Starting DRIVE LA was fueled by my passion for luxury cars and the desire to offer an unparalleled experience in luxury and super car rentals. I saw an opportunity to create something unique in the market, a service that would not just offer a means of transportation, but a gateway to a lifestyle, a moment in time where our clients could live their dream. Read more>>

Jimmy Hart | Author, Coach, Trainer, Speaker

I have always valued the idea of owning a business. I like the idea of providing a product or service that adds value or addresses a need in some way. Starting a business was something I picked up while in Junior high school. I recall riding the bus to and from school, and one of the stops was near a convenience store. What became clear is that my schoolmates liked candy. So, I decided to use my lunch money from home to buy candy when going to the store with my parents. Once I got to school, I would sell the candy I purchased to friends. I did not know it at the time, but I was applying the concept of supply and demand. Read more>>