Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Michael Jackson | Founder, Stay Stopped United

My thought process behind starting my own business was definitely motivated behind a genuine desire to connect with my community, with my peers and with society as a whole. The thought process included creating a clothing brand that would bring about unity encouragement and connection. The idea was to design my business with others in mind as I needed it to keep myself accountable as well as connected with an energy of hope and a willingness to responsibly succeed. Read more>>

Vanessa Spiva | Certified Energy Healer / Intuitive Healer & Realtor

I knew that I had something unique and valuable to offer. I knew that the world would need more innovative and alternative methods for mental, emotional, and physical health. I sought out unconventional methods for my own energetic, emotional, mental, and physical healing when I was going through a huge transition and recovery in my life. Once I got clarity on my new lifestyle and I felt well enough to serve others and pay it forward, I knew that there would be other people like me that would appreciate alternative methods for healing. Read more>>

Helen Fritsch | Flight Attendant/Online fitness coach/IFBB Bikini Pro athlete

When I turned 55, I realized that turning 60 was just around the corner! As a lifelong competitive athlete, I decided that I wanted to “test my limits “. I wanted to get into the best shape of my life before I turned 60. After speaking with some personal trainers, I was told that I should look into Bodybuilding… Read more>>

ALEXANDRA MCCULLOUGH | YouTuber and Digital Creator

We left really good traditional corporate jobs to live van life. After a few months on the road living off of savings, we knew we needed to supplement our income if we were going to keep living an unconventional lifestyle. After getting a lot of questions about van life, we decided we could best serve our community by sharing information about life on the road and building a rig so that others can experience the joy of van life too. Read more>>

Gina Marie Leingang | Energy Healer, Human Design Reader & Coach.

I come from the corporate world. I have spent the last 20+ years as a hospitality corporate executive, climbing that corporate ladder. When I began this journey 3 years ago I knew I was missing something in my life, something that was part of my purpose. Through this journey I found human design, the moment I was introduced to it I knew that I needed to become completely versed in it so I could provide this information to the world. Read more>>

Chris McCarroll | McCarroll Media : Blending Technology and Art

So I really discovered photography when I was a young kid. I grew up looking at all the classic magazines including National Geographic. I was so awestruck. When I was 9 someone put a camera in my hand. Suddenly I was able to make pictures like the ones I grew up on. I never thought Id be one of those few lucky people to do that for a living. Read more>>

Jessica Featherstone | Owner and Mom

Before I started my boutique, I was postpartum doula in the Milwaukee area. Working with women after they had a baby allowed me to learn that the area was missing a place where women could shop for themselves. We have a ton of great baby and kids boutiques, but nothing totally dedicated to the mother. Read more>>

Melinda DePalma | Founder of Live Large Launch, LLC

Since 2003 I have been supporting companies with their technology, automations and systems. I kept seeing a recurring theme of businesses getting stuck on the technology and how to use (and optimize) their software. They would hear the buzz words CRM or funnel, so they would sign up and buy all this software that they either did not need, did not know how to use or more common did not have the resources to use. Read more>>

Sunset Bowls | Owner

My wife and I are always looking for ways to eat healthier. Our main complaints are usually the price of the food, and the taste of healthier foods. Acai bowls have always been a go to for us because they taste so good, and are super filling! After spending some time living in Hawaii and basically LIVING on Acai Bowls, we knew it was time to bring more awareness to these delicious and healthy smoothie bowls! Read more>>

Elizabeth Mackenzie | Intuitive Aesthetician

I decided to start my own skin studio after my own struggle with cystic acne. I like most people initially turned to a doctor for help. I was desperate as it was taking a toll so I trusted whatever treatments they offered. It left my skin and my emotional health in an even worse place. I decided to learn how to help myself by going to aesthetic school. I also began to work on my spiritual and physical health around the same time. Read more>>

Jonathan Patarkatsi | Founder & CEO

I’ve always been fueled by passion. Throughout my childhood, I was always passionate about health and wellness, and was specifically drawn to re-creating my favorite foods and beverages in a healthy way. I used to make superfood iced teas for myself everyday, as well as for my family, friends, and colleagues. Read more>>

Katerina Kladis Styles | Fashion Stylist

Growing up Fashion and Design was something I always loved and had a passion for. After going to College and getting a degree in Fashion Merchandising, Doing Visual Merchandising for a couple years, it was Fashion Styling that I wanted to do, and being in a Chicago at that time, there was not many “Fashion Stylist” jobs out there, so I decided it was time to start my own Fashion Consulting business. Read more>>

Bianca and Derek Carlson | Owners of Carlson K9 Camp

We both work from home and looking for another way to make a side income. We also were thinking about getting a pet and thought, why not make money from watching other people’s pets. We started watching dogs for our family and friends, and thought there was a demand out there for dog boarding and dog daycare. Read more>>

patrice Abrogoua | I’m an artists, entrepreneur and Ceo. I owned a digital marketing company call Ab Creative Consultant LLC and a non-profit Organization call Arizona Urban Arts

My Name is Patrice Abrogoua AKA Don Patco. Don Patco is my Artist name. Born in Ivory Coast West Africa. I’m a single dad of 3 beautiful kids. I’m a firm expert in graphic design, creative design, art, Multimedia, marketing design, and illustration Design with over 15 years of experience in those domains. Read more>>

Sophia Toomb | Sustainability Content Creator & Educator

I first started my blog/business, Moda Verde, in 2019. Sustainability was starting to become a buzzword throughout many industries, but it was hard to find true sustainable apparel brands that equally valued environmental, social, and economic responsibility (the three pillars of sustainability). Read more>>

Syed Tirmizi | Entrepreneur

Thought process was simple. Either keep working for someone else and help rich get richer or take better control and start working for yourself to provide better future for family. Read more>>

Greg & Sonia Villanueva | Owner/Operators Of Piacenza Food Trailer

My husband Greg has always dreamed of having our own business. Over the last 20 years, he has worked on the planning, concept, recipes and details of owning a business. We decided it was the right time to start our own business because I terminated from my employment due to Covid-19. Read more>>

Larry Elyea | Audio Engineer and Cinematographer

Well for being a Recording Engineer, I was in college, and studying to be an environmental engineer. But i also played in bands. My band had an opportunity to get a song on a national, important, compilation cd. It guaranteed major industry access for the band. So i called the best studio in Phoenix at the time. Asked how much to record 1 song, the best you can. Read more>>

Leslie Hawkenson | Professional Organizer

The easy thing to say here would be that I always knew I wanted to be a professional organizer. But that wouldn’t be the truth. I first started playing around with the idea of owning my own business right after a career change. I had just finished my degree at ASU and started working at a corporate accounting firm in North Scottsdale. Read more>>

Joachim Lehmann | Self tought photographer

It started out as a hobby and I got better and better – I wanted to be able to offer my services to people, so they would participate on my passion. At first I was a bit intimidated by red tape and tax formalities, but It went quite smoothly. Read more>>

Hassan Elamragy | content creator

My positive social impact Giving a beautiful feeling and benefiting everyone and distinguishing from others in the emergence of a unique and balanced work or content Read more>>

Elena Maro | Composer for Film, Television and Media

1 THOUGHT BEHIND STARTING MY OWN BUSINESS My thought process behind starting my own business goes a long way back, to when I was a little girl and it’s all about some of the sweetest memories from my childhood: the Sunday afternoons spent watching old Hollywood films with my mum. Read more>>

Jesse Duran | Gym Owner, Apparel Business Owner, Real Estate Investor

After getting out of the Military and hoping around from job to job. I knew another job wasn’t the answer. Starting my first business was essentially a necessity- not a whole lot of thought process went into it. Literally sink or swim. 10 years later the first business (gym) is still standing and now I own technically 2 additional businesses! Read more>>

David Yoshimura | Personal Safety Instructor

My family has always been entrepreneurs. My parents started a business in 1972 which lead to another business and I grew up working in the family endeavors and started a full time position after college for many years. I became the president and owner of that business. When I saw a need and desire to teach people how to protect themselves it was natural to start my self protection business, Sheep Dog Defender. Read more>>

KC Turner | Concert Promoter – San Francisco, CA

For me it was the dream of cutting my own path and combining my passion with how I pay the rent. I feel very lucky that early on in life I discovered my own personal path to happiness is living your passion. Every time I confirm a concert, or step on the stage to introduce an artist, I am living my dream. Read more>>

Kashuna Hopkins | Owner of Favored Medical Billing Company

That I wanted to create a space where I could work and be mother and not have to choose Read more>>

Vince Flores Maldonado | Executive Director

It’s was simple, well not that simple in starting up our nonprofit but I know what was lacking in our communities and that is the need to help empower our Indigenous people find and maintain wellness and it starts with feeling proud of who we are as Native Americans. Read more>>

Roman Casillas | Tattoo Artist

I was an artist before co-owner at the first and only studio I worked. Istari Studios, owned and operated by a veteran artist named Jim Quinn II. After working about 4 years for the studio, I was presented with the opportunity to buy in as co-owner. Read more>>

JaVontae Langston | Entrepreneur

This will be the best investment that I can make! Read more>>