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.

Scott Leader

I was never happy working for other people and being on a schedule. I also realized early on that if I could make it work, I could make more money working for myself than someone else profiting off my skills. Read More>> 

Cole Bisbing

When I made the decision to open my own practice, my goal was simple: to elevate the standard of dentistry—not just for myself, but for my patients. I wanted to create an environment where every aspect of care was intentionally chosen to improve the patient experience. That meant setting high standards for staff training, carefully selecting quality materials, partnering with top-tier labs, and holding ourselves to an uncompromising level of clinical excellence. Read More>> 

Candace Pless

MTology Innovations and our lead innovation, EMIT (Ejaculatory Modulation Injectable Technology), began as a capstone project during my undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering. At the time, Roe v. Wade was on the verge of being overturned. It was 2021, and a deep unease was rising in me. Not just as a student of science, but as a single mother. Read More>> 

Leah Murrieta

Four years ago, I entered Arizona State University as a freshman already knowing marketing was the right path for me—I had taken two years of marketing classes in high school and fell in love with the industry. From the beginning, I had the dream of becoming an entrepreneur and starting my own agency. But two years in, after an internship and networking with professionals, I started to feel intimidated by the stress and complexity of running a business. For a while, I doubted if entrepreneurship was really for me. Read More>> 

Todd Griffith

I’ve been cooking professionally for about 30 years. Many of those years were spent running restaurant kitchens and managing large scale event catering teams. The hours and weeks were long, it required a lot of sacrifice with not much return. My thought process when starting Nopal was to create a job for myself where I could spend my time cooking, which is really what I love to do, and less time managing. I wanted a job with a manageable schedule and financial security. I was fortunate to meet a private chef business coach who guided me through the process of creating my own brand and style of service. That guidance, along with amazing support from my family and friends, landed me here. Read More>> 

Vincent Nguyen

It’s been nearly 11 years at this point, but I still remember it clearly. I was the Marketing Director for a tiny company that had since grown to become a multi-INC 5000 award winner. Back in 2014 though, they weren’t exactly flush with cash. I was at a business conference in Bangkok with the two co-founders and a co-worker. Read More>> 

Michelle Kopras

Integrity is the backbone of my work. As a photographer, clients trust me with moments that can’t be redone. That trust deserves honesty, reliability, and respect. To me, integrity means showing up prepared, delivering what I’ve promised, and being transparent in every step of the process.
In an industry where style and trends change constantly, integrity is the steady ground I choose to build on. It’s what separates a transaction from a relationship. My clients know they can count on me not just for beautiful images, but for consistency, professionalism, and truth in how I do business. Read More>> 

JP Frydrych

I am from Phoenix, Arizona. My parents were always hustling. My dad was a stockbroker and later shifted into real estate. My mom worked in real estate, optometry sales, and eventually insurance. Watching them taught me resilience and adaptability. Read More>>