Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Love Atiya | Pleasure Positive Animal Activist & Owner Of Ethereal By Love Atiya Vegan Self Care

Ethereal by Love Atiya was created from my trauma and as we know, healing can come from trauma. When I was 17 years old I had a horrible experience at a beauty salon that left me with balding edges. Of course, this took a major toll on my confidence and I actively began searching for a way to heal this. Read more>>

Jaylon Teague | Freelance videographer & Content Creator

My thought process behind starting a business was to of course make money but to turn a talent that I had into a career. Read more>>

Ana Villavasso | Artist, Owner: Ana Paints, LLC.

I never really had a dream for starting Ana Paints, LLC. When I’m asked how I got into art, the honest answer is that I was bored. I was sitting in my room in June of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and decided to paint one of my favorite music artists’s albums. I posted the work on social media, and it got a lot of attention- so much that others wanted paintings like it. From there, I started making paintings of albums covers, to portraits, and now I do all sorts of art such as muraling, 3-D design, animation and more. Read more>>

Chase Jackson | Media Company Owner

My thought process for starting my own media business was since no one was giving me an opportunity, I needed to create my own opportunities. I graduated from The University of West Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Mass Communication, but I never felt like I fully got into my career field. I knew I had to create my own way. I began showing up to events and blessing the person having the event with re-cap videos of their event. Read more>>

Karima Gordon | Entrepreneur

My process behind starting my own business will be since I was younger, I always wanted to be my own boss and not work for anybody else. I knew what my vision was and how I want my lifestyle to be and I couldn’t focus on that while working 9 to 5, and coming home being tired and getting up the next day to do it all over again. There were times when I was working both of my jobs and attending school while also working on my own business as my side hustle and once that got tiring, that’s when I knew working for myself was the route I wanted to take. Read more>>

Dr. Pearl Lilly | Family and Individuals Services & Moving Forward Spiritual Healing

My thought process behind starting my own business what is the need of helping others mothers raising children alone facing so many obstacles and adversities. Thinking about the time when I myself was a single parent Morceau a black mother with black children with little to non-resources services within my own community and be able to utilize the resources within myself to one ask for help regardless of what I mean and/or or criticism. Read more>>

alicia edwards | Personal Chef

If I can be completely transparent, I was tired of being unhappy. I was numb to working jobs that under valued me and my time. I sat and really thought about the amount of time I have spent at these jobs only to have, just enough! The wages being paid out, compared to the amount of work required, times that by the cost of living and you have modern day slavery. I thought about how I was paying for an apartment I was barely in and working just to pay to go to work. It felt like a never ending cycle and I became depressed and anxiety was always at an all time high. Read more>>

Derrick Vore & Sydney Francis | Foodies

We originally started our food page because we were begged from many friends and family members about it, and told that we should start a page, or account discussing all of the wonderful places we have eaten at, stayed, and enjoyed all around Georgia… and later out of state! It wasn’t until we were on our way home from the Georgia State Fair in Perry, GA that we decided that we were going to document our adventures starting with the fair! It wasn’t our most content heavy post, Read more>>

Monte Moore | Fitness Trainer and Author

I have much to say but I didn’t really have a thought process. God has always guided me regarding the things that I do. I believe a while back in a previous interview I mentioned that God gave me an entire layout for my life. He only gave me parts of it, but over time he revealed things to me piece by piece. I never really had any clear direction before growing closer to God. I was always ambitious and talented, but I never really knew which way to go. Read more>>

Bj Cummings | C0-Creator/ Designer of Blew Collar clothing

The thought process behind starting the brand came from my mother and my grandmother. They always were hard workers and they believed in serving others because it seemed to be their assignment. As I grew older I saw that we were all given a specific assignment or gift from God and it is our job to complete that assignment. Our brand Blew Collar clothing believes in those two things as God being the source of all things and using your God given gift to make a difference in this world to build the kingdom. Read more>>

Dear Kiwanna | Muva | Gypsy | Creator

I wanted my creative ideas to come to life. Seeing your creations outside of your thoughts is by far one of the best feelings. One of my major goals was create jewelry and spiritual items for and from people like me. I’m in love with the spiritual realm of things and have been since I was a child. I’ve always been drawn to different artifacts and the deeper meaning behind them. I learn, observe, and absorb from many different cultures and religions. I feel as though each way of life can teach us and bring out different meanings within ourselves. Read more>>

Edward Eliesya J Wallace | Fashion Designer, Actor, Model, Business Owner, Famiglia Doro TV Station Director

The thought process behind starting my own business came from my late husband Jermaine Joseph Alston. We had talked about starting a business and when we went to file for new business I had goals of selling my own clothing. We opened Uniforms Plus in Aberdeen NC and inside there was Eliesya J’s Boutique. I started out selling men’s clothes. I quickly learned that females shop way more and for any occasion. I switched. I opened Eliesya J’s storefront in 2011. Started Fashion Designing in 2013. Read more>>

Deonna Lindsay-Lewis | Brand Strategist + Designer | Owner of BrandSmash Studio | Black Sheep since ’86

Honestly, I started my business out of necessity. After graduating college with an Interior Architecture degree, I applied to every firm in my area. Everyone required 10 years of experience, and wouldn’t even consider hiring me. I even offered to VOLUNTEER, and still…..crickets. That same summer (the summer of 2008), I got an opportunity to design a poetry lounge with a friend. In creating the lounge, they needed a logo and menu designed, and I tried my hand. Read more>>

Kasey Hooper | Vivid Hair Specialist

Owning my own business has been the most essential and freeing step in my life that I have ever taken. I was never really a good employee, honestly. From the time I started working at 16, up until this day, I have tried my hardest to have a voice. As much as I love working hard, doing it for someone else’s gain was never something I wanted for a long period of time. Read more>>

Afrikka Hollinger | Yoga instructor/ Holistic Practitioner

Essentially I was thinking “longevity in stability” when I got into business for myself. I wanted to create room for my entire family to be financially free, for my community to feel the impact of my holistic work and benefit from it. My central goal has always been communal growth. My gifts in herbalism, apothecary, and yogic practices were given to me to promote and encourage a healthier and more conscience people. Read more>>

Carla Lomack | Business Owner and Author

Class Management Group is an extension of my personal and professional experiences. The name “CLASS” is an acronym that stands for Carla, Lomack, Administration, Support, and Services so it’s always going to be a core of who I am as a business owner. It started with what I know for sure…that businesses always need support to run their operations. Holding a number of roles, handling multiple responsibilities, and having many job titles, my personal experience demonstrated a need for small businesses, corporations, Read more>>

Raven Wortham | Founder & Owner of Sugar Rae’s Shea

Truth be told: I was looking to provide a solution for my seasonal eczema. I was complimented about my scent and I was asked what I was wearing; that’s where the story begins. After discovering many people like me I started to do my own research! When I started Sugar Rae’s Shea, my ultimate goal was to provide a cost-efficient, healthier option for those who suffer with Eczema. As I continued to find solution, I found that there wasn’t enough research done on Black and brown people with eczema. This has lead to thousands of misdiagnoses and skin complications. I wanted to find and make a that solution works! Read more>>

Lakeicha Goodrum | Bookkeeper & Accountant

I’ve always had a passion for helping and serving others. When I was thinking about starting my business my thoughts were how I could use the skills I’ve learned throughout my career to help others in reaching their goals and being a resource in specialized services. I also wanted to ensure the business aligned not only with my passion but also with my belief, as my values serves as a complement to the quality of services offered. Read more>>

Emmy Atkinson | Content Creator & Social Strategist

I had always wanted to be freelance and work on my own terms, I never understood the need to be chained to a desk all day not even able to take a dentist appointment without ‘making up the time’. For me, it all started with a career break. I had been climbing the corporate ladder for 6 years in London but spent all my spare time travelling, dreaming of a more balanced lifestyle where I could see the world too. Read more>>

Tiya Lott | Entrepreneur

I Asked Myself First what is it that Makes me happy? what is it that I REALLY Enjoy doing? I took A look at my life to get the Answer to those questions that I had been seeking for many years now. And What I realize is what I Enjoy doing is motivating people. Giving words of encouragement/Afirmations and Advice.. It’s what I did on a daily. Read more>>

Lul Rocky | Artist & Business Developer

I had been into sales and hustling since I was about 7, so that’s always been a part of me but being an artist is new to me and it’s a business in itself so we must treat it as such. I just finally stopped trying to do them separately and just put my talents together and started doing for other artist what I wanted done for me. Read more>>

Kariah Lee | CEO of TheHairLab

The Hair Lab is the brainchild of ambitious visionary and young businesswoman, Kariah L. She hails from Eden, NC, and brings her unique edge to the table, ensuring premium quality hair care that her clients continue to fall in love with. For Kariah, The Hair Lab isn’t just a venture rooted in career aspirations, rather, an ever-growing passion that helps her achieve a deeper purpose – to boost your confidence through flawless styles and healthy tresses. Read more>> 

Jamaine Glover | Chef

Great question, Truth be told I’m tired of working for other people Life is short… Why Not Put Your Own BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS into your own Brand…! Read more>>