Readers often email us asking us for advice about new businesses they are thinking about starting and we often find that many of them don’t have a framework for thinking about a more fundamental question: why should or shouldn’t you start a business?

Below, you’ll find how successful entrepreneurs from across the city thought about this very question when they were considering whether to start their businesses.

Esther Sinclair | Accountant, Purpose Coach and Instructor of Truth

Your purpose is NOT an Option it is your Obligation. This key thought has inspired me to be purpose driven from as early as age 12 and to steward whatever platform I have to push people into their purpose. However, my father’s funeral in 2016, was a defining factor in my life which catapulted me to be more intentional about making a destiny defining decisions to get my first book, Cultivating Purpose, published after procrastinating about writing it for about 7 years. I embraced and ran with the idea that to be Purpose Conscious is to be Time Conscious. I was determined to die empty because my father died with his seed, his untapped potential, lying uncultivated in him. Even though he was the brightest in his class yet he died with many books and ideas still etched on pieces of paper. I decided that would not be my story. Despite having a large family of 5 children, being a Pastors wife with responsibilities for two churches, and an Accountant by Profession, by God’s grace, I was able to publish 5 books, start an online mentorship community called Destiny Cultivators, teach Masterclasses and host other speaking engagements on concepts from my book and write articles for magazines and other media platforms. Read more>>

LaShondra Hubert | Owner of One:11 Studios

As a content creator myself, i always found it difficult to create new and engaging content. It was always something that was at the forefront of my mind. Keeping up with new trends and topics, and just staying up to date on news, on top of that finding fun places to shoot content and resources we’re starting to become a task. I always wished for a place where I could connect with like minded individuals and have the resources and equipment to create content but never really had the big budget for it. I created One:11 Studios for the beginning content creator or the creator looking to take their brand to the next level. I wanted a space where people can create a professional looking production without breaking the bank. Read more>>

Amelia Hamilton | Owner of Emma’s Flower Truck

I really wanted to start a business that was unique, fun, and something I could do while raising my 3 kids. I had been toying with the idea of growing and selling flowers since 2020 and then when my dad got his truck back from the shop this past year it just kinda clicked and I was like “I’m going to start a flower truck business!” It really just took off after that! Read more>>

Beverly J. Brock | Model and Talent Agent

When I was a teenager, I sang in my church and loved it. Then I got into a Folk Musical Group that was big and a second one and then a third one where we cut a vinyl album to cover our traveling to other churches to sing. I was the lead vocalist and we sold it in our community to raise those funds. How fun was that! Read more>>

Danielle Blevins | Co owner/Lead Photographer

I think our thought process was very similar to most creatives. We both were tired of the day in and day out of a 9-5. We just felt stuck and unhappy with the thought of doing what we were doing until retirement. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. There are many benefits to working that type of job as well. Especially when you’re considering things like health insurance, sick days, PTO. It’s just not a structure that works for everyone. When we both sat down and discussed it, we knew that for Andrew especially, photo and video had always been one of his biggest passions even in his childhood, and it was something that I had started to develop a love for as well. We decided towards the end of 2016 to dive into the wedding industry and see where it could take us and shot our first wedding for two of our friends in 2017 and began to build our business from there. Read more>>

Reginald ‘RJ’ Johnson | Creative Director & Mogul | Actor | Dancer

as a creative artist and entrepreneur, a lot of times self-care practices become a distant thought when your focus is solely on working and establishing your presence in the industry. Inward Discovery was created as a means to honor myself and others in the mental health space by committing to a life of total wellness. Read more>>

Marnesha Moss | Upcoming Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my own business is showing my daughter you have to work in order to live the lifestyle you want. Also teaching her you don’t have to work for anybody else to do so. I was trying to start a legacy, where she can have something to fall back on. Read more>>

Shakarian Bradley | Modeling Instructor & Mentor

My thought process behind starting Velour Modeling Troupe was simply wanting better for the younger community. I’ve noticed a decline in the academic success and literacy rates have tremendously dropped and I could only think of two things, 1. The COVID-19 pandemic stunted the flow of learning and made it more difficult for them and 2. There is a lack of confidence. Proven by psychology, confidence can change how you view life, improve your learning and make it easier to do things in life without feeling overwhelmed and modeling would be a game changer in termed of confidence! Read more>>

Swagboi Night | Music Artist

while back…my friend Jay Renegade (music artist) asked me a do a feature and i agreed to it. Took me a few days of writting but eventually was finish but by the time i was done, he texted me saying never mind and he was going to do it as a single instead..so after that motivated me to start rapping to show i can do the same thing..then over time i learned to have passion for it. I chose to continue developing into the music industry and see where it takes me Read more>>

DeAnna Heard | Transformational Consultant

The decision to start my own consulting business stemmed from a combination of factors. Firstly, I wanted the freedom to pursue projects that truly aligned with my expertise and passions. By having my own business, I could work with clients and work on projects I believed in and could make a meaningful impact. Additionally, I saw it as an opportunity for personal and professional growth, allowing me to challenge myself in new ways and continuously learn from diverse experiences. Lastly, I recognized the potential for greater financial reward and autonomy that comes with running your own business. Overall, it was a calculated decision driven by a desire for autonomy, fulfillment, and the opportunity to create positive change Read more>>