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.

Candy Fields | Host of The Candy Show/Candy Productions II Event Planning LLC

My thought process behind starting my own business was because I love helping others. Anytime my friends or family hosted an event, I was always the one to make sure everybody and everything was taking care of or I’d help them plan or organize the event. That was my driving force behind creating Candy Productions II Event/Planning LLC. Read more>>

Tammy Leavitt | Juice Plus Partner | Nutrition Researcher and Advocate

I started my business five years ago as a Mary Kay Consultant. Initially, I spent a lot of time, playing it safe, reading/watching videos about products and strategy. I remember the moment I realized I needed to step out from the comfort of analysis and education and be a doer.  Read more>>

Jini Lee | Local Sporting Apparel & Hard good store Partner

My thought process behind starting my own business involved a combination of factors. Firstly, I wanted to pursue my passion and turn it into a career.
Secondly, I saw a gap in the market that I believed my business idea could fill effectively. Read more>>

Ms Neko | A Mother 1st & Contouring artist & educator with #1 qaulity products sold on QVC & HSN

My decision to start my own business stemmed from a lifelong entrepreneurial spirit. I’ve always been driven to carve out a unique identity and establish a brand that reflects my values and vision. This drive only intensified when the pandemic struck, forcing a reevaluation of priorities and opportunities. Read more>>

Stephanie Jenkins | Organizer & Relocation Specialist

Mess is Stress – There are many people who just can’t cope with organizing their homes offices- they need help of just th push to get started. Covid made matters worse with just keeping up with everything including overbuying. Read more>>

Johnny Juelz | DJ AND MC

Alright, let me spin this one for you. Stepping into the world as a DJ, you realize the vibe isn’t just about playing tracks—it’s about crafting experiences. Starting as a promoter and being the heart of the party I saw how some experiences or songs could really change the energy in the room.  Read more>>

Alexis Brown | Licensed Facialist

The idea of my business started years before I became a licensed esthetician. In 2019, I acted on an idea that would change my life forever. The summer before my 11th grade year of high school, I was working as a lifeguard. During my break, I was searching for different skincare ingredients out of curiosity, when a light bulb hit me to create my own products.  Read more>>

Roosh Benham | Photographer/Owner of Roosh Photography

My journey into starting my own photography business was not typical. With three toddlers to care for and a move across the country for my husband’s job, I didn’t have a chance to plan and execute my business in the traditional sense. It wasn’t until the year before my children started school that I realized I needed something to occupy myself.  Read more>>

Brian Kelly | Captain & Fishing Guide

From a very young age I never was fit to comply with institutions. The boundaries and limits only increased my desire to break down the walls, With being confined in school and work environments with strick guidlines, codes and regulations only made things harder for me.  Read more>>

Korron | Music producer / engineer

Personally, I always knew since a little kid being a business owner was something I knew I’d want to do. So, Starting a music production company was a no brainer for me given my musical talent and abilities. Read more>>

Jazmine Taldon | Crafter & Mommy

My thought process behind starting my own business was actually a way to pass time and to make some extra cash during the pandemic. At the time I was an elementary school resource teacher and we were required to stay at home. I have always been creative and decided what better time to start my crafts as a business than now. Read more>>

Jacob Poag | President and Founder of S.T.E.P. Studio Inc

As a 15-year-old filmmaker, the opportunities to get involved in the film industry were few and far between. When I could finally create a script of my own, I could not find a single studio that could help me make it. This is when I had the idea of a student-run studio.  Read more>>

Steven L Roberts | Owner Operator

I was honestly lucky to be raised and surrounded by business owners my entire life. My family always encouraged me and my other younger family members to strive to create a business, even if it is just a side hustle. “Never put all your eggs in one basket”.  Read more>>

Aleigha Wraychelle | Artist & Creative Director

The main thing i was seeking when starting my own business was freedom. I thought that if i could create for a living i’d feel better about working and work wouldn’t feel so exhausting. I definitely thought of freedom first, and feeling a sense of ‘joy in the unknown’ immediately after. Read more>>

Anthony Alexander | Chef Anthony Deandre Alexander Sr.

My passion has always been preparing food for others enjoyment. Growing up I watched my mother Terri Elaine Alexander purchase food, seperate and store food, season and prepare food and it always came out delicious. Read more>>

Justin Grier | Personal Trainer & Clothing Brand owner of Lead By Example Fitness

The thought process behind creating my own business, was honestly self motivation. After spending time trying to play professional football and deciding to hang up the cleats, I was trying to find myself. Read more>>

Shafer Caudle | Builder/artist

I worked as a carpenter and owned a remodeling company for close to 20 years before I took a shot at my dream career. I always wanted to do more creative projects but it’s just not where I ended up. Read more>>

Sarah Collins | Content Creator

My thought process behind starting my own business is being able to create something that I can call my own. I see women younger and older than me making 6 figures by just doing what they love, and I said if they can do it why can’t I? After becoming a mom and realizing that jobs do not care about you, I wanted to do something where I can work my own hours and do this when I wanted without being threatened that I would lose my job. Read more>>

Adriana Foster | Occupational Therapist & Tax Preparer

My journey into entrepreneurship began with a desire for greater flexibility in my schedule. Working as a 1099 contractor initially allowed me to break away from the constraints of a traditional Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 schedule. I realized that I was missing out on simple joys, like spending time with family or even having the freedom to take care of personal errands, such as getting my hair done. Read more>>

Dr. Noel Moya, PhD | delphistem CEO & Co-Founder

My journey toward starting delphistem originates from a deeply personal and professional intersection. Growing up in Cuba within a family of medical doctors, I initially pursued a path in medicine, enrolling in medical school at a young age. However, due to the political circumstances in Cuba, my family and I sought to leave the country for Miami, Florida, where I had to restart my education. Read more>>

Trey Roth | Ashley’s Husband

I needed a laptop and found a guy willing to trade his for some old guitars. He drove down from Nashville, I drove up from Atlanta, we met in Chattanooga. Laptop looked good so I opened up my trunk, gave him my guitars, and we parted ways. Read more>>

Latoya Lee | Latoya Lee | Owner of AURASTYLES

Ever since I was a little girl, hair has been my greatest passion. From experimenting with different styles, products and techniques to studying the science behind healthy hair, I’ve always been fascinated by the art of caring for hair. It’s not just about styling; it’s about nourishing, protecting, and enhancing the natural beauty of every strand. Read more>>

Michelle Glover | President and CEO of Batter ‘N Bowl Bakery

Starting a business was something that came from a need to be successful with a service or product that I completely owned. I have had a successful career in media for almost 25 years, however the longer I’ve worked in my career, the more I realized the power and fulfillment in ownership. Read more>>

Miranda Campbell | Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Career Coach for Mental Health Professionals

Starting my own business was a decision that stemmed from a deep consideration of several factors, both personal and professional. First and foremost, I recognized the importance of achieving a healthy work-life balance. In the field of therapy, where the well-being of clients is paramount, it’s equally essential for practitioners to prioritize their own self-care and family time.  Read more>>

Kat Thompson | Business Woman

I always knew I wanted my place in the beauty industry and I always knew that I wanted to be a business woman. I have a lot of favorites in beauty: lipstick, highlights, eyeshadow & etc. Many people start with lipstick or lipgloss for their business, I love lashes but the idea to start with lashes fell into my lap and I’ve been running with it ever since. Read more>>

Tad Murdock | Fly Fishing Guide

Fishing has always been a passion of mine, whether it be bass fishing or trout fishing on the fly or with conventional tackle. I truly enjoy teaching people not only about fly fishing, but the geology, ecology, and what makes Georgia such a special place for trout. Read more>>

Kevin Ameyaw | Founder of Home Of Afrobeats: LLC

My thought process in starting my business stemmed from recognizing a gap in the market for Afrobeats media coverage, particularly for upcoming artists in the USA. I wanted to create a platform that supports these artists and lets them know they’re not alone in their journey. Read more>>

Zarinah Lomax | CEO/Artist/Curator of The Apologues

My business is centered around people finding healing through fashion and art Growing up I experienced a lot of traumas. I was molested ages 5-8 and lost my father to the prison system at the age of 17. He is currently serving life with no parole for the last 23 years. Read more>>

Andrea Grant, CDSP | CEO & Founder, Grant Consulting Group LLC

Starting a business is no small feat; it’s an expedition layered with vision, grit, and resilience. For me, the inception of my business began as a whispering thought as a child, carved out from necessity and inspired by the lives nearest to my heart.  Read more>>

Chantae Wilson | Quality Support Specialist

A few years after finishing college, I got the urge to create something that I could sell to others. I have always had a love for crop tops – plain crops, tie-dye crops, anything cropped I wanted it. But I felt there were not that many options to go for a crop top so I started to think, ‘why not me?’ Read more>>

Ashley Bennett CPM-TN | Midwife & Educator

I wanted to develop a model of care that left women wanting for nothing. I thought a lot about what I would want for myself or my best friend if I were to design something from the ground up. Read more>>

Charles Huggins | Skin care enthusiast

The story behind Ageless essentials is a simple one. When I first started making body butters it was essentially for me. I had suffered from eczema from an early age and as I got older and did research into the creams that were given to me I did not like the side effects. Read more>>

Laneisha Roberts | Co-founder of ReviewTailor

With over 25 years of combined experience in people management and HR, we’ve learned that there are 2 types of people in the workforce. Those who hate performance reviews, and those who like them because of their influence and relationships at the company or their ability to write immaculate novels. Read more>>

RBIII | Music Teacher & Artist

In 2020, I graduated from Howard University as a Performance Music Major and Business Minor. This was during a time where the venues were closed, concerts and shows were practically obsolete, and a fresh pile of responsibility was steaming on my doorstep. Read more>> 

Xavier “Bxxda” Moore | Artist , producer & fashion designer

Music has always been a go to stress reliever for me and my family so as I got older I figured out that if I didn’t involve myself in the industry, I’d be stressed out or loose sight of my mission. Read more>>

Alicia Henderson | Balloon artist

The most important lesson that I have learned from my business has been “Communication has multiple layers. Some are verbal, physical, tangible, and some go unseen. Most importantly, no matter what method it may be done by, it has to be effective.”  Read more>>

Anthony Clark | Man of God, Executive Producer, Publisher, Author and Successful Serial Entrepreneur

I am from Atlanta Georgia. I would say that being raised in the treacherous streets of zone 6 in the Edgewood and Kirkwood communities of Atlanta and raised by single parents had a huge impact on who I am today. It caused me to have to learn things really fast and attain the survival skills necessary so that I could make it out alive and thrive later on in life. Read more>>

Barbi Burris | Faith and Fitness Coach

The thought process behind starting my own business was more like a calling I couldn’t ignore rather than an idea to become an entrepreneur at 55. There was a persistent desire to share my experience and expertise about health and fitness in a way that honored God and the gifts he gave me. Read more>>