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.

Jacory Wilson

My work ethic is astounding and I got tired of giving different companies 110% and not getting compensated or appreciated correctly. So I said I’ll start my own company and put that 110% into my own Read More>>

Stephanie Thomas

I have always wanted to have an unlimited ceiling in my creativity and my financial success. I also wanted to give that same opportunity to others. Read More>>

KIYANI SAVAGE

In the beginning, my thought process was let’s go. Let’s get it done then once actually getting into starting my business I figured out that it was a lot to come with it versus just getting it done. There’s a lot of time management. There’s a lot of research and there’s a lot of things that you need to know when starting your own business so I start at first with research then I started asking questions and then I start putting my research with the questions to be able to build my clothing brand! Read More>>

Oliver Haney

When I first graduated from SCAD, I worked a few different jobs, but I knew that the traditional path back to directing and making original films would look very different outside of school. Suddenly, I had to figure out how to monetize my skills in a way that was sustainable. Like every graduate, I had two choices: find a job or create one. I chose to create my own. I had spent years directing and bringing films to life from start to finish, and I wasn’t ready to let go of that just because I was stepping into the professional world. Instead, I built a path that allowed me to continue doing what I love while growing as a filmmaker and entrepreneur. Thus, I started OTC, Oliver and the Company, my own multi-media production company focused on documentaries. Read More>>

Mathis Owhadi

I really wanted to have the freedom to pursue being an athlete and getting a typical job would not let that happen. I also wanted to create something that could be a positive force for everyone that is a part of it. Customers and Staff! Read More>>

Brittany (Founder/Owner)/ Amie (Co-Owner) Smith / Waltzer

I’ve always loved books and not just reading them but the process of selecting the book itself. As a kid, I would brows the bookshelves forever and I just loved being inside a bookstore. There is something very soothing to me about bookstores. Avondale didn’t have a bookstore at the time and I wanted to bring that to our city. I started off very small and steadily grew and we continue to grow. Read More>>

Iman Calhoun

I started IN NUUD because I saw a gap in how women feel about themselves in their most natural, relaxed state. I wanted to create a loungewear brand that lets women feel just as beautiful, confident, and put-together at home as they do when they’re out. IN NUUD is about more than comfort. it’s about affirming women’s worth and beauty exactly as they are. Whether they’re lounging, running errands, or hanging with friends, I wanted them to feel seen, celebrated, and effortlessly confident. Read More>>

Erin White

Starting my own business wasn’t something I always planned—it was something I became ready for. In 2016, after being laid off from Coca-Cola, I found myself at a crossroads. I had over 20 years of experience leading teams and driving strategy in industries like hospitality, consumer goods, and tech. But more than that, I had a deep belief that business could be both profitable and people-centered. Read More>>

Dr. Demetrius Bell

When it came to starting NeedVendors.com, my thought process was a deliberate and multi-faceted one, almost like a strategic roadmap: My diverse experience across Business, IT, Management, and Leadership, coupled with my work as a Business Analyst understanding the needs of professionals in the Private and Public sectors, revealed a critical challenge in Public sector procurement that I was passionate about solving. This passion drove the creation of NeedVendors.com, a platform I believe represents a revolutionary step forward in Private sector procurement. Read More>>

Teyonna Gwyn

Aside from wanting to be my own boss. I was tired of going to places to eat that provided lackluster food with small quantities for high prices. I also love seeing the reaction I get from people who get to eat my food. I want to be in control of my money and eventually be able to give people an opportunity to work with me and provide the working environment that I’ve always wished I had working in the industry. I also wanted to be able to create a family owned and operated business that we can all build on. Read More>>

MEEZO!

I’ve always been into fashion since I was a kid. I also grew up in a church based home. As I got older I knew I could take my passion for clothes & my passion for Jesus and turn it into an actual clothing brand. It was never steps that I really went by I just did it. Read More>>

Antonio Randolph

The Genesis of Our Vision – My entrepreneurial journey began at the intersection of necessity and conviction. As both a creative and strategist, I recognized a fundamental disconnect in our industry especially our community’s where artistic value and fair compensation rarely aligned. Traditional systems often treated talent as disposable commodities rather than visionary partners. This realization sparked my mission to build something transformative. Read More>>

Stephen (Sabali) Salmon

I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My grandfather, who was born in Lucea, Jamaica, owned several businesses. My grandmother also supported the family by running a family owned convenience store in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Personally, I have a passion for creative expression and a strong desire to work for myself. Self reliance is important to me, especially in an ever changing world like the one we live in. Read More>>