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.

Norah Wilson

It’s actually a mix of a lot of things. The initial thought of relaxation stems from the relationship/things I’ve noticed growing up with my mom, whom to this day I believe is one of the hardest working, ever-so giving woman I know. A lot of the moments I’ve had with her have always been limited to before/after work or while she was on break. Read more >>

Nakea Blythe

The inspiration behind Legacy Lips stems from my desire to empower women to embrace and love themselves unconditionally. I firmly believe that when we free ourselves from limitations and embrace our individuality, there are no boundaries to what we can achieve, who we can become, or what we can wear. Being a confident woman of color in my own skin, I have personally encountered women who lack confidence and often express their insecurities about wearing bold colors due to societal stigmas surrounding skin complexions. My mission with Legacy Lips is to shatter those barriers and empower all women. Read more >>

Danielle Maury

After feeling unfulfilled and lacking consistent creative joy in the corporate 9-5 grind, I decided to step out on faith onto this journey of starting my own business. Jeweled Events Company fueled my desire to have unlimited creative expression and a meaningful impact in my communities, I embraced the challenges and uncertainties, driven by the belief that there’s more to life than conforming to a rigid structure and fulfilling someone else’s dreams. By following my ordained path, I sought to create a venture that aligns with my passions, values, and aspirations, finally finding fulfillment in the pursuit of my multi-passionate dreams. Read more >>

Phaedra Loftis

The thought process behind starting my own business was that I am passionate about creating objects and ideas, and I love to share them. I make soy candles, stickers, and objects on my laser. Most of my work has themes of the fantastic or inside references to nerd culture. I love finding an audience of people who enjoy similar things to me, and creating things that make their day a little better. Read more >>

Jarvis Gray

After working as a Consulting Professor at Emory University and offering classes in the Continuing Education program, I started my own business in 2017. So many of the people who went through the school were business owners and leaders. This gave me the chance to help them in a more important way. So I started my business on the side while I was still working in the corporate world. Read more >>

Arianna Hinton

With thinking of how to properly execute a business, the process is hard but, never giving up takes you further than you were before. With Bawsey Behavior Collection, our CEO Arianna Hinton has conquered the sense of understanding that every step is not perfect and that there WILL be obstacles. Her mindset has always been creative and she knew as a child that she would grow into an influential woman who has the ability to be who she is destined to be no matter opinions from her peers. Read more >>

Miles Megaciph

Megaciph music is necessary in a world where healing music and vibrations are lacking. My music is free of misogyny, militarism and materialism. I came up in the “Golden era” of Hip-Hop when the culture reflected the beauty and diversity of Black consciousness, and I wanted to represent this sentiment in my music. Read more >>

Dr. Jose Marquez

The thought process behind starting the Georgia Latino Film Alliance. https://galiff.org/the-alliance/ (GALFA) stemmed from the recognition of a need within the local community. The film industry in Georgia, was experiencing rapid growth, generating approximately $4.4 billion in 2022. However, it became evident that the Latino community was not adequately represented and benefiting from this thriving industry. Read more >>

Maria Monfort

From 2016, since the Instagram era exploded, I was constantly thinking of ways to sell a product through that amazing sales channel. I wanted to do something different and creative, without having to expose publicly my own persona or private life in the process. As I was not the influencer type having 2m followers, I knew my product had to be very good to make it. Read more >>

Kyle Brown

Our thought process for creating the business was to design an impactful business beyond our corporate career. We wanted to get into the CBD/Hemp & Cannabis business because in study we realized all humans have an endocannabinoid system that needs cannabis to regulation our systems properly. At this moment we knew we wanted to dedicate our life’s purpose to designing a space that provides inclusive community programs for all while advocating for health & wellness through use of botanicals. We understood the task of removing the stigma behind CBD. Read more >>

Randall Lee

My thought process behind starting my own business It’s just being independent and having my own business because working in corporate America is definitely not the road that I would want to travel for the rest of my life. With my thought process and my elite skills and abilities to create, I knew that I can definitely create a brand and a image that everyone could love and that’s basically how I got started. Read more >>

Antonio Benson

I wanted to create a brand that would allow people to purchase beautify crafted items that didn’t break your pockets. The vision be household luxury lifestyle brand that is focused on making luxury simple and accessible to all. Read more >>

Allegra Jackson

Before I created the WIN Community, I was looking for a safe space to connect and network with other like-minded Women in Business (including CEOs, Business Owners, Young Entrepreneurs, & Men who support them). Read more >>

Miriam Arvinger

I decided to write this book because I wanted to share with mothers what I have been hearing over the past 32 years from teenage girls. “My mother doesn’t understand me.” “I can’t talk to my mother about these things.” “She doesn’t listen.” Although going through puberty and adolescence is tough for teenage girls, it is tough for moms too. They don’t always have the knowledge, language or communication skills to effectively bridge the gap during one of the most confusing times of a young girl’s life. Read more >>

Tiara Boynes

Risks are a necessary part of success. Taking risks has provided me with valuable learning experiences. When faced with setbacks or failures, the realization is that taking risks is not about always achieving immediate success but rather about embracing the lessons and insights that come from those experiences. Each risk taken has provided me with valuable feedback, helping refine my strategies and approaches for the future. Read more >>

Ginelgin Wright

My thought process behind starting my own business was being able to be financially free and to become my own boss Instead of working a 9-5 and not enjoying what I do. My goal is to always provide top notch experiences and dedication to my brand.With me being a photographer, I enjoy making others feel confident within themselves.I believe in photography as being a form of art and also telling stories behind a camera lens. Read more >>

Sonya Cannon

When I first started my business it was trial and error. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. I wasn’t sure how to go about doing anything. I was all over the place and expecting everything to happen right away, and it did not happen the way I wanted. I’m an artist and I love art. I just needed to figure out how to make a living out of doing it. After being consistent and practicing my craft, I began to gain clients. Read more >>

Frederick Hill

When I decided to start my own business, there were several key factors that influenced my thought process. Firstly, after spending 27 years in the IT field as a Solutions Architect, I had gained extensive knowledge and experience in the industry. I felt that it was the right time to leverage my expertise and embark on a new venture. Read more >>

William Buchanan

It wasn’t really a thought….I was born into it. Pretty much learned the hustle from my father and my uncle. Read more >>

Mamas

Freedom. Freedom has always been my thought process when thinking of becoming an entrepreneur. I started this journey over a decade ago. I have been employed solely for myself since then. I just wanted Freedom. Freedom to raise my kids &enjoy life. Each business had a different secondary thought but the initial thought was always Freedom. Read more >>

Amelia Pleasant Kennedy

The external clutter in our lives begins within. Women, in particular, are socialized and raised to always be giving, always be noticing and anticipating the needs of others, and to always be working in service of their families and homes. This unseen, invisible labor takes a toll on the mental and emotional health of women and interrupts their ability to be fully present at work. We’re overworking and judging ourselves about the state of our homes and families, as a result. Read more >>

Ajunique Dillard

The reasoning behind me starting my own business was that I have a true passion for all things art. I love acting, singing, dancing, modeling. I started off modeling, and taking pictures of myself, and sharing with my friends. One day it clicked when one of my friends asked for me to do a prom photoshoot for them. I seen the way I was able to tell a story through the pictures. It’s like I was able to visually put words to a picture. Since that day I have not looked back, and one of my passions has grown into a full blown business. It isn’t work when you love what you do! Read more >>

Erionne Thompson

In November of 2021, I started my travel business as a way to earn some extra income on the side while I was still working 10 hours a day, full time in a Warehouse. It wasn’t until 4 months later that I decided to start marketing my business on Tiktok, and ended up going Viral on accident. Fast forward to now, I have booked over 300 clients, became the Top 100 Travel Agent in my Host Agency of 93,000 agents, and have been able to quit my 9-5. Read more >>

Alex George

Starting my own business was not something I had in my life plan – under unfortunate circumstances, I got laid off from my full-time job, and I had one side job I was helping a company with social media and influencers. Luckily, they added a few more hours to my contract work time. I posted on my social media account that I had been laid off, and multiple people reached out about needing help with social and. Just like that, I went from one client to three, and low and behold, I signed up for my own LLC and started AyeGeeMedia. There definitely wasn’t time to think about it; it all just sorta happened for me. Read more >>

Melissa Warren

I graduated Kennesaw State in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and started working at CryoLife in Kennesaw later that year. I lost my mom in 2018 and that challenge led me to having a change of heart of what I wanted to spend my life doing. I decided to follow the passion that I have always had for photography and start Warren Studio Photography that summer. It allowed me to take control of my life and do the things that I love while having the freedom to travel to new places and meet some amazing people. Read more >>

Shanee Andall

To be honest I never even thought about starting my own business before. I had the knowledge to start one but it wasn’t something o my mind. It sort of just happened you know. I’m sure it was the same for everyone. During Covid there was hardly any jobs available for me and I knew I wanted to be productive. But when I did start my business, the first thing I did was my research into what platforms graphic designers used, how much they charged etc. I already had business knowledge so I wrote a business plan (not fully detailed) but just to get an idea and then I just started 😊 Read more >>

Faith Igunbor

I am a proud African lady; I love everything about been a Nigerian woman. The process behind starting my business was the desire to share and provide authentic African goods, such as food items, natural herbs, clothes, fabrics, jewelries and more to the people. Africa’s rich history and culture are so diverse that it varies not only from one country to another but also within regions and countries. I wanted to share my culture with the world. Read more >>

Cedric Muse

The seed of the idea for opening a spa and lounge for men, a one-stop shop catering specifically to their needs, was planted in my mind by observing a significant gap in the market. In today’s fast-paced world, men are increasingly seeking opportunities to unwind, relax, and take care of their physical and mental well-being. This concept is driven by the belief that men deserve a dedicated haven to indulge in various therapeutic treatments, enjoy luxurious amenities, socialize with like-minded individuals, and rejuvenate their bodies and souls. Read more >>