Ideas aren’t everything, execution matters greatly, but starting often requires an idea and so we asked folks to think back and tell us the story of how they came up with the idea for their businesses. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite stories below.

Em Pearson | Live Music & Portrait Photographer

So I’ve always been a fan of live music. Through some of the darkest points of my life, concerts have been like a haven to me. Back in 2017, I saw one of my favorite singers, Andrew McMahon play at the Buckhead Theatre and it was one of the memories my mind immediate jumps to when I think of a time I felt truly happy. At that show, I took a photo of Andrew on my phone. I was grainy and dark, as most cell phone photos of concerts are, but every time I looked at it, that joy came rushing back. I realized that photos had the power to capture such palpable emotions in a still frame, and that’s what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Neon Taylor | Music artist & Firearms enthusiast

Well the idea actually started out as a joke between me and my good friend Pujo Williams. We would go to the gun range frequently and every time people would make an effort to talk to us about our firearms. Literally half our sessions would be entertaining conversations about our gun builds, me doing simple reload drills and wanting to hold the nasa themed Kriss Vector. We would always leave there joking about how we should become “YouTubers”. It wasn’t until at the height of the pandemic that we kinda started taking the joke a lil bit more serious. With all the protests and riots going on now more than ever people were looking to protect themselves and there loved ones. Read more>>

Gary Chichester | Sign Maker and Woodworker

A few years ago, my wife was starting her own PT practice and in support of that, we created a workspace for her in our house. I wanted to her to have something inspiring in there and thought of Proverbs 31:25 – “She is clothed in strength and dignity, and laughs without fear of the future”, and made her a sign with that verse. I enjoyed the process of designing the sign and making it and she loved receiving it. So I started making signs as gifts for folks and it snowballed from there. Read more>>

Konto Freak | Sexual Health Goddess “Owner”

I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur but thought it was out of my reach. I read the book rich dad poor dad and realized I was one of those people in the “rat race”. I read more books, attended a few seminars, connected with like-minded people, and was motivated to strive for better because I felt I had become complacent. Throughout the years leading up to now, I have always had a profound love for sexual exploration and taking my partners for the ride with me. I also realized that I am not the only woman who has dealt with insecurities, fear of shame behind sexual liberation, experienced depression, or sexually assaulted. Furthermore, society does not ONLY affect me or any ONE gender. we are all in this together. That was the beginning. Read more>>