Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Jordyn Mayes

Starting my own business is about more than just building something from the ground up—it’s about creating my own seat at the table instead of waiting for an invite. The time to start shaping the life I want is now, and I know that the road to success isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. My path may be different, and that’s okay, because there’s a reason for everything. My calling might just be bigger and more extraordinary than I ever imagined.  Read More>>

Kimi

I’ve always had the goal to be an entrepreneur since I was 18 years of age. My goal was to go to college, study in fashion and business management first. Following that I planned to work as a leader in retail so that I could learn the business and how it all worked before I was ready to open and or start my own businesses. I knew that I could do it, but I wanted to learn first, gain experience and do it with knowledge from the retail and corporate world of fashion and business. Read More>>

David Ighalo

It sorta just started as a burden, to be honest. There was a need—mine. I needed money. And I had access to good materials, good tailors, and a pretty decent sense of style. That combination? It felt irresponsible not to try.

At first, it was just the stuff I wore. People would ask, “Where’d you get that?” And I’d say, “I made it.” Then I started putting looks together for friends using what they already had—nothing fancy, just knowing how to pair the right pieces. Before long, I wasn’t just styling clothes, I was making them. Read More>>

Erica Mason

Whew—honestly, survival. At first, it was me realizing that no one was coming to save me. I had a gift, a voice, a purpose—but I couldn’t wait around for someone to hand me permission to use it. I started my own business because I was tired of shrinking, tired of asking for a seat at tables that were never built with people like me in mind. Read More>>

Ayana Sinclaire’

My motivation for starting my own business was driven by the desire for greater autonomy and the ability to create my own path. Read More>> 

Katara Johnson

I don’t want to keep working for others following their rules. I also wanted to reach out and help others. Read More>>

 Joey Kwok

Animation is my thing, and it always motivates me. I want to be creative. I never considered building a business, but I am willing to help somebody. Read More>>

Demario Scott

My thought process was to bring satisfaction guarantee to my business to excel to other people in my line of service to open your eyes a great opportunity of ideas that I bring to the table Read More>>

Galina Barshay

My family and I came to America as immigrants with the help of American connections despite former USSR restrictions preventing certain religious minorities from leaving the country . I came to America in 1991 with my husband , 14 month old son and four pieces of luggage. My family didn’t speak English. I have gone from a life of needing help in America as an immigrant to a life of helping others by learning how to get through life’s challenges with faith and hard work.  Read More>>

Ian Easterbrook

HATDADDY started as a fun idea while I was on a beach trip a few years ago. Honestly, it all started because I had been growing my hair into a mullet, and I wanted to rock my mullet with a visor on the beach. When I went online to try and find a visor with some personality, the selection was pretty boring. So I figured I’d make my own! Read More>>

Tyasia Mathis

When I first set out to start my own business, my primary focus-like many others-was financial stability. However, that goal quickly gave way to something deeper: a sense of purpose. What started as a practical venture gradually transformed into a brand that I believe embodies the creative vision God placed within me. In creating Emarie Green, I was intentional about ensuring its message wasn’t clouded by materialism, but instead stood as a symbol of God’s love and creativity. What began as a business has since grown into a meaningful and expressive creative brand. Read More>>

Farris Jackson

My thought process wasn’t built in a boardroom — it was forged in the struggle. I started my business because I got tired of watching gatekeepers block real talent and real stories from being heard. I didn’t just want a seat at the table — I wanted to build the whole building, brick by brick, from Memphis to global. Read More>>

Ramona Randolph

I was working so many hours for another company that I decided, if I’m going to work that hard I will work for myself. Read More>>

Cindy Rask

After some years of practicing, I got tired of hearing how much people hate to go to the dentist. On a daily basis I hear this at least 3 times a day. I started to wonder why people feel like this and what could be different. I started listening to podcasts and following successful dentist online. All these people had one thing in common and it was how much they focused on the patient experience. While listening to a podcast, I heard Dr. Michael Sonick DMD. He wrote the book ” Treating People not Patients”. This really changed my perspective on how I wanted to form my business.  Read More>>

Adelle Drahos

I wanted to do it…so I did! Ok, but the longer answer is this: I love theatre and immersive experiences but financially these can be very tough to pull off. It’s why you see a lot of theater companies fold under or hopping venues. It’s why a lot of immersive experiences only stay for a time before moving on to another location, another state. They’re difficult to maintain long term in one specific area…and, in my personal experience, bluntly put: the pay is not a livable wage either. In the midst of trying to create one of these immersive experiences I kept running into difficulty at the fist step: finding an affordable location. Read More>>

Kashmire Kay

Tell us about your work with Ruby Slippers: Awakened to the Power Within and Shine Suga Shine. What sets you apart?

Ruby Slippers – Awakened to the Power Within is my heartbeat on paper. It came out of the wreckage of my life—after narcissistic abuse, religious guilt, and years of showing up for everybody else while I literally died on the inside. Read More>>

Gillian Royes

I’ve always been a writer. One of my proudest moments was receiving my first official rejection letter from Readers Digest when I was around 10 years of age. Since then I have published poetry, business histories, family histories, a series of novels, a guide to senior dating, and now plays. No thought process goes into deciding to be a writer. One either has an urge to write, an urge that one cannot resist, or one doesn’t. Read More>>

Becca And Sophie Wexler

I started Pawsitive Vibes, a mother-daughter pet sitting business, with my 10-year-old daughter Sophie as a way to nurture her deep love for animals. Beyond that, I saw it as a meaningful opportunity to teach her life skills that go far beyond the classroom—how to run a business, connect with people, manage finances, and take pride in earning her own money. As a woman and a mother, it’s important to me to raise a daughter who is confident, independent, and unafraid to pursue her passions. This business allows us to spend quality time together, serve our community, be with animals, and empower her with the mindset that she can build something of her own. Read More>>

 Lana Moon

Starting Zenbox Inc. was deeply rooted in both necessity and purpose. After navigating personal challenges and experiencing a transformative journey of healing, I felt called to create a space that offered others what I once needed—peace, empowerment, and spiritual nourishment. I wanted to merge my passion for holistic wellness with my love for entrepreneurship and community-building. The thought wasn’t just to sell products; it was to create an experience that uplifts the spirit and reminds people that self-care is sacred. For me, business is personal. It’s how I give back, heal forward, and help others tap into their own power. Read More>>

Kalauni Dorhan

The thought process behind starting my DJ business came during an unexpected pause. As a professionally trained dancer, I was always moving—until I sprained my foot and was out of work for 13 weeks. That forced stillness gave me time to reflect, and I found myself reconnecting with music in a new way. I started exploring DJing, and it lit a fire in me. Read More>>

Sergey Pavlov

My decision to start my own business came from a combination of experience, vision, and a deep desire to build something meaningful from the ground up. Having worked for many years in construction and architectural design across several countries, I saw firsthand how fragmented the building process can be for clients—especially when design, permits, project management, and execution are handled by disconnected teams. I wanted to change that. Read More>> 

Steven Hullander

Was working at another shop and had just tattooed an actor known for his tattoos in the industry, Robert LaSardo, we were in Biloxi Mississippi at some tattoo convention. That was the moment I told my fiancé at the time we needed to open a shop and give it a shot. My older brother, my financial advisor/mentor told me I was crazy and needed more savings and more preparation, and I told him if I didn’t do it now I never would. He leaned my 5 grand that changed my life and bettered it for my family. Went in with the thought process of failure wasn’t an option and here we are 10 years later. Read More>>

KING DELPH

Over the years, I’ve created several businesses driven by a simple but powerful mindset: Why spend all my energy building someone else’s dream when I can build my own? I’ve always believed in taking ownership of my creativity and vision. My latest venture—a podcast titled YO SUN YOU SEE THIS—is really a continuation of the path I’ve been on for years. My first show, The Laundry Mat Show, debuted in 1998 and aired on Brooklyn Cable Access TV as well as in Raleigh, NC. Read More>>

Jason Rosenblatt

Ive always been a creative person, but was too ADHD to work in a rigid, corporate structure. Fitness has always been my passion, and so I started as a personal trainer (independent contractor.)
While working as a personal trainer, I started designing functional fitness products based on the needs of my clients; specifically clients who had chronic pain or injuries. I started researching what steps I needed to take in order to bring my product ideas to life. Read More>>

Myasia White

Starting my own business and writing my own book was a journey born from a deep passion and a desire to create something meaningful. I often found myself reflecting on the moments that shaped me, the dreams that sparked my imagination, and the experiences that inspired me to take the leap. Read More>>

Peyten Williams

I had what I like to call a true “mountain-top moment.” For 16 years, I worked as a teacher and administrator in middle and high schools—a career I absolutely loved. I cherished teaching, coaching teachers, and working closely with students. But for some time, I had felt a persistent pull to step into something new. At first, I resisted. After all, I was passionate about my work and found deep fulfillment in my role. Read More>>

Kerri Phox

When I established Phoxtography LLC, my mission was to pursue photography as a passion that deeply resonates with my heart and soul. I find fulfillment in engaging with people, channeling creativity, and delivering results that not only meet but exceed my clients’ expectations. Read More>>

Dominique Jones

I have very strong opinions regarding the mental health field and how it is largely run by for-profit entities that seem to put the profit before the needs of the clients. From working for several different treatment centers and private practices post masters, I noticed that the pursuit of profit would often hinder access to quality mental health services, as well as create a disparity between therapists and upper management. This really bothered me. It often felt like, the very reason for why I got into this field came second to profit.  Read More>>

Adenike A. Harris

Restorative Notions began as a deeply personal journey before it evolved into a business. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I turned to Womanist healing to reclaim my voice—both for myself and in my relationship with my non-abusive father. My graduate thesis, Restorative Notions: Regaining My Voice, Regaining My Father, was where it all began. I explored how self-talk, dialogue, and self-compassion were essential to healing, and I witnessed how these tools could transform pain into power. Read More>>

Monique & Mallory Polk

Our thought process behind starting our own business came from a mix of passion, experience, and a desire to make an impact. At 17, we ran our first campaign after losing our cousin in a car accident caused by a distracted driver. That experience opened our eyes to how powerful media and messaging can be in shaping awareness and behavior. The campaign we worked on helped raise awareness about distracted driving and contributed to the initiation of Georgia’s Hands-Free Law. Seeing the real impact of that work showed us how strategic communication can drive change. Read More>>

Nicole R. Goode

I established my business in order to offer comprehensive mental health and wellness services that integrate psychology, sociology, sexology, and erotology. I saw a tremendous gap in caring for the specific needs of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. My approach emphasizes a holistic and culturally relevant framework, incorporating both psychological and sociological perspectives. This includes an understanding of cultural contexts and societal structures that impact individual and collective well-being. My services are multicultural, decolonized, and rooted in traditional healing modalities. Read More>>

Destiny King

My thought process behind starting my own business was deeply personal and driven by both necessity and ambition.

1. Turning Challenges into Motivation

Becoming a mother at 14 forced me to grow up fast. I knew early on that a traditional path alone wouldn’t give me the financial freedom I needed to provide for my son and create a better future. Instead of letting my situation define me, I used it as motivation to carve my own path. Read More>>

Nyam Adodoadji

When I graduated from college, I planned on going into non-profit or ministry work; however, through a series of events I ended up working at a tech start up in Silicon Valley–very different than what I had imagined for myself! That job was the start of multiple burnout cycles throughout my 14 year career as a product manager in tech. Read More>>

Anjol Rene’a

My thought process behind starting my business was to originally provide hair products and hair extensions but I fell back in love with being a hairstylist so we are here and ready to continue this Blossomed Journey. Read More>>

Cory Phelps

During the pandemic and after having lost my job, I was sitting with my girlfriend (now wife!), Amy Duffy. We both had a deep desire to create theatre again. We knew it wasn’t the ideal time as the conversations surrounding vaccines have only just begun. We started all of the legal work to open a non-profit in late 2020, we took the first six months of 2021 to get the mission put together and brainstorm our first project. In June 2021, we launched our first project which was a touring theatre for young audiences musical called How I Became a Pirate. The little cast and crew of six vaccinated artists hit the road touring to primarily outdoor locations all summer long. Read More>>