Starting a business can be terrifying. Weighing the pros and cons, the risks, and other considerations can be so overwhelming that often promising entrepreneurs stop before they even start. We asked some phenomenal entrepreneurs about their thought process behind starting their own businesses. Our hope is that by making the thought-process less intimidating we can help more folks think through whether they should take an entrepreneurial leap.

Alisanna Vincent | Filmmaker & Show-Businesswoman

I have always been a person who knew where I wanted to go in life. Even before film school, I had my eyes set on a career in the film industry and my very own film production company. Though it is still just taking its first steps, I’ve recently created Martini Shot Films. Its goal is to create elevated filmmaking experiences and center female filmmakers and those not often given a voice in the film industry. Read more>>

Emily Olson | Mom, CEO, and Professional Organizer

I have had a few businesses in my life, all with their own reasoning behind them, but Luxe was started both out of a desire to hone in on my more creative side, while also granting myself the freedom I desired to be able to spend quality time with my children as they got older. Coming from a more rigid schedule in the past, being able to set my own hours and to work outside of the times that my children were present or had activities was the primary factor in my decision to start my business. Read more>>

Ju’vette Gray And Demetria Tinsley | Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Mothers, Teachers, and Providers

The thought process behind starting our own business was why not? What is stopping us from carrying on our family’s legacy of owning a business and leaving something behind for our family? We work everyday of our current lives, working for someone else, why not invest the time and energy in our own business. The same inheritance our Grandparents instilled in us when they started many businesses. We have the potential to honor our family legacy while paving the way for future generations. Building our own business could perhaps inspire those around us, showing them that following a dream is not just admirable but achievable. Read more>>

Kaseem Williams | Esthetician & Lash Tech

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be my own boss. As someone who struggled with acne during adolescence, learning about skincare and beauty came naturally to me. Nobody in my family was able to help control my acne, so I had to take matters into my own hands. This led me to try various products and trends that didn’t necessarily help my acne, but they did boost my confidence. Read more>>