Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Tyler Gold | Dj/musician

Initially I have always wanted to work for myself after years and years of going above and beyond to prove myself to others in a business. Finally pulling the plug and pushing myself to be a success for myself not for others. Read more>>

Jordan Godfree | Photographer

Honestly, as a young college student I never thought I would own my own business. From the first time I picked up a camera I loved capturing other peoples most special moments, but never thought it could be anything more. After many months of practicing with my camera taking pictures of anything in front of me. Read more>>

Luca Napoleone | Private Chef

After spending many years in the food and beverage industry, I realized I wanted to pursue my dream of owning a business. I spent time contemplating how to make this happen, what steps to take, and how to get started. One day, a VIP guest who frequented the restaurant where I worked as an executive chef asked me to cook for him and his friend at his villa in Dubai for a special event. I accepted the offer.  Read more>>

Manne Williams | Recording Artist & CEO

Honestly, that thought process was, “Do I really want this?” Then it turned into, “Am I really doing this?” Alot of times I am super excited to work through things but often times I get scared to take the first step until I realized the reward is greater than my fear. At that moment, I decide, it’s time to overcome what’s holding me back. Read more>>

 Zachary Whipple | CEO

I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and I always had a love for music. I started a mobile djing service in 2008. This was way before the digital music streaming boom took over and mixtapes was the hottest thing on the market. The one thing about mixtapes was the cd cover artwork that they displayed. Read more>>

Sarah Fisher | Voiceover Artist

After acting on stage and on-camera for a few years, I was cast in an independent film where I narrated my character’s inner thoughts via voice-over. I loved the difference in voice-acting versus on-camera, as voice-acting relies on the actor portraying emotion solely through the voice. After that job, a director saw the film and asked me to narrate her documentary as well. Read more>>  

Sara and Jon Taylor | Tattoo Artist/Owner

I wasn’t planning on opening my own shop but when the opportunity arose I knew I wanted to continue to work for myself and grow my business in a direction I could control. I reached out to my now co-owner about the opportunity and we immediately started to build our new brand and business. Read more>>

Sistas With Businesses | African American Women Entrepreneurs

Mission Statement: Members of SWB Strive to Empower All Women, Especially Women of Color, to seek and follow their natural desire to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors that speak to their talents at all levels; to develop their God given abilities to their fullest potential; Equipping them to excel as Leaders in Business, Community and across all Spheres of Society Read more>>

Ashley Michaelle | Self-Love & Energy Coach

At this point, my business has taken on so many different iterations, but the motivation has remained constant. Capture Your Dream coaching was birthed out of my own personal struggle with self-love and the years-long journey it took to reach unconditional self-acceptance. The vision and purpose of Capture Your Dream coaching is to empower my clients and students to clarify and realize the life of their wildest dreams using the path of least resistance – radical self-love. Read more>>

Adashia Reed | Reiki Practitioner & Educator

At the time, I was working at the post office and I was very hesitant about leaving to pursue reiki but I knew I needed to make a change because I was very unhappy with where I was at. I was very much awakening into my spirituality. I decided to lean more on my spirituality and walk out on faith than to worry about all the things that could possibly go wrong in the process. Once I made the decision, I just dived in head first. It’s been a learning process the whole ride but I wouldn’t change a single thing! Read more>>

Cynthia Hendricks | Owner

We needed to provide a living for our youngest son. He has Asperger’s and he was having difficulty finding and keeping a job. I have friends that had a soft serve shop in Virginia who encouraged me to try the ice cream business. And I love to make ice cream so it was a natural progression. Read more>>

Kelly Wolcott | Licensed Esthetician, CIDESCO Diplomat, ITEC & NCEA Certified

I started my career as an esthetician at a full-service salon and spa providing facial and body services. As my clientele grew, they expressed a desire for more advanced skincare treatments and corrective products to address their specific concerns. I was determined to meet their expectations, which led me to establish WISH Esthetics. This venture has enabled me to provide personalized services, incorporate non-invasive esthetic technology, and offer top-of-the-line clinical skincare products that are essential for granting your skin care WISH, wildly intense skin health. Read more>>

Jennifer Sarrett | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant; Founder & Director of Disruptive Inclusion

As a professor at Emory University whose work focused on inequities in health and society, I became an often called upon resource to provide on-campus trainings related to equity and inclusion. I found this work to be incredibly rewarding; it was all the great things I loved about teaching without the grading! To further explore my interest in this area, I started doing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work with Jennifer Brown Consulting while still as Emory. I felt like I was having the deep and direct impact on the community that I felt somewhat missing in my academic work. Read more>>

Shelsy Elizabeth T. | Fashion/Costume Designer & Actress

So when I decided to go to school for Fashion Design, I knew ultimately I wanted to start my own brand. I always struggled to find clothes that fit well – due to my height and shape – so becoming a designer was really for myself at first. Once I become more involved with the industry as a model and intern, I started to come into more contact with other women that faced my fashion dilemma. Read more>>

Michele Wise | Floral cupcake artist

I was turning 57 and an empty nester, I realized I wanted to do something but couldn’t figure out what to do! Iv always loved baking and gardening so I decided I would merge the two and blossoms by Michele was born! Read more>>

Rick Mayo | Founder and CEO of Alloy Personal Trainining

It’s actually hard to remember as it was 1992! I was a junior in college and simply wanted to create a better customer experience for my clients and avoid traveling between locations as frequently. Read more>>

Nicholas Smith | Car Detailer & Entrepreneur

It all stemmed from getting fired from a job in all transparency. From that point on I decided that I would no longer strive to work for someone else but instead strive to make the most of myself as a person and as a member of society. I got inspired by Pushman Mitch who was and still is a buddy of mine from college when I saw him making major moves in the car rental space and had became a mentor to others. I decided to reach out to him for mentorship and attended a mastermind event he hosted and that basically kicked off my entrepreneurial journey. Read more>>

Rebekah Tchouta | Clinical Director and Founder of Baobab Counseling Center

Ultimately, my goal was to have employment that would allow me the flexibility I needed to be present for my two children in all their milestones, challenges and triumphs. This dream of mine led me to beginning to envision a business of my own that would lend to this flexibility. In the process, it gave me freedom and space to envision vast more opportunities for my own clients. Read more>>

Jasmine Colson | Chef & Esthetician

I’ve always been very independent. I knew that by becoming a successful entrepreneur, I’d be able to write my own rules. It’s extremely important for me to provide financial freedom to myself as well as my family. I know that my business will allow me to cater to my daughters’ needs, financially, mentally and emotionally. Being an entrepreneur teaches my daughter to be independent & brave. Read more>>

Tierra Hudson | Certified Clinical Aromatherapist & Herbalist

I started my business simply because I wanted to be able to share the wonderful world of aromatherapy with my family. At the time my mother had a nut allergy. Alot of essential oil products are diluted with fractionated coconut oil. When I started looking at different products, I realized that coconut oil was used ALOT and she didn’t even know that she was putting it into her body. That is when I got my “Ah Ha” moment. Read more>> 

Bryce Jones | Neo-Expressionist Painter, Creative Director & Fashion Stylist

Genuinely speaking, my thought process behind starting my own business was to create freedom for self. Back in 2018, towards the end of my high school career I started a clothing company. Of course, there were many mistakes made and questions to be asked, but the end goal was to show the world a unique perspective of original cut & sew design. Read more>>

Deeariah King | Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Owner of Lighthouse Therapy & Consulting, PLLC

I’ve always known that I was placed here to support others. As a child, I watched my mom operate a non profit organization to help women and children leave domestic violence living situations. When it was time for me to attend college, I battled between majors but ultimately landed on psychology. Throughout my career, I’ve been able to help hundreds of families but I knew that in order to “do therapy” the way I wanted-I needed to branch out on my own. I’ve successfully built a dedicated clientele, where I’m able display the authentic version of me. Read more>>

Danti Duong | La Joie Flowers floral designer

In a twist of fate, I found myself drawn to the floral design industry and the reason behind establishing La Joie Flowers is also quite serendipitous. I had never imagined before that I would have an interest in flowers and a fondness for floral design as I do now. I started my career as a graphic designer for a small event planning company in Atlanta. Read more>> 

Ryan Anthani | Owner/Operator of STIR Cocktails & Pours

I’ve been in the bartending industry for 10+ years. It’s probably hard to believe, but I started out in the restaurant industry as a Busser, lol. Cleaning tables, picking up plates, sweeping, etc. I worked my way up from then, a host, to server, to Bartender so I’ve seen many sides of the restaurant industry. From there, I began bartending through college, and there after. Read more>>

Trevor Shankman | Chef/owner

I am incredibly self-competitive, so owning and operating a business for me – regardless of the vertical – is primarily a matter of truly testing myself and seeing what I am capable of building. Read more>>

William “Prince” Linton | Tech & Smart Home Automation Expert

Well, the thought to start my own business started from my mom believe it or not aha. I first worked for Apple while attending Florida A&M University sity as an At-Home AppleCare Advisor, so many of my friends and family members would run to me with whatever questions or issues they may have with various devices. Read more>>