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.

DENNIS DUNBAR | Digital Artist/High End Retoucher

I was compelled by something inside to pursue this kind of work. When I was in college I studied Engineering and quickly realized I greatly preferred photography to engineering. As I pursued a career in photography I started to hear of this coming technology, using computers to retouch photos, I felt compelled to do everything I could to learn about this and to find a way to make a career of it. Read more>>

Averie. Turner | Averien Turner/ Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my own business was my independence. Since I was a young man I’ve always wanted to work for myself, just like a saw my father when i was baby. When I able to start my first business at the age of 20 I never looked back. The entrepreneur spirit is in my blood, and I will continue it on with my children. Read more>>

Jessica Spratt | Hair salon owner/ stylist

My thought process for starting my own business was that I worked in so many corporate salons, where I had a conform to what they wanted to do, and the businesses were run on fear, and I wanted to create a salon in an environment and a culture where that wasn’t a thing and so that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t choose to put my name on the wall that I’m calling in Flamingolounge Read more>>

Quincy Ray | Illustrator & LIve Portrait Artist

I knew I had something to offer the world that was unique. Painting Live portraits in my style is something I have never seen before. Read more>>

Miranda OHare | Actor, Voice Actor, Content Creator & Podcaster

We decided to create our podcast Blood, Sweat & Games because both Morgan and myself, although from very different backgrounds (me a voice actor and Morgan, a game developer) both have a similar goal in the industry. Read more>>

Vita Hewitt | Photographer, Film Maker & Conceptual Artist

I picked up a camera at the age of 15 and knew from that moment onward that my life would always be a creative one. I hold a MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in New Genres. Owning my own business as a working artist and photographer made the most sense for me. It allows me the freedom to move between mediums as well as the ability to offer clients a better experience. Read more>>

Joan Mann | Founder of Dr. Milo

It started out as lot of sleepless nights. I was working as a commercial actor in La (like a lot here in LA) I was in the improv classes, going to audition after audition, booking work here and there. But the actual time spent working on the craft on set wasn’t enough to be fulfilling mentally. I needed something more of a challenge and something that would give back to my community. Read more>>

Anthony Palmini | Voice Actor/Video Editor/Video Director/Writer

I always felt that if I could be in control of my own business I could do much more than waiting around for another company to give me a chance to do the things I know I could do. I gave myself the freedom to fail. If i started this business and nothing worked out I could always go back to the normal job since that will always be there. I knew that I needed more time to invest on all the areas that were not creative (networking , building my website and demos) . Read more>>

Abraham Lopez | CEO, Director, Writer, Producer

My thought process with starting my business was to create an entertainment production company like no other where our main focus is collaboration and teamwork. I wanted to provide innovative and serious storytelling about issues that people don’t usually talk about in order to bring to light the things that many people keep hidden. Read more>>

Meggan Kimberley | Owner/ Manager- Prospector Ranch

When I first saw the ranch with my husband I thought there would be some kind of business opportunity here for me to do. I was working at the time as an International sales executive for Lionsgate. They ended up having a series of layoffs an I was in one of them. The timing worked out as we were doing a total remodel on our house. Read more>>

Jennifer Jasmin | Psychotherapist and Entrepreneur

Flexibility, work-life balance, personal fulfillment, and being my own boss. I wanted balance in my work as well as my life. Having my own business has helped me to manage my time wisely. Read more>>

Desiree Cabello | Psychic Medium Artist

Funny enough my business was started on accident. During the pandemic I needed to find a hobby to pass the time and help with my declining mental health. Read more>>

Robert L Jamison, CCM,BHC,PhD | Founder of Alternative Healthcare LA 35 Year Healthcare Provider in Chronic Care Management and Director of Behavioral Health

My thought process of starting my own business was somewhere exciting I was very ambitious as a kid in fact when I was in junior high school in the 8th grade, I was carrying a briefcase to school when an average student will be carrying books in their hands. I was focus on becoming an entrepreneur at the age of 14 years old therefore I work hard for 6 or 7 years afterwards, and I open up my first business that was called Jamison and associate it was an upholstery shop where I contracted staff at that time, they were old enough to be my parents. Read more>>