Step one is deciding to start

The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Ocelotlcuauhtli Tellez | Musician and Student

I’ll replace business with band for this question. I started my guitar journey a couple months after graduating high school and continued practicing throughout college. During the pandemic I put quarantine time to use and spent lots of time practicing and listening to music daily. I dove into the work of Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Santana, and Miles Davis, just to name a few. Each played in groups of their own, where each player contributes something special to the music. Read more>> 

Arielle Ross | Founder and CEO of Relevation Beauty

I consider myself to be very impact driven. I fell in love with makeup when I was in the 5th grade. It was a whole new world of colors, textures, creativity and art. With time, lots of practice and a few willing test subjects, I improved upon my craft. People started to notice that I had a talent for makeup application and began asking me to do their makeup for school dances and prom. Eventually, the caliber of event grew and I found myself doing makeup for photoshoots, campaigns, influencers and celebrities. Read more>> 

Pamela Maria De La Luz | The Tequila Lady

AgaveLuz Organic Tequila: Honoring Tradition, Crafting Purity Tell us more about your business. What sets you apart from others?\AgaveLuz Organic Tequila is more than just a tequila brand; it’s a commitment to preserving the authentic craftsmanship that makes tequila a symbol of Mexican heritage. What sets us apart is our unwavering dedication to producing 100% organic, additive-free tequila using only two ingredients: the finest blue Weber organic agave and pure spring water. Read more>>

Cheryl Han | Southern California Wedding Photographer

From a young age, my parents always encouraged me to push beyond my boundaries and “think outside of the box”. After graduating college with a STEM degree and working in the corporate industry at a regular 9-5 for 3 years, I knew for a fact that I didn’t want to work for someone else. I dreaded the lifestyle of clocking my hours and sitting in traffic just to make a minimum wage to get by every month. Read more>>

Antonio Fungairino | Film Director & Writer

I, along with other friends and filmmakers, founded Kettlemaker, a production company focused on collaboration through low-budget film production/festivals. The idea came to me after 2 or so years of living in Los Angeles and feeling like I still was waiting to do what I came here to do: make films. At the time, I was reading a book on Rainer Werner Fassbinder. His intensely productive approach to filmmaking is sort of the genesis for this whole thing. Make films now however you can. The name Kettlemaker comes from an early Fassbinder film: Katzelmacher. Read more>>

Arlene Salinas | Tattooer & Shop Owner

Originally, owning a shop wasn’t part of my ‘tattoo-plan’. I didn’t want the responsibility that comes with owning a shop. Being a shop owner just made sense for me. During COVID I acquired a small street front unit in the same city where I live; Norwalk. I live with a chronic neurological disorder and commuting is tricky so being close to home insures I can tattoo more often and still be close enough to be available for my kids. Ive been tattooing for almost 16 years now in Los Angeles. Read more>>

Eskinder | Ayda Zewdu | Biru | Co-Founders, Balè Moya

We started Balè Moya out of a place of necessity. We needed a hub to learn about Ethiopian food and coffee culture so that we could preserve recipes and culinary traditions – and that hub didn’t exist! The preservation of culture in diaspora communities is something we deeply believe in so it made perfect sense to start with our own culture. Our aim is to present the culture in ways that both our parents and peers can be proud of. Read more>> 

Jenny Bowler | Matchmaker & Dating Coach

I never thought I would become a matchmaker! In my 20s I always wanted to start my own business, but the idea of putting my name and face out there for the world to see (and judge) was terrifying. I was lucky to have a supportive partner at that time who encouraged me, and after realizing I was not getting hired to manage events and programming (but being a social connector and event coordinator myself anyway), the thought of creating a business out of a pain point in my community became more tangible. Read more>>

Frank Muniz | Forest Therapy Guide & Digital Producer

I believe a key part of business at its most basic level is providing something people want or need. In the case of forest therapy, it’s about not convincing, but gently showing people that it’s something they should want and do need. Read more>>

Ricasso Aretist | Musician/Designer

Of course my main thought process is how I can express my myself through my business while staying original. Read more>>

Joey Gore | Model and Personal Trainer

My goal was to help as many people as possible. Read more>>

Iqbal Rahmatullah | Illustrator

I am a person who does not like to be controlled. So the only way I could think of to earn money at that time was to become a freelancer. And at the beginning of the year it was very difficult because I had to find connections, buyers and clients. With only my drawing skills, I started to learn things about business. Read more>>

Ana Leyva | Marketing Strategist & Business Consultant

I come from a cultural mindset where the only way to be successful is by having a university degree and a fancy job title. So I did! I got a degree in Business & Marketing, worked for Fortune 500 companies, moved up to work with the government. I was good at climbing the ladder! Read more>>

Corey Weiss | Entrepreneur, Brand Builder, Strategist

When I embarked on the journey of starting my own business, two pivotal thoughts guided my decision. First, I was driven by a passion for innovation and disintermediation. Throughout my career, I’ve been deeply invested in harnessing technology to reshape consumer behavior and create more direct and efficient connections between people and the solutions they need. I saw an opportunity to disrupt the status quo and pioneer new ways of thinking, which fueled my entrepreneurial spirit. Read more>>

Ben Spielberg | Neuroscientist & Entrepreneur

Starting my own business certainly wasn’t my first choice. I would have much preferred being part of an interdisciplinary, integrative mental health facility, but there just weren’t any that existed at the time that I founded Bespoke Treatment. Since one didn’t exist, I figured the next best thing was to start my own. I had a loose financial model that seemed to indicate that this could be a viable business, but at the end of the day, I knew that people were suffering and I wanted to do what I could to help them. Read more>>

Zair Montes | Actress, Producer, Writer

I really wanted to take control over my career and my journey as an actress and film producer. My thinking process was to create those opportunities for me and others that I wasn’t getting from the industry. I wanted to play different roles and write and produce more authentic content. That made us create Golden Ceiba Productions, which gave me the opportunity to not just work doing what I love but to learn about production, postproduction, writing and many other things that are so pivotal in the film industry. Read more>>

Ab Lieberman | CEO of the world’s firs TikTok Influencer Marketing Agency

At that time, I had begun taking on freelance work, and I noticed a recurring demand from companies: they wanted me to find content creators who could produce daily content for their platforms. Seeing this as an opportunity, I decided to turn it into a full-fledged business! Read more>>

Pierre Diamond Chambers | Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur at heart, I always felt out of place in the traditional 9-5 work environment. Clocking in and working for someone else never resonated with me. I found myself constantly critiquing not just the tasks at hand, but also the overall operations and management. My focus has always been on perfection and maintaining good energy, values that aren’t always prioritized in the typical workplace. Read more>>

Rex Ogle | Award-winning author of books, comics, and graphic novels

As far back as I can remember, I’ve been in love with stories. Movies, TV shows, and of course, printed books and comics. By the age of 5, I was making up my own stories. Whether I was playing with toys or making up ghost stories for sleepovers, my brain was always trying to invent new narratives.
Once I became a teenager, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life–I wanted to write. Read more>>

Stacey Skordas | Designer

I wanted to produce something I couldn’t find anywhere else. I had some free time on my hands and a penchant for creativity, so I set out to create a fun and useful beach bag for myself. That first summer I created a personal bag… that would eventually become the first “Salvage Sac”. I would wear it around at the beach and everyone would ask me where i got it… so i set out to making more. And the rest is history! Read more>>

Reena Gauchan | Retail Owner

I came to USA to study but land of doing business. I always liked interacting and meeting people also I loved creativity, curating, arts and crafts and so what better way to meet people then work in retail. I also needed to work since I just became a single mom. My determination and motivation came from my son and lack of resources and the situation we were in led me to connect with a friend who wanted to start a store so he asked me to help start a business. I helped him for about two years after that I wanted to start and focus on my goal of doing my own. Read more>>

Morrisa Jenkins | Owner- Founder

Freedom Apothecary was born from a vivid dream. After running my body care e-commerce business, Meaux Moisture, for three years and while pregnant with my second daughter, I was feeling burnt out and searching for a deeper sense of purpose. The dream was so clear, from the decor to the name. The next morning, I began the journey to create Freedom Apothecary, and I haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Charlotte Bickley | Content Creator & Editor at Large for the Daily Front Row

I remember joining Instagram in November 2010, when only a few people were on the platform or even knew about it. This coincided with my time at Syracuse. With my love for photos and style, it felt like the perfect place to showcase my personal aesthetic throughout college. I mixed my normal clothes with cute spins on tailgate fits. Read more>>

Marie Fiorin | Author and Jewelry Designer

The creation of Leni James Jewelry is the culmination of my lifelong passions and experiences. I’ve always been deeply connected to both the luxury and spiritual worlds, which at first glance, seem like separate spheres. However, for me, these two worlds always been intertwined. My career began in Milan as a fashion stylist and expanded into roles in tv and radio, where I worked with top designers and brands. Read more>> 

Mike Norice | Artist

My thought process wasn’t hard at all. I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was a child. I knew that obtaining my own business would be the only way That I can achieve my goals in life. Read more>>

Esra Aslan | Founder of www.befragil.com

My motivation was to create a brand that reminds women of the strength in our feminine traits and the perfection in being ourselves. I believe we are at our best when nurtured, and that a thriving woman leads to a thriving community. As a third-generation agricultural woman who grew up living off the land, I longed to craft feminine care products that honor ancient wisdom. Learning the art of cold-pressed herbs and botanicals, I knew I had to use timeless formulas. Read more>>

Anna Goetz | Creator and Owner of ADG Mercantile

I first started ADG Mercantile when I wanted a sticker of my favorite baseball player, Kiké Hernández, and I couldn’t find one anywhere. After searching all over Etsy, Amazon, Redbubble, and Google I decided to make it myself. Feeling proud of the outcome I posted photos of it to my instagram and to my surprise several people wanted that sticker as well. Read more>>

Nora Fiffer | Film and Theatre Director

My creative and professional life changed a great deal when I became a mother. When my newborn napped in our tiny apartment, I perfected the art of the Silent Run. There were a million things I had to do — very quietly — and I had no idea how much time I’d have to do them. Delirious, I glided through the house until I heard cries. I felt far from old friends but didn’t identify with other new moms. Read more>>

George Lambriodes & Liz Bezler

George: When we met, we knew what we had was special. It’s rare to find 2 people who not only can connect and compliment each other perfectly in the traditional relationship-sense, but also in a working-sense! While most couples probably wouldn’t dare work with each other, for us it just felt like the right thing to do… Read more>>

Coco Franklin

When I first started posting skate content online, back in 2016 I was living in Germany and wanted to teach roller skating full time for a living. I was teaching weekly yoga classes and handstand workshops at the time, but really wanted to put my focus towards roller skating, so I did and never looked back! Read more>>

Daija Moore-Evans

I wanted to help small business owners with their social media presence. There is so much clientele and money on social media and there are great businesses who are missing out because they don’t promote themselves online. Read more>>

Taylor Smith

When I founded Boomhaus Creative Agency, the journey began not in the marketing realm but as a boutique record label in the mid-2000s. At that time, the music industry was undergoing a seismic shift toward digital platforms, and our mission was to help emerging artists navigate this new landscape and get their music heard. As we worked closely with these artists, it became clear that success in this evolving industry required more than just great music; it demanded a strong, personal brand and strategic marketing. Read more>>

Jillian Zrihen

I wanted to develop a career in trendsetting, image-building, and meaningful collaborations. I envisioned creating a dynamic agency renowned for its expertise in crafting and executing creative public relations and marketing strategies. My goal was to deliver a high-quality, dedicated service that mirrors the commitment of a full-time employee. Read more>>

Andre Robinson (Know as DJ Deaf Tunez)

Since I started becoming DJing in 2015 and I realized it takes a lot of time to build your business and my brand. It’s understandable that take a lot of time to make it work if I want to stay consistently. I have to go out meet new people, giving out to my business card to stranger. Making my own mixes, meet DJs, promoters, checking out their events and vibing. It’s important that we have to think outside of the box as DJ. Read more>>

Stefany Gonzalez

When I initially began my business venture, it was partly because I wasn’t exactly thriving as an employee. Armed with a Master of Architecture, I landed a job at a real estate development firm. Although I enjoyed the work, my mind often wandered to dreams of owning a home furnishings store. Driven by this vision, I took the plunge. Within months of leaving my job, I opened my home furnishing store in NY’s Meatpacking District. Read more>>

Emily Kelly

I started my own production company called Wolflion Studios when I was 16 years old, and I am so glad that I did. As a kid, I absolutely loved to run around my house with a camera, recording home movies with my little sister. Over time, I became known as the “film-kid” at school. If anyone needed video work or wanted to make a movie for fun, they came to me! I had my own camera, could edit special effects on my computer, and had a blast doing it! Read more>>

Mohammed Bility

At MOHBILITY, our vision is to empower businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide with the knowledge, strategies, and technologies needed to excel in today’s global marketplace. We are dedicated to fostering growth, innovation, and sustainability. MOHBILITY is an interconnected, forward-thinking collaborative company created to assist organizations with establishing metrics for sound digital marketing practices and engaging in mobile marketing strategies to achieve successful IT governance and Technology Investment advisory compliance. Read more>>

Ashish Fernando

Superbikes are like toys for adults and carbon fiber (CF) parts are like jewellery for superbikes. My thought process behind starting Turn1 was driven by my passion for superbikes and a desire to provide high-quality carbon fiber parts for the biking community. Apart from being durabile, lightweight, and aesthetically pleasing, CF parts can significantly improve a bike’s speed and handling. Read more>>

Jenny Ponzuric

I spent years working within the public school system, and while I loved working with students, families, and my site-specific staffs, I became increasingly passionate about ways to support schools beyond the ones I was assigned to. I had some great opportunities to create workshops for the district based on some of the work my school site teams and I had done. This fueled my desire to reach more schools and find more ways to make system-wide changes. The turning point came when the demand for my workshops generated considerable interest. Read more>>

Alexx Kesh

I grew up in a household where my parents owned their own businesses, so entrepreneurship was in my DNA. From a young age, I was always creating and selling things—whether it was inflatable translucent backpacks, lanyard keychains, or rhinestone bandanas. That early exposure to both creativity and business laid the foundation for my passion for brand-building.  Read more>>

Neil Miguel, Veronica Watson, Smith

Neil: Ive always been passionate about telling visual stories. Even if they were not mine, I still wanted to be a part of the experience as well as shape it. When I partnered with Veronica, I saw another person with my same passion for creating projects that reflected our core and were infused by our love for cinema. Since it’s incredible hard to get a film made in Hollywood, we decided we would make our own. Read more>>

Anuja Mohla

After I had my son, I realized the importance of both passive and active passage of one’s heritage to the next generation. As a mom with a full-time job as a physician as well as studying to obtain a MBA, I attempt to converse with my son in Hindi and Punjabi. However, it has certainly been more challenging than I thought.  Read more>>

Chloë Chevalier Palmer

When I started working on Sacré in 2020, it was during the height of the COVID pandemic. I had flown back to my parents’ house in Burkina Faso, and while shopping for toiletries, I noticed that the stores were filled with European brands. The few African brands available lacked proper certifications and were often handmade in someone’s kitchen, which made me hesitant to trust their quality. This realization ignited a fire in me. Read more>>

SJ Grundon

My journey into entrepreneurship began as a flea market vendor, where I spent years understanding customer preferences, market trends, and the importance of community in a business setting. I eventually expanded to running my own shop, which deepened my experience in managing a business, building customer relationships, and curating a space that people wanted to return to. Read more>>

RAJIB KARMAKAR

The establishment of the Los Angeles International Music and Arts Academy (LAIMACADEMY) was driven by the fundamental goal of advocating and safeguarding Indian classical music on a worldwide platform. Through the passage of time, I have come to recognize the paramount importance of imparting my expertise and capabilities to impassioned students. My primary ambition is to furnish a forum for nurturing budding musicians and directing them towards the mastery of the complexities inherent in Indian classical music. Read more>>