We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Diana

Starting Go Fit Journey was driven by my passion for fitness, wellness, and empowering women to embrace their full potential. I wanted to create a space where women could connect on a deeper level, not just through fitness but in all areas of life. It was about building a community that nurtures emotional, mental, and physical growth. Read More>> 

Dani Winget

Mercurial Star Creations started as a creative container for me— an all-encompassing opportunity for my self expression to produce something that speaks to people. To be Mercurial is to be ever changing, sometimes brooding and moody with the constant inner shifting going on. Read More>>

Juan José “El Gringo” Orlandon

When my father, Juan, first started grilling—or doing “asados”—in 2009, he wasn’t thinking about starting a business. As a recent immigrant from Argentina, he simply did what felt authentic and natural to him. He didn’t conduct market research or draft a formal business plan. Instead, he instinctively recognized that the Argentinean community in Los Angeles longed for a taste of home and a way to celebrate gaucho culture. Read More>>

Katy Rexing

I never intended to have an online wellness business or become a “wellness influencer” (in fact, I almost cringe at that phrase). It all happened organically. I was a chef before having my four kids, and after years of being “home” as a mom, I wanted to have a creative outlet, so I started a small food blog. Read More>>

Yvonne Cottage

Over 16 years ago I found myself climbing the corporate ladder. As I climbed higher I eventually saw the glass ceiling and I could not get through. I found myself questioning my existence in the corporate world and pondered how much of an impact I was actually making in the world. Read More>>

Rudi Heshmatazad

It began with a question: What could I possibly offer to someone I love who is going through the unthinkable? Back in 2018, a dear friend of mine was in the middle of a courageous battle with cancer. Read More>>

Christopher Underwood

Our thought process was having complete freedom over our time and finances. It’s harder to have that working a job. Read More>>

Leonardo Perez

My thought process behind starting my own business, was honestly talking to myself, and just filling my head with all the wonders of how I can turn this small little hobby into an entire career. Just like the majority of photographers when they first started, all it took was just sitting down on the computer and doing the loads and loads of insane research on photography and the business side of things. Read More>>

Bibi Goldstein

When the business originally began in 2007 it was actually a personal assistant service so we were doing more physical work like grocery shopping, dry cleaning pick-up/drop-off, dog walking, car service drop-off things that busy professionals couldn’t get to during the week and didn’t want to spend their weekends doing. Read More>>

Kareem & Donna Davis

k davis the hitman –
i wanted to be my own boss and create jobs for others that really need work

donna sagna music –
I was answering a call from God that led me to becoming an entreprenuer Read More>>

Bryan Mirabella

To be completely independent and never to work for anyone ever again Read More>>

Ye Wang

My passion for fashion started like most people’s—with an interest in styling myself. But what truly led me to create clothing was my unique perspective on New York’s underground fashion scene. Read More>>

Layla Zhuqing Ji , Jason Choi (aka Best Favorite)

Layla: I am a full-time filmmaker, so at the beginning of all of this, I was really just fresh out of a chaotic and sort of toxic environment from the movie industry, and seeking something comforting to do in-between projects. Read More>>

Maricela Lucero

I’ve always loved capturing beautiful moments for families, especially during the life-changing transition of pregnancy and parenthood. This phase of life is fleeting, and I want to help preserve those precious moments. Read More>>

Ksenia Smirnova

I started my business after struggling to find sustainable, body-friendly clothing for dancers that worked for everyday city life too—I discovered a problem and decided to solve it. I was curious if I could keep everything, including manufacturing, right here in my hometown of Los Angeles. Read More>>

Alexis ONESTAS

I’m from France, and I grew up in the neighborhoods of the Paris region. I’ve always looked for examples of successful entrepreneurs who looked like me. I read The Tanning of America by Steve Stoute—it deeply inspired me and changed my life. Read More>>

Damali McDowell

I was raised around business owners my whole life. My paternal grandmother owned 3 businesses, and put all of her kids through private catholic boarding school because of her work ethic. Read More>>

Peter Joseph

I’ve got a servant’s heart, and I’ve spent 24 years working in the nonprofit sector, taking care of the people in my community. My family moved around a lot, so I decided to find a more stable and financially secure situation to take care of them. Read More>>

Sal Santoro

When we first considered opening The Crooked Path, a lot of people cautioned us against it—“Brick and mortar is dead,” they’d say. But my wife (then fiancée) and I kept coming back to this vision of creating a welcoming, hands-on environment for practitioners of every level. We wanted a space that showcased unique products—often made by local artisans like us—and where customers could truly explore and connect with the craft in person. Read More>>

Angelo

Starting Sunlight Media wasn’t something I planned out from day one—it happened organically. For over 20 years, I was a professional musician, touring and performing regularly. In between shows, flights and sound-checks, there was a lot of downtime, so I started building websites for the bands I played with and other bands & musicians I knew. At first, it was just a way to stay productive and creative between gigs. Read More>>

Alla Lazareva

I’ve always known that I wanted to build something of my own—something with meaning, impact, and a signature style. This isn’t my first venture; it’s a journey I’ve been on for a long time. I have a deep passion for creating ideas and turning them into reality, and I trust my intuition when it comes to anticipating emerging trends. Read More>>

Felipe Pimentel Carneiro

minded individuals. My goal is to create something that reflects my unique vision of the world—something that not only serves as a personal outlet for my creativity but also makes a meaningful impact on others. Read More>>

Kim Doner

I worked in corporate jobs prior to becoming a Realtor and would always work for someone else as if I owned the company. I use to work overtime without pay and simply care WAY too much. Read More>>

Iryna Telminova

Crochet has been my hobby from the very beginning. And most of all I liked crocheting toys. I gave them to my family and friends and colleagues at work. But only when I went on maternity leave, I gathered courage and decided that my handiwork can be appreciated by others. I sold my first toy for one dollar. Read More>>

R.K. Ashwick

In publishing, you have two main paths to choose from: the traditional route and the self-publishing route.

The traditional route is full of a lot of if’s. You can publish if an agent believes in your work, if an editor likes your book, if the publishing house is willing to make a deal… And it’s not just if’s. The traditional process takes time, with no guarantee your manuscript will see the light of day in the end. Read More>>

Wagner Lima

Life is short , cars , houses , money , status , don’t mean anything , when you die you won’t take it with you , the most important thing in your life is how profound was your journey here , thats how I would like to be remembered , as someone who had a profound journey here , someone who was spreading love. Read More>>

Monique Gagnier Robinson

After more than two decades in the entertainment industry leading large-scale digital initiatives and working with some of the most recognized media companies I reached a pivotal point of reflection. Read More>>

Katrina Galera

I started Island Honey in the middle of the pandemic as a creative outlet. I initially started this project as a hobby, which then quickly grew into a small business with hopes to open my own studio shop in the future. Read More>>

Deborah Pisaro

After two decades in real estate, I realized I wanted to build something that felt more personal—something that combined everything I love: storytelling, design, strategy, and community. Read More>>