Deciding to start a business is an unusual decision. It’s often considered irrational and yet for many it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. So we asked folks to think back to when they were starting their businesses and to tell us about their decision making process.

Mario Romano | Designer, Inventor, Business Leader

With a vision to revolutionize the tile industry, I set out to introduce a disruptive and innovative solution known as M|R Walls. The core concept was to bridge the gap between computer-aided design and digital fabrication, pushing the boundaries of design language for wall surfaces and unlocking new horizons for the artistic potential of tile and stone. Read more>>

Ashley Rawlins | Injury/Accident Attorney a.k.a. Car Crash Ash

When I passed the bar and became an attorney, I already had numerous years of experience in both civil law/litigation and personal injury. My first job at a firm in Southern California was great to start until people started calling asking for money. I quickly realized that there was an issue with the firm. My boss was not paying vendors, clients, doctors, and my pay check had bounced and was late. I realized that this was not a place that I wanted to be. Read more>>

George Yu | Foxhound Fuel Founder

The thought process behind starting Foxhound was to provide recreational and hardcore athletes a reliable nutrition brand that serves their full spectrum of training. Having competed in the Ironman Triathlon a few years ago, I used a ton of sports nutrition to fuel through training and racing, but it was all full of artificial ingredients and horrible taste. Read more>>

Kelsey Willis | Artist: Luxury Wedding and Party Invitations

This is a bit of a wild story that I have never really publically spoken about. I started Grey & Cake five years ago while going through a traumatic divorce. I had been a stay-at-home mom for the previous 5 years. The kind that is always the room parent and co-chairs the auctions – then has champagne lunches before pick-up. It was a good and comfortable life, especially while my husband worked. Read more>>

Adrien Alina | Business lady, DJ, dancer, actress, conceptual artist

I have been working as a lawyer on upscale projects in Europe and here in the U.S., but it never gave me the level of drive I love to experience. Though I succeeded as a young attorney and won prestigious UK Government award Chevening, I still could not manage my career or even my workload as efficiently as I wanted. Finally, having a resume showing excellence in legal career, I still did not build my financial strength. So here we will begin. Read more>>

Tayllor Johnson | Poet | Educator | Writer | Entrepreneur

I decided to start my own business when I realized that I couldn’t be of service sustainably and in a fulfilling way without being fully committed. Teaching poetry, writing curriculum, and organizing community events for women of color in my free time was not enough. I found myself resenting my day job because it was distracting me from what I’ve heard called by others a “soul job,” or a calling. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Read more>>

Owen Garrett | Full-Stack Web Developer, Actor, Voice Over Artist, Mixed Martial Artist, Stand Up Comedian

Starting my own business wasn’t a conscious decision; it was something that happened organically. Initially, I had to become my own employer when I entered the world of voice over acting. As a contractor, I had to not only seek out the work, but also provide the materials with which I could work, such as a phone or recording device and an area to be able to work uninterrupted. Read more>>

Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn | Sex & Relationship Expert, Professor, Coach, and Podcast Host

I started Luvbites because I wanted to help more people understand their sexuality and have a better sex life. Before starting my sex and relationship coaching business, I was a college professor (and I still am). I love teaching positive sex education but I didn’t want to limit the effects to just the classroom so I started my coaching practice in downtown LA. I have helped lots of individuals and couples overcome their sex and relationship issues. Read more>>

Eliot Popkin | Business Coach and Entrepreneur

Such an interesting twist of events… My initial goal was to get more coaching clients. I have been a business coach for 22 years and I love helping business welcome more abundance and find more balance and clarity. When it was not so easy to get new clients, I realized most people on social media don’t really know who I am. Historically, almost all of my clients have been referrals. So, I decided to give myself a challenge: Read more>>

Ramat Wiley | Spice Curator, cook, and culinary creative.

Being in business for myself before opening my spice shop as a freelance food stylist, I’d say this time was a process of figuring out my evolution. After leaving my last gig as a food stylist and watching the corporation’s employees begin walking out with boxes and PCs, I knew it would be a while before more work would come my way. So I sat. I sat with myself for a while, trying to figure out what would happen next. Read more>>

Larry Nguyen and Wendy Tuan | Brand & Graphic Design Specialists

When we first started Outfit, we had just gotten married and we had both worked in senior positions for many years. Our thinking was that before we settle down and have kids, we should probably pursue our dreams and goals and an important one was starting a successful branding studio. Read more>>

Kevin Thornton | Sailing Instructor & Captain

The idea for L.A. Sailing came to us on a Catalina crossing in 2013. At the time we had a small group that sailed every Thursday and thought that our hands-on, repetition-based approach to instruction would be a great way to get people on the water regularly without the hassles of boat ownership. Read more>>

Salar Sheik | Founder at Savory Hospitality Restaurant Consulting

You must understand the lows of starting your own business. How much you will need to get up and running, and how long are you able to go without a payday. Some months are big wins but others are just a struggle . I feel this is common with many start ups. Read more>>

Desiree Dupuis | Founder & Creator

I have an entrepreneurial spirit, I had been running my own businesses for 10 years and VOES was created as a solution to a problem I had been personally facing as a vegan woman. When I learnt about the atrocity of the animal agriculture industry in 2008 I stopped eating and wearing animal products. Over time, I began to be increasingly frustrated and disappointed with the lack of options for designer footwear not made with leather or suede. Read more>>

Amber Beaugard | Photographer

One of the first thoughts I had when I started my own photography business was “I could do this myself”. Working for retail studios where their bottom line was quantity over quality services rubbed me the wrong way. For me photography is really an art and a love. Photography is a tool to express yourself or to help tell others stories in a beautiful and meaningful way that will last forever. So for me having a passion for photography fueled me to start my own business and help create a more unique experience for each of my clients. Read more>>

Nikki Neurohr | Actress & Writer

I’ve always loved creating stories. Ever since I was able to speak, I was crafting stories – from creating dramatic scenarios with Barbies and The Sims, to writing and performing in comedy sketches with my sister and friends – it’s 100% been in my blood since the beginning. Read more>>

Dayana Espinoza | Entrepreneur & Actor

It is always scary to start your own business, especially when you know the risks involved. I graduated from college as an Industrial Engineer and decided to leave everything behind in my country, Peru, to pursue an acting career. The road was challenging at the beginning and continues to do so, but the satisfaction of knowing that you’re working toward something you always wanted is indescribable. Read more>>