Decision Makers Series: to start or to not to start

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.

Ivanna Demianiuk | Artist. CEO of DANAVI ART

It’s all very simple. I’ve always been a creative person, but at some point, I realized I wanted to turn my passion into a professional career. Art is not just a hobby; it’s a full-fledged business. It requires a clear strategy, the ability to analyze the market, build relationships with clients and partners. My previous business experience, which is more than 10 years, has given me the necessary skills for this. I saw how my paintings were in demand in a narrow circle, and I realized that there was huge potential for growth. I want to not just sell my work, but create a community around it, develop my brand. That was my main motivation to start. Read more>>

Renée Ortiz | Artist, Gallery Owner, and Professor

Late-ish in life I went back to art school (SCAD) to at last earn my MFA in painting. I began my MFA thesis work with the concept of invisible women. My point of departure was Henri Lefebvre’s Critique of Everyday, in which he noted that choosing to study the everyday sets it apart, so it is no longer everyday. Applying this theory to my work, I began painting myself as well as other invisible women. By noticing them, hearing their stories, and responding in paint, my hope was to remove their invisibility. Read more>>

Mic Reed | Wellbeing Coach

My thought process was I wanted to create a platform that could live online where if someone wanted to find a story about a certain mental health topic they could find that on my show and hopefully get a Take-A-Way from listening to someone else’s story who might be going through a similar if not the same situation. Read more>>

John Houck | Artist

My first career was in software, and I imagined I would start a tech company, but my art career took off around 2010 and to keep up with the sudden interest in my artwork I had to start thinking of the business side of running an art studio. The art market is all about indirection and obfuscation regarding money and its taboo to mention business in graduate school so there’s little preparation for artists if their career suddenly takes off. Fortunately, my first career as a software engineer prepared me for the more quantitative aspects of running a business. Read more>>

Tyreek Gaynor-fray | Entrepreneur & Traveler

I started my business to tackle a significant problem I noticed in the market while also creating a sustainable income for myself. I identified a gap where customers were struggling to find effective solutions to their needs, and I felt compelled to step in and provide a better alternative. By developing a product/service that directly addresses this issue, I not only aim to make a positive impact on people’s lives but also to build a profitable venture. I believe that by solving this problem, I can create value for my customers, which in turn will drive the success of my business and ensure its growth. Read more>>

Wali Muhammad | Owner of Dubb’s Organic Coffee

You have to understand the amount of work that goes into creating a successful business. When times are slow or bad and no paying out . But with consistency and a good product you can have a great business. Read more>>

Vahagn Stepanyan | Billboard #1 artist, Award-winning music producer, songwriter, composer

As an endorser for many companies, I frequently receive offers to review products. However, I wanted to keep my review videos separate from my music videos. That’s why I decided to launch a second YouTube channel, which has shown impressive results just a few months after its start. Read more>>

Kaleel Joy | Hair & Lifestyle Enthusiast

The thought process behind starting my own business initiated when I graduated college and took a job in Elementary Education in Dallas, TX. I was paid to move to Dallas to teach as the city needed more African American male teachers. For the longest, I thought I was following my dreams of being a teacher, however, I was following the dreams of my god-sister who I shadowed in teaching majority of my life. She made it look so cool, fun, and effortless. I loved that attribute about her and thought I would do the same in life. Read more>>

Victor Manuel De Luis Alonso | C.E.O. in 3D Render Estudio / Skateboarder

When I discovered what I am truly passionate about, which is the world of 3D, apart from my passion for skateboarding, I saw a new world that allowed me to create without limitations and that was the trigger to start learning on my own and create my own 3D and visual effects company. Over time, everything I imagined came true, forged through very hard work every day in an unconditional way to achieve what I wanted. Read more>>

Kendall Alexabdria | Filmmaker, Actor, Author & Founder of Actors Jumpstart University

I’ve always knew there was something deep inside of me that was way bigger than me. My experiences in life have given me a unique edge as an actor, filmmaker, author and business owner. And you get to a point in life when you no longer want to beg to sit at a table that you can create. When you do this, you are also now able to give other people a chance to grow in their craft thru what you created! Read more>>

Jeffrey Berk | Estate Organizer

Digital Life Advisors started when my father, a retired Attorney, who was going into the hospital for lung cancer surgery, decided he wanted an inventory of all his digital and physical property – his passwords, account information, documents, photos and everything else on his computer in addition to his physical possessions. My mother is not tech-savvy so he wanted to make sure that if something happened to him, she could access all their information. He also wanted to make sure that his digital legacy – his writings, photos and videos – would be able to be passed on to my family and me in an efficient way. But he couldn’t find anyone who could help him. Read more>> 

Yusif Jnr Meizongo

In an era dominated by mass-produced scents, there is an increasing appreciation for the artistry behind unique, high-quality perfumes. Maison Yusif stands out as Ghana’s first niche fragrance house, proudly based in Accra. Under the expert guidance of Yusif Meizongo Jr., the master perfumer and head of creatives, the brand meticulously manages the packaging, assembly, curation, and creation of its exquisite fragrances. Read more>>

Wallace May

I went to school for art, but after college, I decided to pursue music instead. When the pandemic started, our band couldn’t play shows anymore, and it came to a halt. I had been painting in my free time, and my wife suggested I try putting my work on Instagram. Overtime I began to get commissions. I didn’t really think of it as a business for a long time since it seemed like a long shot, but after a couple of years, it turned into a full-time job. In order to grow it as a business, I had to really put myself out there in a way that I wasn’t used to. Promoting yourself can feel icky but I found it to be so helpful in getting people’s attention. Sometimes you have to let yourself get uncomfortable. Read more>>

Jonathan Lucero

Seeing that I’m a fan of surfing, skating, the 90’s era, and automotive car culture – I found myself always wanting to bridge the gap between all of them. Having a background working as a Video Game Concept Artist – illustrating this niche vision in my free time always had me wanting to turn it into a reality. Read more>>

Kayla Weiss Bumblis

My thought process to my business is to elevate professional threading by incorporating modern techniques into this ancient art form. With my background as a cosmetologist, I want to help clients and other artists understand all the benefits of how threading is elite over all other hair removal techniques for the face. Read more>>

Finn Wijatno Architects, LLP Sean Finn & Finche Wijatno

After 15 years of running both a hospitality studio and a multi-family studio at our former office, we grew weary of the inevitable repetition and overwhelming scale of multi-family projects. We started FinWij in 2018 to pursue smaller, more interesting projects and do the work we got into architecture to do: find creative solutions and mind the details. We do lots of restaurants, hotel renovations, retail and custom residential projects, but we’ve also been pleasantly surprised by some unusual design briefs that have come our way. Read more>> 

Nathaniel Ancheta

My thought process behind starting Art In Residence, really came from a search for home—a sense of belonging, community, and place. After grad school, I felt a bit lost and disconnected, and I found myself being drawn back to my hometown in the Antelope Valley. This was a place I once resented but, with time, I started to see its potential rather than its emptiness. I had always recognized the artistic gap within the region and felt strongly that it could be a place where creativity can thrive. Read more>>

Andréa Mororo

More than ever, people are rediscovering who they are by diving into their roots to connect to the unique parts of themselves and stylists are seeking a space that supports their niche to empower their clients’s journey to create an authentic experience. Sometimes this road can feel lonely for a talented entrepreneur with a vision and I acknowledge the power in making connections. I wanted to bridge all of this together in a harmonious way for all of us to co-create. I find this to be a sustainable way to contribute to an industry that is ever changing with the times. I am happy to create a business that reflects the diverse beauty we see in our world and serve the curl community of Los Angeles with excellence. Read more>>

Formal Entertainment

My passion for music and audio runs deep. I love perfecting sound quality, whether it’s comparing microphones, testing speakers, or designing sound systems. I could spend countless hours on it. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed many audio/visual companies lack this same passion, often overcharging and delivering poor customer service and presentation. Read more>>

Mike McDaniel

My business came together sort of organically; I didn’t set out for it to become a business. But products I was making for myself had demand and buyers found me and wanted to purchase them. I’d make a few sets of our flagship product—Monster Straps—and sell them at races and events right out of my vehicle. I constantly had to keep making more; first 12 pairs, then 25, then 50 pairs at a time. At some point it just made sense to form an LLC, figure out volume manufacturing, and get a webstore running to handle the flow of orders. Read more>>

Andrew Ruiz

My thought process behind starting my own business was deeply personal. After the passing of my niece in May 2023, I began creating flower arrangements as a way to memorialize her in a beautiful way at home. As I made more arrangements, I realized how much I loved floral design and really began to see it as a potential career path for myself. Read more>>

Fritz Wolmarans

I’ve been a tennis professional all my adult life and as i was getting older i realized that it would be very difficult for me to rely on my physical body to continue to work at the same level for years to come. My hope was to pursue something where I didn’t solely have to rely on my body or my own physical presence 100% of the time but where my natural skills and abilities could translate. An opportunity came up to get involved in the coffee industry and since i already enjoyed coffee and had an entrepreneurial spirit I jumped at the chance. Read more>>

Karen Versace

My thought process behind starting my own business came from the desire to create my own strategies to genuinely help others. When you work for someone else, you’re limited by their approach, and I had so many ideas I believed could make a real difference. I also wanted the freedom to work on my terms, manage my own time, and, on a lighter note, ditch the uniform and be stylish every day! Read more>>

Dr. Betsy Blackard

To be honest, my main thought in becoming a parenting coach was, “This has to get out into the world.” When I was a child, my mother became a parenting coach using the wisdom she gained from a world-renowned play therapist and her own years of experience. As I grew up, I gravitated toward jobs in preschools and other childcare settings, where I could use the knowledge she passed along. In these care settings, parents constantly asked us care providers for advice and support. I saw how lost parents were, and how badly they wanted to do a good job. Read more>>

Eric Mauries

The calling to start Black Bird Records sprouted from a deep-seated passion for music, one that began long before I ventured into the realm of recording and producing. Throughout my life, music has always been more than just notes and rhythms; it’s been a conduit for emotions, a means of storytelling, and, above all, an outlet for creativity. However, as I immersed myself in the industry, I witnessed how many talented artists struggled to find platforms that would allow them to truly express themselves without compromise. Read more>>

Connor Thomas

I never set out to start a business, it sprung out of the work of amazing people who came onboard a single project. I was burnt out at my dream office job in the center of the entertainment industry and felt like I was wasting away. When I got out of that situation in March of ’24 I felt completely crushed and could barely stand to look at job postings. So my business/producing partner, Errol Ryan, and I decided to make a short film called ILLUMINATED. Read more>>

Mick & Mike Mahan

Mick: We’ve always had a love for pizza. Being in the music business all my life, I started seeing a change which prompted looking towards another dream… Creating something stable for my two sons, Mike & Gianni and having another creative outlet. They are very involved in the business and I couldn’t be happier. Meeting so many great people in the pizza industry made me realize it was about sharing knowledge and good spirit rather than being competitive. They quickly became our colleagues, not competitors. Read more>>

Mayra Zuniga

I decided to start my own balloon business as a means to bring in additional income, and as a reason to bring joy and celebration to families. We were in the middle of a pandemic, and many people missed out on celebrations, which led to an increase in balloon deliveries. With much of the world in lock-down and suddenly having extra time on our hands to explore new hobbies, I found the the craft of Luxury Balloons! I immediately began learning as much as I could and in the process found that I truly had a passion for it. Balloons bring lots of joy and big smiles, which is instant gratification for a Balloon Artist! Working with balloons has allowed me to create enjoyable and memorable party experiences, and a means to deliver happiness to my clients! Read more>>

Arlen Mark

Starting my own photography business in LA after 10 years in the industry felt like the natural next step in my journey. Over the years, I’ve honed my craft, built a strong portfolio, and developed a unique style that reflects my passion for capturing moments. I’ve always been driven by a love for storytelling through imagery. The bustling creative scene in LA also inspired me; I wanted to contribute to that energy by offering something fresh and authentic. After extensive planning and research, I took the leap. The desire for independence and the excitement of bringing my vision to life motivated me to create a space where I could connect with clients, tell their stories, and push my artistic boundaries. Now, I’m dedicated to building relationships and crafting images that leave a lasting impact. Read more>>

Skipp Townsend

My thought process behind starting my own business was the hardship of me not being able to pass a background check. I didn’t feel as though my resume was impressive and I wanted to combat the unfair hiring processes of those affected by the criminal justice system. Read more>>