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.

Jimena Herrero | Acting Coach

I aspired to develop a program that addresses the notable gaps I observed in existing solutions, aiming to help with the professional and business part of our career. Additionally, my intention was to foster a community, serving as a perpetual resource hub where individuals can reliably seek guidance, get feedback, or obtain help on their journey as actors. Read more>>

Janni Widerholm | Founder, Creative Director

When I was planning my wedding and sharing the process with other brides on social media, I noticed the videos where I was sharing my creative visions and ideas resonated with others the most. My whole approach was rooted in creating unique things instead of following trends. When the big day came, it was my custom veil that blew up. It was different and it was a statement, and brides loved it. Read more>>

Lorenzo Ferrero | Saxophonist, Composer & Educator

I’m originally from Lima, Peru, where access to quality music education was very limited during my early years. After the incredible opportunity to study at Berklee College of Music and develop my career as a saxophonist and composer in the US, I felt a strong desire to share my knowledge with others. Read more>>

Alisha Tallarico | Live Music Production/Talent Coordinator and Balloon Artist!

I am someone that always has a new creative idea I want to try out and balloons was no different! I saw some amazing balloon creations on TikTok and thought how cool it would be to do that for events! When I was younger I thought it would be fun to be a party planner but I never went through with it, now the idea has come back around in smaller form… for now! Read more>>

Filipe Ramos | celebrity colorist

After working in the industry for an extended period, I have always harbored a desire to forge my own path. Crafting something unique in today’s competitive landscape is undoubtedly challenging. However, when my partner and I conceived the idea for our business, our primary objective was to provide an unparalleled experience within an exceptionally comfortable environment. Read more>>

Kristy Schireson | Owner

Opening a clothing store had always been a dream of mine. However, it wasn’t until I faced a challenging period in my life that this dream became a reality. Following a divorce and with the responsibility of caring for a toddler and a newborn, I had to rethink my future and find a way to support myself and my daughters. Read more>>

Mallery Jenna Robinson | Transgender and HIV Healthcare Advocate

My thought process is to have an idea that you know in your heart and soul is worth pursuing then do it plan out how you would like to make this idea into a reality into your business. Be willing to network, and collaborate as well as time management and delegate support. Read more>>

Helene Henderson | chef owner Malibu Farm

I am not sure I ever had a real plan or a thought process. It was more of a one step after the other, following a path I did not plan or imagine. When we lived in Los Angeles, I ran a catering company for about 12 years that was called Lavender Farms catering. Read more>>

Dani Michael | Board Certified Nurse Practitioner & Entrepreneur

Starting my own business was driven by a profound desire to craft a unique identity and present myself to the world on my own terms. I believed deeply in the power of self-determination and saw entrepreneurship as the perfect avenue to express my personal brand. Read more>> 

Will Pharaoh | Creative Director and Multimedia Specialist

Creating platforms that would help re-shape the culture of entertainment while remaining on the pulse of what was to come. Read more>>

Tina Athaide | Educator and Writer of Kids books

Starting my own business, particularly one focused on writing books for kids, is a deeply personal and passionate endeavor for me. The thought process behind this decision stems from a few core motivations and beliefs: Read more>>

Nils Davey | Creative Director and Fabricator

During my time working at agencies both experiential and advertising i’ve always had an interest and longing to physically make things. After a long time freelancing creating ad campaigns, key art, pitches and treatments I ended up working at an experiential agency as creative director. Read more>>

Heather Morrow | Ceramic Artist & Photographer

I have always been a creative soul and wanting to bring beauty into the world. Over the years, this creativity has evolved and changed. When I started oil painting in my mid-30s, my parents commented that they always thought I had talent. I asked why they hadn’t encouraged it; however, they had.  Read more>>

Channing Sparks, M.A. | Creative, Dancer, DEI Advocate

The process of healing was the main factor behind publishing my book and drafting my future business plan. I had to make the decision to embrace my past experiences, accept them, and begin the process of moving on stronger. Growing up in a predominantly Caucasian environment, I drew inspiration from my experiences to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. Read more>>

Sharōn Ronen | Licensed Esthetician, Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Yoga Teacher

My thought process behind starting my own business is that I went on a few interviews and at each place, I was not excited about the curb appeal or the esthetic of the space or the product line(s) they used, and I realized that I needed to create my own business if I wanted creative control of all of those things. Read more>>

Andreas Beckett | Actor, Singer,

It was rather instinctual at the beginning. I studied Mechanical engineering and earned a Masters, but knew early on that I had no interest in working in this field. Fell into dancing, musicals and eventually acting, And even then it took me a while to realize that it is a business. When I moved to Los Angeles I understood quickly why it was called show business. Read more>>

Sydney Mintle | Fashion Publicist

The idea of starting your own business can be very daunting. You have to embrace the fact that you’re entering the unknown. After years of working in the fashion industry on both the retail and corporate side, I realized that I wanted the flexibility to be more present with my family. Read more>>

Antonio Abelleyra | Graphic designer & illustrator

When I decided to start my own business, my primary motivation was to combine my love for design, music, and illustration. I was excited about creating items that reflect my personal style and interests, such as t-shirts, stickers, and posters with a street vibe. I saw a growing community that appreciates unique, artistically-driven merchandise, and felt inspired to fill that niche. Read more>>

Chaz Pringle | Business Consultant

The intention behind starting C. Pringle Consulting LLC was to champion and support Black-owned businesses that needed innovative strategies to achieve sustained success. For instance, SKNMUSE had a great product and decent exposure before I joined the team. Read more>>

Khristine Jones | yoga Instructor, studio owner, bhakta ,herbalist ,and studying medical astrology

Well thats funny because it just kinda happened . I had been teaching yoga for many years in San Fransisco and had started a donation based community called Yoga Punx and it was doing really well . But I couldn’t afford to live in SF . My Partner and i decided to move to the central coast, to Morro Bay Ca. Read more>>