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.

Amanda Thomas

In starting my personal brand, Sowing Stability, I wanted to find a way to connect my expertise around the mind and body along with my passion for our planet. I hold a somewhat audacious belief that a sustainable future is attainable for all and this is because I believe sustainability starts with a solid foundation of wellness and stability within ourselves. I’m certain that the more secure we feel within our body and mind, the more consciously and confidently we can share our ideas and unique gifts with the world. Read More>>

Choosh Yu

I have always been an entrepreneur. Noticing cultural nuances, market shifts, and lifestyle patterns has always come naturally to me. I love identifying gaps and crafting creative solutions.

That same mindset led to the creation of Erbal. Herbal tea has been part of my life since childhood, rooted in tradition and everyday wellness. In Chinese medicine, the focus is not just on treating illness but on prevention and balance. This philosophy shapes how many Asian cultures approach health, and I saw an opportunity to share that perspective with a broader audience. Read More>>

Lande Yoosuf

When we started Black Film Space, we just wanted to orchestrate togethers with other Black Filmmakers in New York City. We didn’t realize the demand would be so high, it organically took off very quickly. Now we reach filmmakers not only all over the country, but all over the world. It’s pretty exciting and incredible. Read More>>

Rhiannon Clark

Fitness has always been a significant part of my life. I grew up as a dancer and later had the opportunity to perform professionally. After having my oldest son, I discovered a group fitness class designed specifically for moms, and the sense of community it fostered was truly a lifeline during those early years of motherhood. That experience ignited my passion for fitness on a deeper level, leading me to become a group fitness instructor. Read More>>

 Yewei Wang

I’ve always been fascinated by the connections between people, the emotions we attach to everyday objects, and the small joys that make life meaningful. I love listening to people’s stories and strive to create designs and art that resonate on a deeper level—something authentic that helps customers form their own cherished memories. Read More>>

Valeria Dobler

I grew up surrounded by the smell of freshly baked goods because my mom was a baker. Baking has always been therapeutic for me, a way to find peace and creativity. After spending my entire life working in sales, I realized it was time for a change. Now, at 50+, I’ve decided to pursue what I truly love—baking and sharing my passion with others. Read More>>

Sarah Ponce

I have been a children’s book illustrator and have worked in educational illustration for the past 20 years. I remember learning in art school that the word “illustrate” meant to illuminate or to make bright, and I love doing just that. I enjoy illuminating people’s written ideas on a page through illustration. It wasn’t until this year that I decided to finally do something I’ve always said I would do one day–I decided to start my own business and I began to bring my own ideas to life on a page too. I have to admit, being my own client is a lot tougher than anticipated. But I also have gotten a lot of joy out of building two online shops filled with my own original art. Read More>>

Juan Jose Da Silva

I’ve always wanted to have my own business because I didn’t see myself working for someone else. More than that, I wanted to create opportunities for others. When I started thinking about what kind of business to open, I knew I wanted to do something I was passionate about. I love ice cream, but I also wanted to make it a unique experience. That’s when I came up with the idea of making fresh rolled ice cream right in front of customers, allowing them to create their own flavors. Read More>>

Michelle Tidswell

One day at lunch, we both found ourselves deep in discussion about a new season of life that was upon us. For nearly a decade, we both had been stay at home moms, hanging up our former careers to raise our young babies .
However, with our children growing older and more independent, we both felt a stirring and desire to get back into the workforce…but on our own terms . Read More>>

Steve Taylor

I had recently moved to this wonderful mountain town, Crestline, and realized it didn’t have a record store or much of a curated space carrying vintage items from the late 60s through early 80s, which is overall my favorite period of style and aesthetic. I had a feeling I could create a viable business, and more importantly bring more music and art to the mountains. Read More>>

Dalit Saad

Entrepreneurship runs in my blood. Being Jewish, my family fled eastern Europe and started new lives in Mexico City, building businesses from scratch without knowing the language. That kind of resilience, that ability to create something from nothing – was in my DNA. Read More>>

Tiffany Mitchell

When I was tattooing and working for other people, I noticed lots of missed opportunities for some ideas that would make the client’s visit more fun and the work environment to be accomidating to the artists, not to mention unique promotions. I didnt have any control of what the businesses did and could only do so much as an individual artist. Read More>>

Montana Crumlish

To answer this question, I need to go back to where my love for photography began. It started back in high school when I first fell in love with photography. My school offered photography classes, and I was beyond excited to take them. I still remember the first time I stepped into the classroom. I immediately knew this was something special and something I’d cherish for the rest of my life. We were lucky to have our own darkroom, lab, and studio, which allowed us to really dive into the technical side of photography. Read More>>

Goyo Club

goyo club is an artist archive channel and community based in los angeles. we curate and archive local artists in family owned spaces every week.

When we started goyo club, our focus was on blending local artists with local businesses. We wanted to highlight the small, family-owned businesses around us—places we often pass by without much thought but that provide the most comfort. Read More>>

Jose Figueroa

We (Jose and Cristina) have decades of experience designing and developing consumer products with a unique point of view, the result of having worked with design-forward and quality-focused brands like Diesel, Misfit Wearables, Cult Gaia, Skagen, Tory Burch, North (acquired by Google) and Karl Lagerfeld, among others. We often found ourselves pushing the envelope in terms of materials, form and technology. At the same time we had a strong focus on the intersection of brands and their customers. Read More>>

Connor Paulos

I’ve been passionate about photography for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was always taking photos, but I always felt like I could do more with it. Fastforward to around 13, I decided to start sharing my photos with friends instead of keeping them to myself. Then at 16, someone told me, “Why not share your work with the world? Your shots are amazing!” Read More>>

Perry Aston

From a young age, I had the opportunity to work with some incredible brands and learn directly from high-level mentors who helped shape the way I approach business and leadership. Over the course of a decade, I managed teams, developed marketing strategies, and saw firsthand the impact that strong branding and digital presence could have on a company’s success. But as much as I loved the work, I knew there was a limit to the impact I could make while working for someone else. Read More>>

Courtney Lockridge

My thought process behind starting my own business came from a deep desire to make a bigger impact in the communities I served. After years of working in nonprofit and community service programs, I saw firsthand the critical needs of inner-city youth, particularly in nutrition, obesity prevention, and food scarcity. As a Director of Nutrition Services for seven years, I was able to provide meals to students after school, but I felt limited in how much I could address the broader systemic issues affecting underserved communities. Read More>>

Claire Lee-carter

I had finally achieved my dream of working in animation after years of dedication, but I couldn’t shake the urge to start something of my own—to be my own boss. While still working my 9-to-5, I explored different side businesses and loved the process of building something from the ground up. But none of them were in art, which was my true passion. Read More>>

Melissa Rodriguez

I embarked on the journey of creating Curated Spread with the heartfelt desire to establish a sustainable livelihood for myself and my family while embracing my creativity. I wanted to challenge the notion that work must simply be a means to a paycheck and show that it’s possible to genuinely love what you do every day. My cultural background is rich with vibrant food and color, which truly distinguishes my charcuterie boards from others. Read More>>

Brittny Button

I’ve always been interested in building, architecture and design and opening my own interior design firm felt like it was a natural progression of this. Especially since it’s something that I love to do and enjoy the process of transforming spaces. Similarly, opening a Button Atelier shop at the Agoura Antique Mart, was a dream come true! It features many of my vintage furniture finds from over the years, many with refreshed upholstery updates and intriguing decorative accessories. Read More>>

Jude Roth

I’m sitting at my desk where I work as an executive assistant to the very busy Head of New Business, Financial Services clients, and HR at a big Boston ad agency. The second screenplay I’m attempting to write is constantly in my mind, taking all my attention like a proverbial new guy in my life that “could be the one.” This script is something I want to spend all my time, to get better at writing it, and to get better at writing overall. But to pay for my life, Read More>>

Ivan Cloyd

For 18 years, I immersed myself in the world of television—beginning as a young political advocate, evolving into an actor, and eventually being a guest host on the syndicated show “Armstrong Williams: The Rightside Forum” on ABC 7 for 3 years. My journey across these various facets of the media industry provided me with a unique perspective on communication, and the power of influence. Read More>>

Andrew Buxton

I’ve always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but the idea for ATLAS truly took shape as I was visiting a local maker’s market. I was struck by the number of incredible, unique brands—many of which I had never seen in department stores or high-end retail. As I spoke with hundreds of brand founders and learned about their experiences in retail, it became clear that the system wasn’t built to support their success. Read More>>

Brandon Richland

Absolutely! My journey into entrepreneurship was fueled by a deep-seated passion for medicine and a commitment to delivering exceptional patient care. Throughout my training, I recognized a troubling dichotomy: the business aspects of medicine often seemed at odds with the core mission of patient care. I firmly believe that these two elements can coexist harmoniously. Read More>>

Ramya Viswanathan

I’d spent most of my career behind the scenes developing products for beauty brands. As a cosmetic chemist, I was writing formula recipes for some well loved brands. It’s fascinating to be a part of innovation and to make products that people enjoy. Similar to the textile/fashion industry, the beauty industry generates a significant amount of waste due to frequent replenishment rates as well as the fact that most products are packaged in materials that aren’t readily recyclable. Read More>>

Kristina Babayan

I started my own speech and language practice to make therapy more accessible and create a supportive, safe space for families. My goal is to provide high-quality care with no long wait times or complicated processes. I believe therapy should be fun and engaging, so I tailor each session to the child’s interests and personality. By running my own practice, I’ve been able to offer flexible, personalized therapy that allows me to try new approaches and ensure each child receives the right care. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see my clients not only make progress but enjoy the process along the way! Read More>>