Ideas aren’t everything, execution matters greatly, but starting often requires an idea and so we asked folks to think back and tell us the story of how they came up with the idea for their businesses. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite stories below.

Sam Reetz | Filmmaker | Founder | Performer

As a filmmaker, founder, and performer, I’m fascinated by human behavior – our strengths, our limitations, our motivations. In 2016, I read His Holiness the 14th Dalai Llama’s 1989 book, Ethics of the New Millennium, where he shared his perspectives on technological dependency as a disruptive force for future progress. While I agreed that emerging technology influenced human behavior and created a global digital divide between communities with and without access, I also saw it as an educational tool to bring diverse constituencies together, offer pathways to curb misinformation and disinformation, and accelerate policy conversations between generations. Read more>> 

Mike Lee

The idea was born out of pain. 10 years ago I went through a horrific withdrawal process from an anti-depressant medication. Within a couple of hours, I’d shift from crippling anxiety to debilitating depression which disrupted my ability to focus on the work I wanted to do in the world. Luckily for me, I had a few people in my life who modeled true grit. Whether it was seeing my grandfather work a shift at the steel factory followed by a visit to his farm or the basketball coaches who pushed me until exhaustion, I know what it means to put in the work. Read more>>

Angelic Marnier

I came up with the idea for my business because I wanted to create a life that offered both financial success and personal freedom. I was in a 9-to-5 job where I was tied to my desk all day. I’d look out of my window and see people living life an I definitely wasn’t. I knew I had the skills to build something that could offer more flexibility and fulfillment. By focusing on digital products, I saw an opportunity to not only make good money but also create passive income streams. This path allows me to help others achieve their goals while giving me the freedom to structure my day on my own terms. It’s a win-win, at least for me it is. Read more>>