Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Katie Diamond Wolff | Textile Artist & Hat Maker

I started my business when I was very young, 18 I believe. I somewhat accidentally fell into it after having had a less than savory work experience tie dyeing for a shop in downtown San Francisco. After separating from that I was left with the option of going back and getting a food service job or continuing with textile art on my own. Read more>>

Jenny Stein | Professional Photographer

My passion for photography was the driving force that inspired me to start my own business. I was awakened to the art form when I enrolled in a photography class in high school. Since that time, I’ve always had a camera at my side observing and capturing the world around me. Read more>> 

xun hu | Animation Director and Studio Founder

I created my own studio when I was a third-year graduate student at the Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University. My idea was influenced by two factors. First, the creative environment in China at that time was subject to government censorship. Read more>>

Alvin Lee | DJ & Producer

Before starting my own business as a DJ under the alias ALVYN, I was attending a university and preparing myself to get a corporate 9-5 job, which was something I was told to do all of my life. Music is something that I’ve grown up with my entire life since I grew up playing classical piano and it only made sense that once I discovered DJing in college, that it would be something that I would have no regrets chasing (as long as I’m doing it responsibly and within my means). Read more>>

Adam Irino | Content Creator (Die Hard Fishing)

Starting from a young age, I was always a die hard fisherman. We were lucky to live near the ocean and my dad would often take me to the beach to surf fish. As I grew older, I would expand my fishing horizons and began fishing for new species, in new waters, and learning new techniques. Read more>> 

Austin Tong | Film Producer

My thought process behind starting my own business was to offer a full scale production service for narrative, commercial, and music videos. It was always a goal of mine to impact the lives of others by offering a service as well as meeting those best in their craft of filmmaking. Read more>> 

Penny and Rae Love and Chen | Co-founder, CEO and Co-founder, COO

Omni Pet Club (OPC) was co-founded by Penny Love and Rae Chen in December 2022. We met at the University of Southern California (USC) during our Design@USC graduate program. We immediately bonded over our shared passion for pets. Both of us are avid pet owners, always looking for the best solutions for our fur babies. Read more>>

Beth Morrison | Impressario and Creative Producer

I decided to start my own business because I had a vision for what opera could be in the 21st century. I looked around and noone was doing it so I had to start my own. I wanted to fundamentally shift the paradigm for the creation of opera works by creating relevant works that tell the stories of our time in a musical language that feels fresh and relatable to a younger audience that may have never been to an opera before. Read more>>

Christina Dober | Spiritual Teacher, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master Healer, Jyotish Astrologer

This will sound crazy, but I really didn’t have much thought process when I started my business. I had been practicing yoga for over 15 years and people kept telling me, “You should be a yoga teacher!” Read more>>

Philisha West | Mother & Business Owner

Starting my own business was indeed a decision I never thought that I would make. Full transparency I never saw myself as a business owner. That all changed about four years ago, when I was asked to start a HomeCare agency with my partner. Read more>>

Rachel McAlister | Character Designer & Voice Actor for Animation

I don’t actually have a private self-owned business. I work as a character designer and voice actor for animation and work with studios on a project to project basis. I had always known that I loved and had a passion for both drawing and for learning about people and what makes them who they are. Read more>>

Rui Liu | Film Editor& Director

I have always been obsessed with “creating” and “expressing”, in which I found my own existence and value. I was born in a relatively conservative family in a small city in China, there were even no cinema or theater in my childhood. The lack of environment made me pursue spiritual wealth even more. Read more>>

Toshira Maldonado | Black Maternal Health Advocate & Full Spectrum Doula

The thought process behind starting my own business was to serve the community. I am no stranger to caring for others, supporting, and advocating for those who are unable to effectively stand up for their rights so it was my thought that I can make a profession out of doing what comes both easy and natural. Read more>>

Taylor DeBoer | Holistic Nutritionist

I decided to start my own business because I wanted to be an advocate for women going through health struggles like I did. I struggled with bloating, candida overgrowth, constipation, chronic fatigue, joint pain, hypoglycemia, PCOS, severe eczema, adrenal fatigue, autoimmune markers, and ultimately Lyme Disease. Read more>>

Chris Gill | Record store owner, radio host, professional dancer

we needed something different in the town. We needed more representation for the FUNK! A space to act as a revered spot for the goodness! Oh and I was expecting my first child and I thought adad in a video store is not cool. I’m thinking of the future and putting a dad in a record store! Read more>>

Yanwen Li | Artist & Painter

Creating art allows me to fully concentrate and engage in deep self-reflection, which are the main reasons I aspire to be an artist. Through this focused perspective, I aim to interpret and express my view of the world in my work. Read more>>

Wesley Jow | Wesley Jow | Weddings, Families & Events Photographer

One of the main reasons I started taking photos was because there was a need. Creativity is great and storytelling is even better, but attach these skills to real people with real needs in the world and there you have a service-based business idea. Read more>>

Monique Thompson | Hairstylist & Spiritual wellness advocate

In the midst of profound personal loss, I found unexpected clarity and purpose. Following the passing of my beloved grandmother, I embarked on a journey that led to the creation of Moniquesluxe, a hair business born from grief but fueled by a deep desire to make a meaningful impact. Read more>>

Fina Meraz | Founder and president of sales and design

My Thought process with starting my own business was Why not me? I knew the. business inside out, had ran someone else’s business for years, established business relationships, had a husband who could do my payroll and taxes but had no money. Read more>>

Tanya Witmond | Yoga Trainer, Meditation Teacher, Life Coach. Busssines owner.

I had been to India many times to study Yoga and wanted to create an Ashram in my town where I could teach Yoga and Meditation and have other teachers come to teach as well. It started as a small project and when my husband retired from his company and joined me, it grew a lot more. Read more>>

Tosin Killz | Visual Artist, Designer

It wasn’t a thought. I think thinking too much kills the execution. I kind of just did. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just learned as I went. I never thought it would turn into a business. I just was creating art and people loved it and wanted it for themselves. I believe that’s the cheat code – create for yourself first. Read more>>

Tom Sopit | Restaurant Owner & Entrepreneur

What was the thought process behind starting your own businesses?
Starting my own business felt like the natural progression after working at a big international company for many years. I moved up quickly and became the Director of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, where I gained insights into the mechanics of large-scale operations. Read more>>

RIVER CHAD

I used to work full-time as a marketing associate, but I realized that I wasn’t fully satisfied with my career path. My true passion lies in capturing special moments and telling stories through images. This passion inspired me to start my own business as a freelance photographer. Read more>>

Ron Friedman | Senior Animator / Animation Trainer

I had been teaching Animation for schools when I lived in Massachusetts and Tutoring privately for the last 12 years. But as a result of work slowing due to strike related delays, It became necessary to seek alternative sources of income that do not rely on the studio system. Read more>>

Matt Paneitz | Executive Director and Founder

In 1992, government leaders around the world received a document endorsed by 1,575 of the world’s most prominent scientists (including 99 of the 196 living Nobel laureates in the sciences) titled ‘World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity. Read more>> 

Onika Janae | Nail Technician & Nail Supply Owner

I literally started my business in 2020 with $300 & a dream. I was a struggling nail tech tired of ordering from other companies that cheaped out on products & TO FOREVER to ship. Especially monomer, I couldn’t work when that was delayed & the only nail supply I had available near me was Sally’s Beauty Supply. It’s like $40 for a 4oz of monomer.. Read more>>

Kelsie McDonald | Actor, Writer, Producer

My Mum always said I popped out of the womb as a storyteller. And it’s true, I put on my first theatre play, which I also wrote and directed and starred in, at the age of eight, at my school assembly. Then at fourteen, I convinced my school teachers to let me use my “career development” class to film my first proof of concept. Read more>>

Anastasia Zielinski | Visual Artist and Art Educator, owner of FREAK’N ART

After being reliant on other businesses to teach out of, I was looking for control of the process, from scheduling, pricing, to supplies. My aim was to design a conducive environment that encouraged creativity. Read more>>

Kimberly Sprenger | Videographer & Photographer

From the earliest moments of my life, I felt a pull towards creativity, a passion to express myself through art. Little did I know that this desire would lead me down the unexpected path of becoming a videographer. In 2011, life threw an unimaginable curveball at my family. Read more>> 

Jasmin Soto | Social Media Strategist & Coach

I wanted to help more Latinas and WOC feel represented. I wanted to see more brown women become and be successful outside of the normal traditional college route. As a college Graduate and first generation Mexican American I am very thankful I was able to experience college but I found my skills served in greater ways I was never pushed in. Read more>>

Misha Rafalowski Bec Adams | Misha Rafalowski: Founder, Creative, Connector / Bec Adams: Founder, DJ, Music Lawyer

We started Cosmic Wine Club to merge our passion for astrology with our enjoyment of natural wine, creating a space where people can deepen self-understanding, connect with others, and support sustainable viticulture which is better for our bodies and our planet. Read more>>

Marty Rodriguez | Digital Marketing and Events Project Manager

Unlike my parents’ generation where getting a college degree and securing a good-paying job, preferably in government, was seen as the path to a secure future, I don’t believe that mindset holds true anymore for our generation. Instead of following that traditional route, my thought process behind starting my own business stemmed from the realization that it’s crucial to pursue something you genuinely enjoy and are passionate about. Read more>>

Anne Collard | Interior Designer

I had been working in the Interior Design business for almost twenty years and felt it was time to go out on my own. My family had moved to the South Bay, and I had four young kids, which made it challenging to work a 9-5 job, so I felt it was time to take the leap and start my own business. Read more>>

Nikole Mitchell | Pleasure Coach

I was really good at helping other people make money. People would come to me for advice, calling me, even staying at my house to be really immersed in my energy, wisdom, and support. I had never viewed it through a business framework, until one day it hit me, this is what life coaches do! Read more>>

Donny White | Creative Director, Donny White Designs, LLC

Basically I wanted to help my customers with the paradox of choice. Being a veteran myself with a fashion background I found that most of my friends and co-workers came to me with many questions on how to dress professionally. I have always loved fashion since I was a kid and the business is a natural evolution which combines helping people and doing what I love. Read more>> 

Ron Smoorenburg | Action actor

I was tired of the chackles and strings that society had ingrained in me, and I wanted to free myself from them. I came to the conclusion that in order to pursue my true passion—acting and fighting in action movies—I would have to make the sacrifice of breaking free from these bonds. Read more>>

Violet Banks | Digital Creator & Mental Health/Wellness Enthusiast

In 2019, I underwent a period of deep self-reflection. I was on working prioritizing mental health and adopting a plant-based lifestyle. When I was researching tips and advice I found that the resources never really took into account or catered people who looked like me.  Read more>>

Marisa Lonic | Founder & CEO, Mama Work It

I wanted to create resources for working moms. I wanted them to feel seen, heard, connected. When I became a parent, I felt like there were plenty of books and websites dedicated to motherhood, but not necessarily working motherhood. Read more>>

Zeus Views | Photographer, Model, Influencer, CEO of Zeus Views Prod.

Growing up, I’ve always thrived doing things my own way. Creating and utilizing my resources came naturally to me, and as my hobbies evolved over the years, I unexpectedly transformed them into a business. My love for art led me to explore various mediums, but I noticed that one of my art hobbies elicited particularly strong reactions from my audience which was photography. Read more>>

Andy Martinez Jr. | Realtor, Mortgage Loan Originator, And Owner/Broker of Entity Mortgage and Realty

Deciding to start Entity Mortgage and Realty kind of happened by accident. I had been a realtor with other brokerages for several years. I had some good experiences and I had some bad experiences. I guess it was the bad experiences that led me down the “start my own business” path. Read more>> 

WILLIAM KECK | Writer/Journalist/Producer & Author, When You Step Upon A Star

Writing my book, ultimately titled When You Step Upon A Star: Cringeworthy Confessions of a Tabloid Bad Boy, was an exhausting process many years in the making—evolving with numerous iterations and discarded titles. Ever since I started as a reporter, beginning with my three years with the National Enquirer in the mid-90s, I’d saved everything— knowing one day I’d be writing this book. Read more>>

Hope McPherson | Screenwriter

In his book, Wishful Thinking, author and theologian Frederick Buechner wrote, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Read more>>

Alexis Kemp | CEO & Founder of My Sister’s Scrub

My thought process behind starting my own business was simply me wanting to create my own brand. I always had an entrepreneurial/leadership mindset and grew up within an entrepreneurial family, I just did not know what I wanted to specifically do to emphasize this for myself. Read more>>

Erika Alcala | Crystal Alchemy Coach, Crystal Energy + Meditation Practioner

The Crystal Madre was born as a way for one to honor themselves with daily intention. When we honor ourselves by creating a positive and grateful start to our day, we vibrate on a higher energetic level. This clarity in turn helps you heal spiritually, mentally and sometimes it shows in a physical form as well. Read more>>

Liz Lidgett | Founder and curator at Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design

As an art advisor, I worked with galleries daily and noticed several themes that I wanted to change. I knew I couldn’t change the art world completely but I wanted to show that treating artists and client well, was good business. Additionally, we made a commitment to represent at least 50% women artists because the international average is below 20%. Inclusion is an important tenant of the gallery. Read more>>

Social Assembly

Social Assembly is an exclusive membership community for successful independent managers (formerly of DBA, UTA, WME, CAA, etc.). Think of it like Soho House for managers – where we each have our own personal roster of talent and share information, brand contacts, paid opportunities, press opportunities, talent signing opportunities, and have weekly calls where we talk about the state of the industry and ways to stay ahead of the trends. Read more>>