The Decision Makers Series is one of our staff’s favorite because decision making is a topic that so many of us have studied deeply.

Shavaun Miller | Owner | Miller & Co. Baked Goods

I think that the most important decision that has contributed to the success of Miller & Co. Baked Goods was the choice to stop waiting for the “right time” and to start it now. I’ve always loved baking; and since I was a kid, I’ve had this crazy, far-fetched dream of having my own bakery. But, life got in the way, and there was never a convenient time to pursue something like that. Then, 2020 happened and everything about life had turned upside down. During all of the uncertainty, I realized life is always going to be unpredictable, and the “right time” may never come. So, I decided to go for it and make my dream of having a bakery my reality. Full transparency: I am a big risk-taker; I always have been. But, something about putting yourself out there and starting a business (especially during such an uncertain climate) is terrifying! That being said, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Read more>>

Ismael Pohlert | Multimedia Management & CEO

The most important factor that has contributed to my success was deciding on re-framing my mindset to focus on helping other small businesses and emphasizing human connection. This mindset has helped me connect and establish a strong relationship with my clients that has resulted in longstanding business partnerships. Read more>>

Emma Sams | Artist & Entrepreneur

n, have all been invaluable stepping stones. I’m happy to share two that I cherish. The first was the decision to truly accept that if you develop your ideas in small steps, they can become great accomplishments. This mind set shift gave me clarity to find starting points for my projects and ideas. This allowed me to create daily, weekly, and monthly attainable goals. From there I was able to celebrate small victories and stay motivated through any failures. I became excited about my journey instead of feeling overwhelmed by the end results I wanted to achieve. Secondly, I would be remiss not to mention the decision to make my art and business about helping others. I originally started making these colorful creations just for fun and because they were making me happy. I found their iridescent and changing rainbow colors to be therapeutic and meditative. When I realized that through this art, I could provide and share this experience with others, it became my main purpose for creating. Focusing on this made it possible to set aside my insecurities, share these designs, and ultimately grow as an artist and entrepreneur. Read more>>