Deciding to start a business is an unusual decision. It’s often considered irrational and yet for many it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. So we asked folks to think back to when they were starting their businesses and to tell us about their decision making process.

Naomi Genota | Creator Business Coach, Content Creator and Influencer Talent Manager

I really wanted to just have a deeper impact on people and inspire them to live a lifestyle of purpose. I started creating content in 2012 as a beauty creator, but I knew that’s wasn’t the social imprint I wanted to leave online. I have this incredible story of where I came from and what I had overcome and I wanted to build people up beyond beauty and makeup and skincare. Read more>>

Emely Bolston | Medical Aesthetics Provider

I am a medical aesthetics provider who is a Nurse Practitioner, a Registered Nurse, and a Respiratory Therapist. My entire working life, I have been in hospitals as an employee. I wanted to start my own business mostly for the autonomy it affords me. As a medical aesthetics provider, I like to take my time with clients. Read more>>

Sil Anen | Host of the award-winning Quaintrelle Podcast, award-winning filmmaker and writer

I’d been listening to podcasts and really liked the medium long before I decided to start my own. At some point, the idea formed that I’d already done many such similar things and that perhaps this was something that I’d be successful at. Read more>>

Ally Archer | Author, Online Marketing Agency Owner, and Travel Blogger

Prior to starting my freelance marketing business, I was working a full-time office job (and before that, working at international education jobs in the US, Europe, and Asia). Read more>>

Raspin Stuwart | Musician, Publisher and Artist

I started Boulevard Magazine in 1981 because I love art, words, and community – I saw so much culture in LA, and the San Fernando Valley, that I wanted to curate it into a magazine. I thought let’s just do this thing one page at a time and the magazine enjoyed 32 years of success. Read more>>

Raymond Jacobd | Executive Director, Kontrapunktus Chamber Orchestra

I formed Kontrapunktus merely by accident. I was an aspiring filmmaker with writing abilities who decided to venture off into the literary world. But that journey through the literary world had a detour and that detour led me into this unexpected venture. I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to do and was incredibly naive. But as an entertainer, the applause endears you! Read more>>

Kenyatta Williams | RE-UP Clothing Brand & 5Star Music Group

My thought process behind starting my own business wants to build generational wealth for my kids and also show my kids not to give up on their dreams and always push forward in life because life is a test you’re going to have your ups and downs. You’re gonna have your mistakes, you’re gonna lose a lot of friends. Read more>>

Mark Wallen | Scientist & Chef

Starting my own business was largely done with regard to my repetitive stress injury I received about three years ago. Sadly, attempts at fixing this has failed, so I’ve been put through the ringer of workers compensation all the way through to social security disability. The arduous journey to SSI taught me that I would never be safe in Americas social hole-filled safety net. Read more>>