Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Aneet Chhabra | Brand and Website Designer

It might be safe to say that I stumbled into entrepreneurship. Before starting my business, I had been working as a developer for almost 9 years, and I did not see myself doing anything else. Though I loved solving problems (which led me to coding in the first place), I never felt like I was in the right place. I was always a creative person and found joy in painting, writing, and taking long walks in nature. The nature of my job did not align with my personality, but I was too scared to give up on the safety of a 9-to-5. The long hours, tough competition, and my drive for perfectionism left me feeling continuously depleted and unsatisfied. I knew I needed to take it slow, but I had no idea how. Read more>>

Taylor and Johnny | Third Eye Co. and Magic Miners

Both of us are artists, and Johnny was a professional snowboarder at the time. We wanted to fund a snowboard trip by making leather neck pouches that could hold your phone while on the mountain and other accessories like earrings. Everything was priced around $15 and it was a total success. When we returned from our trip, a local shop owner saw one of our pieces and asked us to make more. He was beyond encouraging and it was like a mini crash course on wholesale, retail and consignment. Our sales there would pay a bill or two each month, which was nice because the whole creation process was already a way of calming down at the end of the day, or finding relief from stress. After a big move to be back closer to family, we started hiking a lot more. One thing lead to another and after a few outings trying to find it’s location, we found quartz crystals. Back in the studio we would experiment with how we could utilize them in design . Which quickly evolved from quartz necklaces set in found bullet shells, to our copper jewelry. We became so infatuated with the idea of using these gems to make pieces with more substance, and maybe grow our little side hustle into something with more intention and direction. The thought process was always a gradual journey, a way of tapping into and being able to use our creativity and actually make money doing something we love, that has meaning and a story . What came from it is an openness to the fact that there will always be more to learn, and improve upon in business, design and of course ourselves Read more>>

Alanna Singleton | Web Designer & Digital Marketer

Back in 2017, I took on the role of Historian/Brand Manager for the Long Beach Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., responsible for curating our chapter’s digital identity. Little did I know, this role would spark a flame within me. Managing social media, designing eye-catching flyers, and even directing photo shoots – I was knee-deep in creativity. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp it, but my spirit resonated with the art of creation, and that marked the birth of my passion. Read more>>

Tom Kirkham | CEO & Founder

My thought process behind starting Kirkham IronTech was the typical E-Myth book revelation, I had no other choice after the .com bust. I am passionate about Kirkham IronTech because of being placed on an ISIS kill list almost 8 years ago due to a data breach. Read more>>

Blanca Villaseñor | Entrepeneur

Musa actually came to me as a concept, a boutique where you would be accepted just as you are, guide them to take advantage of their attributes and make peace with what they don’t feel as comfortable. Have fun and bring color to their life no matter the age, size, height and weight you are. Because numbers and letters do not represent us. BE YOUR OWN MUSE. Read more>>

Jenny Kim | OC Photographer

Starting my own business was driven by a combination of factors. I wanted the freedom to have creative control over my work. This meant defining my style, choosing projects, and having the flexibility to experiment and grow as a photographer. Read more>>

Shashona Burke, Jeff and Carlina Bjork | Partners/Owners of OCN Culture

OCN Culture started in 2016 as a “side hustle” between best friends. Honestly our thought process was to start something that that would be fun to do together- a project that would allow us to be creative and make cool things, but to also have fun and connect with community. Yes, we had a pipe dream of “blowing this thing up,” but we also had full time jobs, mortgages, and kids to manage. So we kept it light hearted and created some hats, tshirts, and sweatshirts with just our logo printed on them. We had informal “meetings” over beers and bbq’s to make necessary decisions. We bought a commercial tent and sold our “merch” at street fairs and surf contests in Northern California. People liked what we were doing, so we approached some retail shops and wholesaled our products there too. It wasn’t until 2020 (in the middle of the pandemic) that we opened our first brick and mortar shop in Point Reyes, CA. and realized we’d need to make some decisions to send us on a more serious trajectory. We outgrew the space in Point Reyes and in March of 2023 opened our current shop in downtown San Anselmo (Marin County), CA. Read more>>

Shelby Anderson | Small Business Owner, History Teacher, Education Consultant

I started Extremely Retro with the idea to highlight some of my favorite pieces of history and connect with people’s sense of nostalgia. I had been involved in the WWII reenacting and vintage trailer communities and found a love for historical artifacts that I learned other people shared with me. I wanted to create something that allowed me to share a moment of joy, connection, and shared history with those that purchased my art. I decided to do stickers, magnets, and keychains, as people often want to feel that sense of nostalgia, but often don’t have the space to buy the items that my art represents, such as a vintage trailer or WWII Willys Jeep. I hoped that by creating these small items people could find positive memories in my art and take a piece of history wherever they go. Read more>>

Lizzie Peirce | Video Producer & Content Creator

When I entered the YouTube and photo/video space, it was glaringly a boys’ club. Women weren’t getting the recognition they deserved. I wanted to change that narrative, not just for me but for others. So, I started my own channel to be a symbol for women in this industry, hoping to inspire someone to say, “If she can do it, I can too!” Read more>>