How did you decide to start a business?

We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Kimberly Aguirre | Founder

The idea of creating a “healthy donut” or as I call them “doatnuts” were born during the pandemic, as I took to the kitchen to invent a guilt-free food that wouldn’t detract me from shedding the pesky quarantine 15. Read more>>

Sophillia Tagaban | Co Founder and Ceo

As a young girl, I was inspired by fashion and how individually expressive we can be through our wardrobe. Although this part of myself was not nourished, my interest in textiles, and art has always presented itself over the years. Read more>>

Sheri Arcuria | Small Business Owner and Master of Bad-Assery

I had always joked for the last 10 years or so about being a self-proclaimed “Master of Bad-Assery.” When I accomplished something hard or challenging, I would post about it. When the world stopped in 2020, the struggles became more and more real in the world around us. People were battling depression, sadness and fear. Read more>>

Lia Pinelli | Weight Loss & Lifestyle Coach

Ha! I don’t think I really had a “thought process” around starting my own business!! I don’t really feel like I chose my business but rather my business chose me. I once heard Sandra Yancy say “The difference between a dream and a calling is that we give up on dreams all the time, but we can’t ever give up on a calling because a calling never gives up on us.” Read more>>

Flower Renee | District Manager & Influencer

I had been working 9-5, service industry type jobs from a very young age (14) & over a span of a few years I realized that I was losing the most incredible thing that I had: time. I knew shortly into working that I would want to be self employed and own my time. My thought process was, “life is too short to be stuck in a building all day. Read more>>

Ashley Currie | Equine Sports Massage Therapist

I had been an actress and a stand up comedienne for a long time, and in the past few years the increasing toxicity of the institution had really started to get to me. People and places that I had put faith in and looked to for support had disappointed me in big ways. Read more>>

Liz Hammond | Event Coordinator

I didn’t start out thinking I’d start my own event coordinating business. I coordinated a neighbor’s wedding as a favor and realized how much I enjoy helping make someone’s wedding day their favorite day! A few years later, a friend of mine was getting married and I offered to coordinate her wedding as a gift. Read more>>

David Biber | Owner – Hidden Oaks Ranch and Studio

I retired from the computer industry in 1999 at the age of 46. Having worked for diverse vertical businesses, I had the opportunity to create a business that would work for me. In fact, I did it twice. Read more>>

Brandon and Stephanie Orr | Cleaning Business Owners

Our thought process was, “hey, we’re both entrepreneurs, who don’t want to work a job for 30-40 years then retire. Nothing against people who choose that route, that’s just not the plan we signed up for. Let’s put our head down for 10-15yrs like REALLY work it, and we’d probably never have to ‘work’ again. Read more>>

Ruth Carter-Hickman | Visual Storyteller

My thought process behind starting my own business was freedom! I wanted to create a stress free lifestyle where I felt like I could get up in the morning and start my day with breakfast, a nice morning walk or yoga to allow me to center my thoughts and get in alignment with my spirit for the day. When you work a regular 9-to-5 or a job like teaching, you really don’t have any time for yourself. Read more>>

Vanessa Silva | Cinematographer & Film Maker

The thoughts had been shushed down and became nothing but a subtle and undeniable feeling that I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. A feeling something was calling me but I wouldn’t listen. People always talk about “going for it” but what that actually looked like isn’t always portrayed accurately. Being realistic but not limiting is key. Read more>>

Eric Chen | Senior Vice President – Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate Brokerage is a self-starter and self-disciplined business which allows you to learn from all aspects from the Real Estate Industry that was appealing to me. Also, the freedom to work on your own time is also what attracted me to this business. Read more>>

Paula Sturm | Registered Dietitian and Functional Medical Practitioner

I really wanted to start my business because I had a unique set of skills that I couldn’t fully showcase working for someone else. I wanted to be able to help people with my process, not someone else’s. Plus, having control over your schedule is a huge bonus!! Read more>>

Antoinnette Rainey | Chandler

I’ve always had an intrinsic motivation to own a business. Hearing the stories of several entrepreneurial family members inspired me to find my passion as well. I knew the journey wouldn’t be easy but definitely worth while. Read more>>

Talena Handley | Founder & CEO

I wanted to wake up and be happy about going to work. To know that what I do is making a difference in the world. I have always wanted to create jobs for good people. I feel that having a good boss and good workmates is super important since you usually spend 1/3 of your life at work. Read more>>

Justin Galloway | Photographer and Studio Owner

I started Salt Box Studio so that I would have a place to collaborate with my team and also as a place that fosters the creation of great work by others. We want our guests to feel at home and to have the freedom to create their best work. Read more>>

Lane Petrauskas | Skorch Founder

I recognized a need for a more tailored and streamlined platform for finding and sharing great restaurants, bars, coffee shops and attractions. Finding great places to go was too much work. Read more>>

Shelby Grimnes | Photographer

I was 16 years old when I first started taking on clients and it just came naturally to me. Before I knew I had a handful of clients and was running my own business without even realizing it. Read more>>

Steven Stolp | Camper van builder

In July of 2018 I was using the GI bill to get my Business degree. My summer was completely free to do whatever I wanted, due to my diligent saving during my years in the service. However, I only lasted 2 weeks without a painstaking project. 4 hours after searching on Craigslist, I bought an Ambulance. That ridiculous purchase changed my life. Read more>>

Aaliyah Kimble | Louis Vuitton Authenticator

The thought process behind starting my own business was to help people who enjoy Louis Vuitton like me. I had a bad experience buying Louis Vuitton pre-owned many years ago and had no one to turn to for help. Knowing that I accidently bought a fake bag for a large sum of money made me sick to my stomach. Read more>>

Amber Fant | Handcrafted Handbag Designer & Creator

I had recently purchased an iPad and needed a stylish way to carry it. I found that what I liked, I couldn’t afford, and what I could afford, I didn’t like. So I thought, how hard can it be? I’ll make my own. Read more>>

Rebecca Saldivar | Owner & Beer Boss

My business partner and I have worked collectively in the craft beer industry for over 25 years. Flying back from the Great American Beer Festival in 2017 inspired us to open our own craft beer business. Read more>>

KT Kint Briars | Founder/Owner

I had always enjoyed fashion, since I was a young kid but never did anything. It wasn’t until I was in college and one day I had been looking for a mix of surf and causal wear and couldn’t find anything. So I just said if I’m going to find what I want I need to just make it. Read more>>

Darren Ru van Rensburg | Marketing Manager

I already have a full time job as a marketing manager for a through the line marketing agency called Mahuma Group (Pty)Ltd so I wanted to create more than one income stream when I started 015 To The Nation (@015ToTheNation on all social media platforms) but also something that could be generational in terms of the sustaining the business itself and creating employment for the people of Limpopo. Read more>>