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.

John Fuentes | Film Director | Producer

This is a loaded question because it takes a deep reflection into one’s beginnings. Everyone is born with certain gifts and talents that are unique to its owner. No one person does it the same. It’s the differences and individuality that each person offers the world that creates a diverse community of those who have a dream and have the boldness and courage to pursue it. Read more>>

Clyde Singleton | Student

My thought process for my brand is to inspire everyone to acknowledge themselves and differences. Growing up all I wanted to do was play basketball, eat, and sleep. I was never big on fashion, T.V., or social media, but when I could no longer play basketball I began to change. At first I felt lost and didn’t know what to do with my life, but luckily I had people around me to show me new ways of life. Read more>>

Jay Shells | Father to Elijah first and Creative Director to Hdqtrs Nyc

Wanted to see my vision come to full life and take the chance on myself. Read more>>

Hannah Trahan | Wedding Planner + Owner Southern Couture Weddings and Texture Rental Collection

I wanted to have a profession where I could plan special events and weddings. At the time, my market did not have any established wedding planners so I decided to start my own business. Read more>>

Christina Samoylov | Founder, Spiritual Strategist

It really came about from needing to provide for my son as a single mother. Tarot helped me navigate through my divorce and I picked it up as a hobby never imaging it would become my career. In March of 2020, I was laid off my job due to Covid and found myself leaning into this hobby more and more it quickly replaced what was once my full-time income. Read more>>

Joy Potter | Artisan of candles and personal care products

I have always loved being creative and when my daughter expressed interest in art, I celebrated it. Although I couldn’t draw as well as she could, we would spend time making jewelry or ornaments and candles together. After losing my beautiful daughter and only child tragically, my husband suggested that I did what made me happy when we were together. So, I started making candles and other things my daughter and I did together to cope with my grief. Read more>>

Noemi Hernandez | Owner of La Familia Jumpers

Starting a business calls for sacrifices, dedication, commitment, and lots of passion. It’s never easy. its a love and hate relationship with the business. Picture a roller coaster, seeing it go all over the place but still trying to have fun and enjoy the process. It all started from a little girls dream. Read more>>

Owen Isachsen | Artist

This is an interesting question for me as a small business owner because I’ve failed at starting a business many times, this is my fifth shot at it and it seems to be going pretty well overall. I’ve realized over time that the process behind starting your own business is never about the money, or the popularity or whatever it may be, it’s about doing or creating something that you really love and being able to share that with your community. Read more>>

Robert Clark | Singer for Huckleberry Road

Well, the music business is a very competitive space to be in. The current market is expecting a very specific type of product otherwise they don’t want to invest in that talent. We love the craft and are willing to put in the work to bring our music to the public and play it for them. Without any of these record labels to make an investment in you or build the infrastructure you need to get your music heard you have no choice but to begin wearing many different “hats”. Read more>>

Instructor, Marketing Pofessional, and Founder of Wellness Check-In Club

What was your thought process behind starting your own business? Since I started teaching fitness 6 years ago, I’ve always had the intention of helping people feel good about themselves. When I first started teaching I was not confident in myself but as I lived out my vision of helping people feel good – my confidence bloomed and I became the student lead for the University of Oregon’s group fitness program within 9 months of obtaining my first certification (go ducks!) Read more>>

Madeliene Painter | CSCS, Personal Trainer, Powerlifting Coach, Olympic Weightlifting Coach, Nutritionist

Originally, I was living in Los Angeles, working as a Script Supervisor and directors assistant in the film industry. But my mind was elsewhere, and I wasn’t feeling truly happy or fulfilled. When Covid hit, it forced me to quarantine with my boyfriend, now husband, Robin, in San Diego. And then I was faced with the choice to keep my job in LA, but have to leave San Diego. Or I could start a new career and stay living with the love of my life. And through lots of hard work and the support of Robin, Read more>>

Lauren Venosta | Nutritionist + Personal Chef

When I started my business, it was out of pure passion to help people find better solutions than what was out there. With my degree in nutrition it seemed that I could only find jobs in clinical hospital settings, weight loss centers, or places that I wasn’t able to help people in the way I knew they needed. So I created it instead. My business was started to help people heal their health issues from the inside out using food and nutrition. Read more>>

Veronika Peterka | Digital Nomad Health & Fitness Coach

It was a very selfish thought process to be honest.. So I could travel! But also because I saw there was a common pain that no one was addressing. I have been traveling since I was 35 days old and I have spent years studying nutrition and health. It had always been a struggle for me to travel as much as I liked to while prioritizing my fitness routine and eating habits. Read more>>