Readers often email us asking us for advice about new businesses they are thinking about starting and we often find that many of them don’t have a framework for thinking about a more fundamental question: why should or shouldn’t you start a business?

Below, you’ll find how successful entrepreneurs from across the city thought about this very question when they were considering whether to start their businesses.

Mitsuyo Kojima

“My journey to entrepreneurship began after I moved from Japan to the United States following my marriage. I quickly fell in love with this country’s remarkable diversity – a vibrant tapestry of people from countless backgrounds, each bringing unique cultures, customs, and culinary traditions. What truly resonated with me was the profound sense of comprehension and mutual respect I observed among people, fostered by this rich multicultural environment. Read More>> 

Jate Estrela

The thought process behind starting my sandcastle business came from a simple but startling realization: I could actually make money doing something I had always done just for fun. At first, the idea felt ridiculous… was it really feasible to turn sandcastles into a legitimate career? I was a math professor at the time, and while that path was stable and “respectable,” it’s not unique and “San Diego”. I started wondering: if I don’t take the plunge now, will I look back in 30 years with regret? Read More>> 

Spencer Hawken

I’m no stranger to entrepreneurship; I started my very first business in 1989. Since then, I’ve had a succession of ventures, some highly successful, others less so. However, as I’ve journeyed through the years and reached my mid-50s, I believe I’ve gained a much clearer understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Read More>> 

Ron Bartlett

For 23 years as a Partner in one of the largest Global Consultancy Firms in the world, I spent my days (and nights) thousands of miles away from home, in hotels, or airports, time and time again, answering the question “Where are you today?”….. with the line “an airport somewhere.” In 2017, with my daughter just off to college, I decided it was time to retire and pursue my dream. At first, I thought this would be nothing more than a post-retirement hobby, it quickly grew and took on a life of its own. That’s when I knew this was going to be something much more than a hobby. Read More>> 

Paul Third

I’ve always felt that Tayside and Perth have lacked professional music studios. There have been a few rehearsal studios but never really anything that has been able to provide industry level mixes and productions. Audio education is very limited in Scotland and due to that, many local artists have been forced to travel further afield to Glasgow, Edinburgh, even England to achieve “industry” level. Read More>>