Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Jessica Norman | Co-Founder of lil gremmies and direct-to-consumer operations leader

lil gremmies was born out of an idea I had while on maternity leave with our second son. I was trying to order clothes for both of my boys online and I just couldn’t find anything that I liked. There are so many cute options for little girls clothes but boys really have no good options and I got tired of buying black/white/grey. I have spent over 15 years of my career in apparel operations, working for e-commerce businesses, and I figured I already had the blueprints to make this happen so I may as well give it a shot. My husband is a creative director at a branding agency and so I looked at him one day and said “We’re going to start a children’s pajama brand. Read more>>

Nicole Crocker | Marketing Consultant

I had helped my husband grow his companies from the ground up and they had become very successful multi-million dollar companies. When we reached 8 figures, he no longer wanted to grow his companies any larger, I found myself coming to the realization I needed something to do if he retired (I am 7 years younger than him). I knew I wanted to help other entrepreneurs reach their goals so I conceptualized a marketing and advertising agency that provides affordable marketing and advertising services to startups and established companies throughout the United States. Read more>>

Cat Markham | Corrective Facialist & Business Owner

I wanted to do something that I was passionate about without being tied down to a 9-5 job. Although as many know, starting your own business is like working 24/7. I wanted the flexibility to make my own schedule so I can be with my family and be there for my daughter because she’s my #1 priority. At the end of the day, I do it for her but I get to do something that excites me and makes me happy. I’ve always loved skincare and wanted to pursue a career where I get to help people, so esthetics allowed me to do both. Read more>>

Annie Sarinas | Energy Healer/Reiki Practitioner

My thought process behind starting my own business, I wanted to help people find peace, clarity, and comfort in their spiritual journey and daily life. As an energy healer/reiki practitioner, I created a healing space for others to find stillness and reconnect with themselves on a deeper level where they are able to find solace and receive guidance. My background in psychology and experience working with adults and children with learning disabilities, showed me a lot of emotional and physical traumas which became part of my drive to help people heal. I wanted to create a safe and peaceful space for people to connect or reconnect with their inner self, to honor themselves through self-love and self-healing, whether it’s through the healing services I provide or the products I create. Read more>>

Katie & Eddie Medina | Owners & Operators at Lyla Lou’s Cakes & Cookies

To our families and friends, we’ve always been the cake, or dessert, people. From when we first met over eight years ago, we immediately connected over our love for food and deep down we’ve always known that we aspired to have our own business. We ultimately started Lyla Lou’s on an “it’s now or never” whim when we found ourselves without jobs. It was the perfect time to start getting our names out there and hone in on our craft. From there, word of mouth helped us the most in gaining new clientele and keeping a loyal customer base. We would complete an order for one event and then get a few people saying “I tried your cookies at my friend’s party and loved them!”, which is always awesome to hear. Read more>>

Rose Leshner | Founder & Skincare Formulator, 8 Days Botanicals

As a cosmetic chemist, I have worked for some of the largest personal care brands in the country, and have brought over 600 products to market in national retailers like Target, Walmart, Sprouts and Whole Foods. I noticed that most of the products on the shelves, even organic ones, were missing ingredients that truly nourish us- freshly harvested flowers and plants. Being a cosmetic product developer for nearly a decade I was exposed to the sprawling supply chains of botanical goods. With dozens of middle-men, I realized that exposure tracing of ingredients was nearly impossible to trace, and posed a risk to consumers, even when using “natural” products… I wanted to know where this lavender came from, when was it grown, and how was it processed before I apply it to my face, and no one could answer that. Read more>>

Chris Maddox | Lead Singer & Software Sales Director

(Jimmys Buffet, a Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band) Ive been in the tribute band scene here in San Diego & Los Angeles for about 15 years. Id formed various groups & had some success & knew the right people to keep getting work. Turning 50 I decided a needed a new project. I felt Id aged out of my hard rocking ways lol. So one night Im in bed trying to figure out what to do next… I have my airpods on & Im listening to a Jimmy Buffett live album as I sit in bed & ponder. I literally did this for about 5 mins before i jumped up & said “thats it, I need to do Buffett”. Sometimes inspiration comes in funny ways. Read more>>

Erin McClafferty | Entrepreneur & Real Estate Professional

I’ve always felt drawn to entrepreneurship . I wanted to create something that truly reflected my passions and values. Seeing my parents as successful entrepreneurs inspired me and showed me the possibilities. I find I thrive when I’m the one I have to answer to. The pressure of knowing that success or failure rests on my own decisions is exhilarating. Working for myself gives me a sense of control and fulfillment that I never found in traditional employment. It’s about more than just financial gain; it’s about the freedom to pursue my vision and the satisfaction of building something from the ground up. Read more>>

Griff Peters | Solo music recording artist and independent record label owner.

Having my own record label, Impropriety Records, allows me to have total artistic control over my music, my image, and my business structure. I can keep my creative operations in alignment with my overall artistic ethos. I enjoy being the one who decides what music I release and when and how I release it. I’ve been in so many situations as a sideman guitarist where the artist I’m working for is beholden contractually to beancounters who don’t know or care anything about music. Now, as a solo artist and music record label owner, I get to steer the ship from a more pure artistic compass. Read more>>