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.

Mike Mireles

Honestly, I got into this business because I wanted to make a real difference. I’m mostly a wedding DJ—sure, I’ll take on the occasional other event, but weddings are really my thing. That’s why I proudly call myself a professional wedding DJ.

Growing up, I went to a lot of weddings, and I started noticing a pattern: the same songs, the same announcements, even the same DJ setups. It all started to blend together. Nothing really stood out. That stuck with me. Read More>> 

Mike & Carrie Foster

Killer Dana kind of found us; my wife worked at the shop and in 2016 Killer Dana Surf Shop was subject to closure by the owners at that time.

We just felt in our souls that the brand had to be saved as it held the memories and tales of the legendary surf break, known as “Killer Dana” . Killer Dana Surf Shop continues to carry on the legacy of Dana Points rich surf history and culture. Read More>> 

Golnaz Shahmirzadi

One of my favorite novels was about the life of a photographer girl in San Francisco, and that story inspired me to move to the U.S. to pursue my passion for photography. That journey led me to earn my MFA in photography at academy of Art, and from there it felt natural to carve my own path and eventually build a business doing what I love. Read More>> 

Rita Anthony

My thought process on starting my own business was to turn my hobby of photography into a career. I started small by doinng local craft fairs and art shows while I was working full time. Now that I retired from full time employment, I have more time to devote to my second career. Read More>> 

Kaveh Nourmofidi

My journey began when I moved from Toronto to San Diego, leaving behind my career in banking to start a new chapter—getting married and relocating to a new city. For years, I felt unfulfilled in my career and longed to create something of my own. Growing up, family, cooking, and healthy eating were at the heart of everything, and olive oil was always the essential ingredient in our kitchen. Read More>>