The Early Days: why did you start a business

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.
Starting my own business happened quite by accident. Literally. At the age of 41, I was an educator, social worker, wife and mother- until my husband was killed in a car accident and I became a traumatized professional, a grieving widow and a solo parent to our 5 year old son. That day, I was thrown into an unknown world and eventually propelled to uncover every possible tool and resource in San Diego County that would help me restore, renew, and rebuild a new life. Read more>>
Nonprofit specialist, lawyer, entrepreneur. Read more>>
Both of my parents were small business owners, so growing up I had a lot of inspiration around me to be a small business owner myself. They included me in their work often, helping me understand the foundations needed to be a successful small business owner. I knew that I needed to be strong willed, motivated, educated, adaptable and hard working. Considering I was the child that often dreamt about her wedding day and finding my prince charming. Read more>>
I am a massage therapist and learned during school that if I was an employee, I would make $16/hr plus tips for giving a $100/hr. massage at a chain but if I was a business owner I would be able to charge that same $100/hr., set my own schedule and keep the net profit. Being in control of my own brand meant I could use all my skills to promote my services and invest in myself. Read more>>
Starting my own business has always been a dream of mine but I could never truly wrap my mind around doing it. My husband who is an entrepreneur really started to change my mindset seven years ago when we first started dating. I never knew exactly what I wanted to do or how I wanted to do it but I knew I wanted to be my own boss. I started assuming the costs and the work that would go behind it all and time and time again quit with any ideas I had, and went back to a typical 9-5. Read more>>