Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Brandon Marks | Owner @ Oakenheart Photography

Starting my own business was a long time coming. I originally thought up the name “Oakenheart Photography” in 2016 after I’d been photographing at JCP Portraits for years and setting up my own photoshoots outdoors. I felt at that point, I’d gotten good enough and I needed a name to start calling my work a business. Read more>>

Twana Rasoul | Real Estate Advisor

The decision to start my own real estate agent business was not one made lightly. Transitioning from a stable W2 career in Construction and Engineering to the uncertainty of full-time real estate, with its 100% commission-based structure, was undoubtedly daunting. Yet, my wife and I had been laying the groundwork for this transition since 2014 when we began investing in real estate as a means to secure long-term financial freedom. Read more>>

Lia Sabbatini | Astrologer & Youth Guide

When life throws a curveball at you, or you start questioning what you are doing in your life, like your relationship or work etc, I have found Astrology to be the best empowerment tool. It helps us understand the Time we are in, what cycle is ending or beginning, and how to navigate the energies flowing, versus fighting them. Astrology has been in my life since birth, 43 years now, as my Mother is an Astrologer as well, and I grew up hearing what aspects were happening for me each time I was going on a trip, a sleepover, campout or before a big weekend. Sometimes these aspects were accompanied with “beware” or “be careful”, so during my earlier teen years I tended to shy away from Astrology as I felt it to be more restricting. Then in my later teens and early twenties I began to pay more attention to it again and I realized that I didn’t have to worry about an upcoming transit, if I was aware of it, and could channel the energy in a useful way. Read more>>

Kunal Gupta | Financial Advisor

The decision to start my own business was very carefully and thoroughly thought out prior to launching it in early 2023. This was always an endeavor that I could picture myself doing for many years. Read more>>

Gary Stephen Brock | Owner/CEO Mountain Crest Productions, LLC and American Artform, LLC

For all of my businesses, former and present, it always started with a simple intriguing interest. Sometimes an obsession or passion for the industry and the art of it. Although, necessity has played a major role in all of them. Read more>>

Shae Cunningham | Mobile bar owner & bartender

Being in the restaurant and bar industry for over 10 years plus, I wanted to venture out with my 3 best friends. We wanted to make money together while having fun doing it Read more>>

Paris Williams-Suber | Founder of Paris Cares Foundation

When I was in kindergarten, my teacher read me a book called One Boys Magic. This book inspired me to help others in need. I found my superpower in helping others in need. I started with 35 care packages with encouraging messages to inspire those in need. From there, I started my own foundation called the Paris Cares Foundation. I am 10 years old now and have helped over 12,000 people in need. Read more>>

Ginny and Kate | Founders of Newport Knits

The idea for Newport Knits was sparked by our personal experience of spending countless hours cheering on our kids at their various sporting events. We noticed a gap in the market for fashionable fan gear. We strive to create pieces that aren’t merely worn but cherished and that fans can wear with pride beyond the bleachers. The concept of “elevated fan gear” was born, bringing together our love for design, community, and the spirit of support. Read more>>

Aliza Stanton | beekeeper

beekeeping was our hubby for many years. Over the years, Mike was helping friends and neighbors with unwanted bees in their home, so in 2017 we decided to start Aliza’s bee removal from the relocation of the bees we rescue, our hives grew, and the production of honey and beeswax grew and that’s when we decided to start Aliza’s Honey Read more>>

Jonathan Ware | Sport Massage and Recovery

The idea behind Firm Hands was to give people the opportunity to experience a more natural way of healing from physical pain. Before starting Firm Hands I worked in the medical industry where I witnessed patients being over prescribed medication. Witnessing how medication could sometimes be abused, I wanted to create something that would help people heal naturally, thus came the idea of Firm Hands. Read more>>

Steven Barnes | Family man, writer, martial artist.

I wanted a career as a writer: I simply knew I’d rather FAIL as a writer than succeed at anything else. Once that decision was made, I just needed to find working writers to model. Read more>>

Darryl Kemper | Costume and Prop Maker

I saw an opportunity to challenge myself in a new way. I could honestly sit and create amazing things for myself, but when you want to share your gift with the world and monetize it somehow — I think you have to pull yourself out of your comfort zone and consistently try and challenge yourself. So in short it’s to always try and push me to be a better maker! Read more>>

Sunita Goldstein | Founder & Wellness Adventure Retreat Leader

The year was 2010 and I was hiking my favorite bluff trail in Big Sur immersed in the serenity of nature’s beauty. The turquoise waves came in intervals crashing against the jagged rocks with the occasional bark of sea lions in the distance. There was no one else in sight – it was simply me and the sea. Read more>>

Keith Gleason | Creator of the Mighty Mascots & Promoter for the Plastic City Comic Con

It was a natural evolution that went from just making my own comic books to starting my own comic con. So I wouldn’t quite say it was a thought process but more of a natural progression. Read more>>