Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Elyse Metzger

My story as a professional organizer didn’t start with a business plan. It started with my mom. Growing up, she kept an immaculate home where everything had a place. There was something about that structure that made me feel safe, cozy, and grounded. I didn’t fully understand it then, but that feeling never left me. Read more>>

Julie Harris

I have been in the bar and hospitality industry for over 20 years and specifically, the wedding world for the past 6 years and I absolutely love getting to help people celebrate life’s milestones. Read more>>

Jill Anderson

My thought process behind starting my own business was both strategic and deeply personal — and at the center of it was my mom. Professionally, I had built a solid career as a production manager in reality television. I was the person who turned big creative visions into executable realities – managing budgets, timelines, crews, contracts, and crises. I loved the orchestration of it all. Read more>>

Luis Rodriguez H.

Initially, my idea was to turn my hobby into a business, and thus feel that I never had to work again. From there, the process began where work was simply going and doing what I loved in the desert. Read more>>

Danielle Whisenand

I grew up with a mother who loved to create. She made pottery in a kiln in our backyard and was always experimenting with different crafts, including candle making. She was my first creative mentor, and those early experiences stayed with me. For many years I worked in real estate appraisal, which gave me a unique window into people’s homes. Read more>>