Starting a business or creative project is scary for many reasons, but one that is often overlooked is the anxiety related to whether this is really “the one.” To some, this isn’t a valid consideration while to others this is the only consideration. Some argue that what you work on, along with who you work with are the two most pivotal decisions you’ll make and so we’ve asked folks to tell us about how they came up with their ideas and how they knew this idea was the one.

Priya Vij

It’s safe to say the idea for Hapny, my decorative cabinet hardware company, was largely influenced by the cabinet hardware distribution company my father started nearly four decades ago. I grew up watching him build and scale a successful business selling cabinet knobs, pulls, hooks, and hinges. I always had an appreciation for those small pieces of metal that help you open your doors and drawers and found they were often overlooked, especially by people my age who are still renting. Read more>>

Camri McAvoy

From 2007-2019 I was a freelance graphic designer and loved designing brand identities and all sorts of marketing materials for small business owners, but by 2019, I was getting burnt out by the freelance model and wanted something different. I love learning about new design tools. I’ve used everything from MacPaint when I was a kid to Adobe InDesign when I was part of a design team producing monthly magazines in Chicago. Read more>>

Matt Alcobia

I came up with the idea for Noize Cartel Records after spending a lot of time in the live music scene as a performing artist. I was really over playing the same music for such a long time and decided to start producing my own. So I built a super basic studio in a spare room in my house, and started recording. I made some remixes of the songs that I played already, as well as some original songs, and when I played them at shows I got a really good reaction from people, and discovered how much of an impact that has on you as an artist, to see something you came up with making people move and have fun. Read more>>

George Valenzuela

The way I came up with the idea of becoming a videographer is not conventional, to say the least. I would describe it as a “solution”, because at the time I had a personal problem. I was in my late thirties when I discovered that I had a sleeping disorder, now I did not know this at the time when I decided to dabble into videography. My decision was made when I thought that I had early symptoms of dementia. The reason for this is my constant memory problems. I remember getting into an argument with an employee of a store. Telling him I was outside of the store ready to pick up the order I made online. Read more>>

Pascale Valles Fisher

My name is Pascale Valles Fisher and I am the owner and founder of DroolBox,llc. I am a proud wife and mother of two amazing little boys. When I was pregnant with my first born in 2016, I dreamt about him all day. I had so much fun putting his nursery together and I was excited about filling his closet with fun and cool clothing. While shopping for him, I was a little disappointed at the lack of variety and quality of male/boy clothing available. The baby girl sections were full of the cutest accessories, but the baby boy sections were lacking. Read more>>

Chade Lopez

My name is Chadé, and I’m the founder of Girlish, a vegan menstrual support brand, that specializes in offering solutions to premenstrual syndromes due to menses, through earth-sourced supplements, mild cleansers, educational materials, and holistic bundles. While menstruation is a normal and healthy part of life for most, menstruation is stigmatized all over the world. Girlish can turn your period experience into a positive one. Read more>>

Kayna St.Louis

Back in 2016 I did my first “Big Hair Chop” and I thought to myself How can I make my hair grow faster? I started doing my research and found essential oils that were great for hair growth. Everyone noticed how rapid my hair was growing within a short period of time. I never thought to make it a business AT ALL…Because I wouldn’t be the first in the same business industry that wasn’t solving hair growth issues, but I knew my approach had to be different and has been and this is how I knew it would work. Helping others grow out their hair didn’t sound like a bad idea… Read more>>

Genevieve Martin Del Campo

I came up with this idea shortly after having my second child, Isabella. She was a completely different baby from my first child, Jose Jr., so I felt like a new mom all over again; questioning everything I did. Postpartum also hit me harder after having her, I just didn’t realize how bad until family members started noticing a difference. I had a few mom shirts in my drawers that I had gotten as gifts, so I started wearing them. When I put those shirts on, it was a feeling like no other. I felt confident and that I could do and handle anything that came my way. Read more>>

Tammie Brooks

Coupled with a strong desire to live the healthiest lifestyle possible—along with a practical need to keep my family’s skin hydrated during Atlanta’s fickle winter seasons—68th & Monroe® was born. What’s in a name? 68th & Monroe® is inspired by my birth year, 1968 and my first grandchild, Nova Monroe—that’s it. In our logo, the 68th & Monroe® cross-street symbolizes, among other things, direction, destination and purpose—three things missing a few years ago when life’s expectations didn’t quite line up with reality. Read more>>

Diane Pintar

Thank you for this opportunity! Before I began Feisty Mouse I was exclusively teaching yoga locally. Pre-pandemic I routinely would give each student a neck rub during Savasana at the end of practice. I had been using a lotion I had bought from a major retailer but noticed it was causing my hands to dry out from over use (it had a high alcohol content in it to help it absorb quicker). I realized that I didn’t want to be doing the same to my students’ necks, so I decided to make my own lotion instead. I created an orange, cinnamon & clove coconut lotion mix that my students all raved about! They loved it so much that they began asking if I’d sell it to them, so I did. Read more>>

Abby Rosenblum

I didn’t come up with the concept of matchmaking, but I did come up with my own and unique spin on the age-old practice. I was a serial dater, meaning I was on multiple dating apps and going on multiple dates a week! I hate to say, I was pretty good at it, and I was having fun too. I went on about 75 dates in a 6 month period, and one of those dates did turn out to be my husband! I was also making every mistake in the book along the way about dating mindfully, intentionally etc. Read more>>

Taylor Winstead

I have always been passionate about supporting and giving back to 1st Respondets & Military personnel. I started a boutique years ago and while I had a blast, it just was not fulfilling to me. One night while trying to figure out what to do, I had this idea to start a clothing line that would help give back to those that are often times overlooked. 1 of my bestfriends growing up, I referred to as my bodyguard (BG for short) he was in the military at the time and I knew I wanted him incorporated in some way, so I came up with the name Battle Gritt (BG). It has been amazing to meet so many amazing men and women who protect and serve not only our community but our country as well. Read more>>

Ashley Butler

Hair extensions has been apart of my life since I was like seventeen years old. I absolutely loved the boost of confidence I would feel when wearing extensions, and as the hair arena evolved, I did the same with it. From high school proms with the quick weaves or partial sew ins to now modern day with the variety of lace closures, frontals, and wigs! In college, I was a hair ambassador for a hair company based in Atlanta for about 3.5 years, I would constantly refer my classmates to the company with my coupon code which aided me for awhile not having to spend money on hair.. Read more>>

Kristen Mullen

I’ve been fortunate to have a number of varied careers, ranging from education to health care to real estate. Through all of those experiences, design was my passion, my relaxation, my energizer and my escape. I loved designing for my own home, my friends and coworkers. My main motivator when designing for friends was to make interior design accessible and affordable. Read more>>

Erik Stone

I have always had an interest in photography since I was about 9 years old. I came from an artsy family so I considered this an art form. Through the years I always had a camera with me but never had the funds for good equipment. At age 19 and 20 I took photography courses in college and finally got a good quality camera. I was elated when I won 1st place in a huge photo contest. I believe my photo won, not due to its technical quality, but because it was creative and unique. Read more>>

Pat Miller

On March 17, 2020, I walk into my living room to find my wife, terrified. There was a newscast on TV about the NBA canceling its season and Tom Hanks being sick with COVID-19, a new virus that almost nobody had heard of. The Pandemic had begun. Initially, we thought about our kids and family and wondered how we could protect them. Next, we looked at our income. We both own small businesses. I am a small business consultant and she is a photographer. Read more>>

Sonja Beauchamp

I launched my business Love Bananas LLC with a passion for organic, vegan and healthy frozen treats. So Love Bananas Popsicles was created under my brand. The idea of Love Bananas Popsicles came from my upbringing having grandparents as farmers, so I understand quality ingredients for my products and I definitely incorporate the best ingredients in my popsicles. The name came from an epiphany one night, my mother always had bananas on our table and any kind of treat always involved bananas, so my mother’s love for this fruit started it all. Read more>>

Ruby Dussek

Like many, in 2020 I transitioned from working in an office to working from home. This transition allowed me to hone in on my creativity which prompted me to create a product of my own. I designed several prototypes that I plan to release, but at that time, nothing felt like my debut product. While I was creating, a reoccurring problem arose. I needed a product that multitasks as much as I do. During the summer of 2020 is when I designed the Orignal Ruby’s Doobies Glasses, a pair of glasses that lets you smoke a “doobie” hands-free. Read more>>

Melvin Harden III

To be completely honest I never seen myself starting a personal/online training business until I had a friend who wanted to get a revenge body after her last relationship. I love to workout in general and she basically bullied (forced) me to get her in shape and she would pay me around $20-$30 a week for 2-3 sessions. Now that was the cost of my membership per month so to start off it made since to me and she was a friend so I was not trying to charge above and beyond just starting out. Read more>>

Tomas D’Amico

I believe in the power of dreams. This is not to say that they are life-changing guiding principles on which to form thought, but rather that dreams are a creative way for your brain to deal with the stresses of everyday life. So with that power, came the inspiration for my novel. There was one night that I had a very vivid dream that spoke to me, from which the inspiration for my novel surmised from. While it may not match the original dream now, the idea was a seed planted which grew into a veritable forest of imagination. Read more>>

Joy Mukiri

Let’s take it back to why I started this work. When I decided to become a Trauma-Informed Mindset Coach, it was an idea that I had been brewing for quite a bit- I didn’t know there was a place for it in our communities. So even though I was working with family members and friends in this area, I always thought it was just good advice and not an actual profession. During my time in the Navy, I experienced a lot of unpleasant bosses, coworkers, and systems. It became clear that there was more underlying because people couldn’t possibly be so cruel for no apparent reason, right? Read more>>

Isabelle DeMillan

A package free, plastic free grocery store is not a new concept. It is a lifestyle of the past that I have brought back to life in hopes to encourage a less wasteful, more mindful way of life. The most recent inspiration for starting The Mighty Bin came a few years ago after I discovered the ‘zero waste movement’ after watching Bea Johnson’s Ted Talk. A light bulb went off in my head when I realized how beneficial a minimalist, toxin-free lifestyle could have not only on our mental and physical health, but on the prosperity of our planet. Read more>>

Hilary Tobe Mokolo

I have always been an artist from pencil sketches, writing stories, painting, etc. I never knew the path to living through my art and even now I am still figuring a lot of it out. I was always pushed to the typical route when you go to school, become an engineer. During grad school, I got the opportunity to really work my creativity with an artist and that gave me the confidence to journey into what my path has now become. So the idea was instilled from birth but didn’t take form until later in life. It is a grind, especially with something you are really passionate about. Read more>>

Aaron Boudreaux

After college I had a decision to make concerning work. With my friends still in undergrad and a life I had spent the last 4 years creating as an adult, I had no desire to move from Louisiana. I felt I could substitute teach while working night shifts at a local grocery store. As a substitute, I would sometimes be at a different school every day. Around October, I noticed the jobs kept coming in. I began to return to the same schools. Teachers started calling to check my availability before they put in to take off. Read more>>

Sommer Grandchamp

I had ZERO plans for starting another business when I created Discreet Journal. In 2018 I quit my corporate job to start a women’s business conference. The process was beautiful, but brutal. It burned me out within 6 months and a major mental break led me to therapy. In therapy, I was diagnosed with severe OCD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Symptoms had been prominent for most of my life, but I had been misdiagnosed for 12 years, which meant I never got treatment. Read more>>

Serena Houlihan

The concept for Le Wren came to us very organically. It is really a culmination of life experience and professional experience. In the spring of 2019, I found out that a dear relative had been diagnosed with Glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The news was devastating and also hit a little harder as I lost my mother to Glioblastoma in 2009. I searched for care packages to send her that were both tasteful and useful and would help support her as she underwent her protocol. I knew exactly what she would be going through since I had watched my mother go through the same thing a decade earlier. Read more>>

Solomia Dolsey Viniar

I have always been interested in art and history So naturally, I love to go to museums, galleries, and exhibitions
Because years ago I work mostly as a model I was connected with people from the art world as well When I came to the USA I started to think I want somehow to start work with art And it came to me because my friend artist from Ukraine had a desire to take part in Miami Art Basel and he needed some help, so I started to think about how to make it happen and also asked to help with this one more my friend who is a smart business manager, and involved on fashion business and she also has a big interest in art. Read more>>

Nicky Altikulac, BCBA

’ve been working with the special needs population for over 30 years now. I wanted to have a resource FOR them as much as ABOUT them. There are so many YouTube videos for the neurotypical population that are not applicable for special needs individuals. It has always been, in my mind, a necessity to educate the public on the nature of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and while many different educational platforms were considered, the Youtube option made it more affordable for me to start. Read more>>

Svetlana Elgart

Being a mom of three daughters and very involved in their daily activities and volunteering in schools, I have noticed early that there is no education provided to our children on health, wellness, nutrition in our school system. I also have noticed how many children were obese and diabetic that were around my children and started to ask myself the question why does this happen. As per Harvard University study the only way to change something is through education. I felt that I wanted to do something meaningful that will help our next generation offset diabetes and obesity and decided that Rainbow Chefs Academy will the vehicle for that change that is so needed in our society. Read more>>

Sheena Morgan

During my professional career I always worked with minority and women owned businesses. I had the opportunity to hear the stories of success and witness the closure of many businesses. While the success stories were intriguing, I was more interested why businesses were closing and what types of gaps and missteps were present. Honestly, there was one story that resonated with me. A business owner had a great business and had won several large scale contracts. They bid on this one project and won the services related to site clearing. Read more>>

Christa Skinnell

From an early age, I loved to dream and plan…BIG! Big ideas and moments that I did not know how I would ever be able to accomplish, yet deep down inside me, I knew it would happen. I would write them down and somehow that cemented in my mind that it would be so. Yes, most of my dreams and plans did come true. A notable teenage dream I wrote down was that one day, before I die, I was going to meet Steve Perry, lead singer of Journey. A couple of months later, I did! Read more>>

Survi Nathany

I studied Textile design from one of the premier institute of design in INDIA, I was born and brought up in NEPAL where I got to see the beautiful textiles created by the talented artisans. I was always very drawn to it and after learning more about textiles and the various processes of weaving in the design school, it gave me different perspective. I got more and more interested to create and design and help the artisans in Nepal to have a broader reach globally which was possible once I moved to the US in 2010. Read more>>

Jeff Ejekam

Before anything I knew I wanted to go into business with my best friends. I knew with the influence, pull, and impact we have individually we could do something really special as a group. Initially we started our journey as event curators. We hosted several different events and managed to bring large crowds in spaces where the vibes were absolutely immaculate. Then we started realizing that though having fun at events is great we have the power to really make a difference in people’s lives with the way we are able to bring people together. We asked ourselves what is something that is needed in our community. Well with the help of a special podcast called Earn Your Leisure we knew exactly what we wanted to do. Read more>>

Joe Roberson, Jr.

On Jun 1, 2017, I was abruptly awakened from a sound sleep at 3 AM. It wasn’t uncommon for me to experience a restless night’s sleep in a hotel room while on business, but this was truly different and if I can be honest, quite terrifying. We have all had those scary dreams that cause us to awaken in a cold sweat with our hearts racing. Instead of experiencing a bizarre event while asleep, mine began seconds before an awakening, both literally and figuratively. Read more>>

Mister Figg

I had always been interested in fun, fantasy, adventure or science fiction stories for kids – but mostly fantasy. Like many kids of my generation growing up in the 1970s, I loved Dr. Suess. Added with that, I enjoyed some of the classics, like The Wizard of Oz, Alice In Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, Peter Pan and many others. The potential writer’s and creative’s bug was always hanging around me…even when I would look at other possibilities in life. Eventually it took over at some point. I wanted to be a writer in some capacity. Read more>>