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.

Laura Jimenez

I’ve always like to learn new things, it was during the pandemic when I was spending more time at home that I noticed there was an increase in mosquitos that year, I tried to alleviate the situation by burning candles everywhere — some citronella candles I purchased at convenience stores — but they started giving me headaches. I realized the ingredients of these candles weren’t the best and I thought to myself, ‘There has to be a better candle than this!’ This is when my learning journey for candle making started. It was never my idea to make a business but it’s what began when I started telling people I was making my own candles. Read more>>

Jim Niemi

We are ChiGoBee Farm. We moved to Pownal in 2013 with the goal of producing as much of our own food as possible. Our families farmed when we were kids but starting up all these years later required some work. We researched, we read, we watched homesteading videos, we went to farms and took classes. We started vegetable and flower gardens. We raised chickens, ducks, pigs, dairy goats and started an apiary. It was when we got dairy goats that we found our focus. We breed and raise Alpine and Saanen dairy goats. These incredibly intelligent and loving animals changed us forever. They became family and coworkers in a sense. Read more>>

Illiana Hernandez

Big Sister Hour was born out of a personal need and a deep desire to create a space that I felt was missing—one where women could connect authentically, support one another, and grow both personally and professionally. As someone who has always valued deep, meaningful relationships, I often found myself in rooms where networking felt transactional, where women exchanged business cards but never truly connected. I knew there had to be a better way. Read more>>

Joe Lewis

Casey and I, Joe, embarked on a journey to redefine Atlanta’s social scene, fueled by our desire for a healthier, more fulfilling way of life. This journey led us to the world of kava, where that first sip sparked an idea: create a space where people could connect and unwind without the need for alcohol. To refine our vision, we embarked on a road trip along the East Coast, exploring every kava bar we could find. We discovered a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, embracing creativity, connection, and personal growth. Inspired by this experience, we returned to Atlanta with a renewed passion, ready to overcome any challenges. Read more>>

Weslyn Rae Newburn

I actually run two businesses: I’m a tarot reader and one of the creatives behind Creepy Girl Trap, a business I started with my best friend so we could share our art and love of all things creepy with other like-minded people. The cards came first though, so we’ll start there. Read more>>

Jeff Gaites

In the early 2000’s, I was commuting around New York City on a skateboard and started getting into downhill skateboarding through snowboarding. The skate shops that sold downhill skateboard gear did not have any experience, let alone expertise, with speed and hills. As a result, I started recommending set-ups for friends that were getting into the sport. By 2006, I was selling skateboards out of my apartment while working a full-time job. When I met my partner, Kristen Howard, she got us onto the search engines and organized us as a formal business around 2008. Things progressed and we moved into a proper retail space in 2011 and haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Seth Cohen

In a former life, I worked in politics and activism, focused on addressing the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—which I believe to be the most significant societal challenge of our time. Over the years, it became painfully clear to me that our government, on both sides, was never going to take proactive steps to prepare for the seismic shifts ahead. That realization left me at a crossroads. Read more>>

Tina Rushing

Honestly, it all came from necessity. Back in 2019, the Love Hope Strength Foundation decided to shut down their U.S. activations. My husband and I were both working for them, and just like that, our jobs disappeared. But we weren’t about to let that stop us. We had seen firsthand how much impact we were making, and there was no way we were going to let that momentum die. Read more>>

Kate Bradley Byars

In 2010, I moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to work for Western Horseman magazine as an assistant editor. Being from the Gulf Coast, I sought ties to my fellow Texas A&M Aggie grads to find community, which led me to connect with Abigail Boatwright. Abby and I were both on the Texas A&M Equestrian Team, and she was in Fort Worth working as an assistant editor for the Paint Horse Journal. There were so many similarities in our learning curve through our careers. Abby went full time freelance years before I did so in 2015, and we kept in touch as friends and colleagues. In 2017, she started talking me into starting an equine media podcast for fellow freelancers like us. And of course, I said yes even though I wasn’t all in just yet. Read more>>

Anai Sanchez

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a naturally neat person always tidying up my room and organizing the spaces around my home. It was second nature to me, and honestly I found it fun and addicting to take control of my environment. When the idea for this business came to me, I was 20 years old and a full-time college student. One day I was watching a YouTube video where some YouTubers had hired a professional organizer, and that’s when the lightbulb went off. I realized this was a real job, people actually paid others to organize their homes! Read more>>

Julie Gruenhagen

My journey to creating this business emerged from my own deeply personal experience with chronic Lyme disease. Through years of searching for healing, I discovered something profound: while modern medicine has its place, nature offers us powerful tools for healing that work in harmony with our body’s systems. The turning point came during my exploration of various healing modalities – from hyperbaric treatment to homeopathic medicines – but what truly opened my eyes was understanding the intricate connection between our emotional wellbeing and physical health. Read more>>

Jessica Mcgee

It all started with my own personal journey toward health and wellness. I had been struggling with inflammation, fatigue, and just feeling off-balance. I tried different diets and supplements, but nothing made me feel as good as when I started incorporating fresh, cold-pressed juices into my daily routine. The transformation was undeniable—I had more energy, my skin was glowing, and my overall well-being improved dramatically. Read more>>

Marcus Avery Christon

The concept of Chow & Company emerged from my lifelong love affair with food that began in my family’s kitchen in North Carolina. As a teenager, I could be found constantly experimenting with recipes or glued to the television watching various shows on the Food Network while dreaming of a future in the culinary world. Although my initial career path led me to Washington, DC as a marketing and communications professional, I never lost sight of my culinary dreams. After nearly a year of planning, I launched Chow & Company in October 2021 and transformed my passion into a multi-dimensional platform that celebrates food through various creative channels. Read more>>

Mindy And Katie Wimberley

Our business idea was born from a desire to work together on something we both loved – dogs! As a mother, daughter team working on a long run family fishing business we spent many hours thinking it would be more fun to come to work if we were passionate about the products we were making. Katie had a second business as a dog groomer and was dedicated to giving extra attention to her clients. I had spent years working in outdoor, dog friendly, restaurants and saw patrons letting their dogs lay on the dirty floor under the table where I knew there were probably bits of glass and discarded food. Read more>>

Dorothy Nankanja

During my maternity leave, I found myself in a period of uncertainty—unpaid, unsure about my career, and searching for what came next. In between caring for my two-month-old, I would scroll through Instagram, drawn to anything related to events and design. That’s when I discovered sand candles. I was immediately captivated by their uniqueness—sustainable, slow-burning, and scent-free, they offered a stunning yet unexpected touch for events. I couldn’t shake the feeling that they had real potential in the luxury event space and in interior design. Read more>>

Chris Mcspadden

The idea for Mother Mycelium wasn’t something I sat down and planned. It was something that grew naturally from my dedication to mushroom cultivation and the fungal world. My journey into mushroom farming and foraging began as a hobby, but the more I learned, the deeper I went down the mycology rabbit hole.
I started growing mushrooms as another crop in my garden. As my interest in the hobby progressed, I began selling supplies and cultures for growing mushrooms to friends and family. So many were interested in growing mushrooms, but they didn’t know where to start. The information out there was often too scattered, overwhelming, or technical. There wasn’t a clear, engaging way for beginners to get started without feeling lost. Read more>>

Ben Green

I’ve always wanted to publish a science fiction or fantasy series. As a teen, I read a lot of Michael Crichton books and even more Star Wars. The RIMDUUM series was probably my fourth or fifth attempt at writing a series. My first few writing projects were really a learning experience. It’s funny: At the time, I didn’t know that. I assumed I would publish my first book. But most creatives and entrepreneurs need a few attempts to find something worth doing. That’s what RIMDUUM was to me. Read more>>

Alicia Taylor

It was April of 2021. I took a train to NYC to celebrate my childhood best friend’s 40th birthday. It was my first solo trip away from my young kids since the start of the pandemic. Being laid off for 6 months with two kids under five had done a number on me. I was struggling with anxiety and depression and having a hard time finding joy. This trip was my moment to take a breath and try to reset. Heading to Flipper’s roller rink at Rockefeller Center was on the itinerary, and it was my first time putting on a pair of roller skates in over 20 years. I instantly fell in love. It was like rediscovering a missing piece of myself. The joy was transformative and so easily accessible. Read more>>

Kara Kaufmann

I am a mom to four boys and at some point in their childhood each of them has been absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs. One afternoon, they were asking Alexa to play dinosaur songs and kept asking for specific dinosaurs. They couldn’t quite find what they were looking for so I decided, as their mom and as a musician, that I would write the songs for them! What started as little ditties about dinosaurs soon became songs filled with facts, woven with tales of perseverance, growth and childhood wonder. Read more>>

Tenisha Dotstry

It was back in 2016 when I came up with the idea for Fair Winds Candle. My husband and I were at someone’s house, and they were a collector of candles from a brand that does them for different cities. I said aloud to the people we were with, “Why isn’t there a Navy version of this?” As we all wondered why it didn’t exist, I thought to myself that I could do this if I only knew how to start. Luckily, I had made candles before, but nothing at the scale of being able to sell them. I had a fine arts career at this time, but whenever I had a spare moment I’d workshop ideas for Fair Winds. As I developed different scents, came up with the branding, and fleshed out the bones of things I’d show others and get their feedback. Read more>>

Dominique Humphries

I’ve always had a deep love for flowers—their beauty, the emotions they evoke, and the way they can transform an ordinary moment into something special. For as long as I can remember, receiving flowers has always made me feel seen, appreciated, and loved. It was more than just the gift itself; it was the thought and meaning behind it. That feeling of happiness stuck with me, and I wanted to find a way to share it with others. Read more>>

Ashley Ewing

We are a mother daughter duo and started our first party decor/rental business, EmKay Creations, in 2022. We spend a lot of our time setting up decor for clients at different venues all across the DFW metroplex, and ultimately we knew that opening a venue of our own was the dream. We had absolutely no clue where to start, but we started looking around at spaces online and found the perfect spot for what we wanted in an event venue. We wanted a big space that people could really make their own, but a building that also already had character and charm. We looked at one space and immediately knew it was the space for us. We are located in a charming downtown area in North Texas and we’re surrounded by the sweetest community. Read more>>

Cierrah Beltran

The idea of starting my own photography business was definitely in the works for me for quite some time. I was familiar with cameras in my teenage years owning digital ones and I was also in yearbook in high school, I first purchased my own camera at the age of 21. It was a hobby I was always intreated in. I started with taking photos of friends and family, and those I captured would always boost me up, and tell me I should start my own photography business. I then started my little family which I then put a pause on my photography goals to focus on motherhood. I would from time to time pick up my camera to capture their littles milestones. My children Theo and Mia were definitely a big motivation to start my business. Read more>>

Janna Wilson

I have been in Mental Health for over two decades studying different modalities like cognitive therapy hypnotherapy lots of classes tapping you name it I was determined to cure my complex PTSD from childhood trauma. Then the pandemic happened and it gave me the courage to want to educate people about mental health and I thought I wanted to do it through Comedy, so I went to an open mic signed up on the list and Comedy 10 weeks in a row. Then I realized I don’t want to be a comedian, but I would love to host an open mic show. I now host a very successful open mic show going into our fourth year. Read more>>

Savannah Phillips

Idea suggests this proper noun, singular thing that was thought of and then brought to fruition. For Deux Skin, it was more like a million different tiny ideas came together over the course of 7 years to finally be presented as an online esthetic and retail endeavor. I graduated college and moved in with my now husband, who is a career military guy, and got a “real job”. I knew pretty quickly I was not meant to work in an office like that. (Crying in my car to and from work everyday gave it away.) I so badly wanted to be running around a makeup counter in a department store, talking to people and playing with whatever new eyeshadow palette just came out. Even back then, though, I knew makeup couldn’t be my forever job because the work schedule didn’t align well with my ultimate goal of being a mother. Read more>>

Carson Davis

Funny enough- creative entrepreneurship actually found me. There was a point back in 2019 where I reached a moment of desperation and discovered a technique of mixing metal that I hadn’t seen before. This process rendered really exceptional results and I ended up building my business from it. The best I can describe it, and it sounds so dreadfully pretentious, is I paint with molten metal and then paint on top of that with a torch. Since I am currently the only person I am aware of who uses this process, I won’t explain any further. Read more>>

Lexi Zavala

I’ve been a lifelong crafter for as long as I can remember. Always picking up new crafts and art mediums to test them out, everything from ceramics to painting to fibers art and jewelry making. For me, crafting is a freedom of expression because the point isn’t to make something traditionally “good” but it’s about the fun in the process of getting there. Back in 2022 as I was scrolling instagram I saw somebody post a story of a beaded tissue box in their living room and it was truly the most magnificent thing I had ever seen. I decided right then and there that I needed to make one myself and thus began my deep obsession with beading. I devoured youtube tutorials instructing me on what materials I needed and step-by-step instructions on how to get started. Read more>>

Anna Grey

Alley Cats Furniture was born in the alleyways of Chicago. At 20, I was a student focused on film and photography, spending countless days walking to and from the train. Along the way, I kept noticing furniture left on curbs – everything from used IKEA side tables to beautiful antique pieces.

One day, I came across some furniture in the alleyway and the thought hit me: Could I sell this for profit? With the help of my roommate, we lugged it back, cleaned it up, and posted it on Facebook Marketplace. The next day, I was $50 richer. Read more>>

Carla Perez-abreu

In December 2019, I was planning a dinner party for my husband’s birthday. I’ve always enjoyed hosting and curating the event, inspired by my mother who thinks of every detail to ensure a memorable experience. What was supposed to be a small gathering turned into a 35+ person event, and I quickly realized I needed some extra help. Read more>>

Monica Powell

After experiencing my third layoff in two years, I found myself at a crossroads. The thought of going through the exhausting cycle of sending out resumes again felt unbearable. In that moment of uncertainty, I turned to prayer and sought guidance from family and entrepreneurial friends, hoping for clarity about my next steps. Read more>>

Darrian Teams

Hazel Gem was born out of my personal journey with self-care. As a woman, life moves fast, we’re constantly pouring into others, whether it’s family, work, or responsibilities, and too often, we neglect ourselves. I began brainstorming the concept for Hazel Gem in 2014 because I wanted to create something that encouraged women to slow down and prioritize themselves. After years of research, trial, and refinement, I officially launched in November 2020, right after giving birth to my second child, an experience that further reinforced the importance of nurturing both body and mind. Read more>>