In our view, far too many ideas die at the imagination stage. It’s not because people are lazy, we think the primary reason is because many people don’t know where or how to start. So, we connected with some sharp and generous entrepreneurs who’ve agreed to share their stories of how they went from idea to execution.

Felicia Ford

Imagine this: it’s 2008, and I’m juggling singing background vocals professionally while working a job and working on my master’s degree. Somewhere between the late-night gigs and early-morning classes, I discovered a knack for booking tours and managing events for performing and visual artists. This chaotic yet exhilarating time sparked the birth of Gifted Group three years later. Read more>>

Kathleen Trace

From my earliest memories, I’ve always has a love for photography. I’d take my film camera everywhere. I specifically remember dressing my dog up and taking pictures of her. Fast forward a decade or so, and I’d graduated college with degrees in English and Psychology and I’d started my career as an English teacher. After I’d been teaching for a few years, I had the opportunity to become the yearbook advisor for my school. This role reignited my passion as I had the opportunity to take professional development classes focusing on photography. Read more>>

Brooke Loutzenhiser

After my husband unexpectedly lost his first wife and was left widowed with two very young daughters, He wanted to find purpose and meaning in his career. He had been climbing the corporate ladder in Heathcare administration but wanted to find something more fulfilling. His dad had roasted coffee for a hobby. He had an idea to create a new coffee shop, titled ‘restoring grounds’. Read more>>

Abbie Zanzucchi

My final year of college is what really started everything. I realized That I was so focused on my short-term goals ( rent, food, living expenses, studying) that I didn’t plan for what laid ahead of me. I would no longer be a ‘Student’ and I didn’t know what I could do. I started journaling a list of what made me happy, my needs, and my wants for the next 5 years. I then did the same thing for 10 years. I listed potential jobs, what they entailed, and how hard I needed to work to get where I wanted to be. Read more>>

Delton Harper Jr

I actually did not have any real intent to start a podcast. I was in the process of completing a book, but for some reason I could not finish, which was odd for me because writing comes very natural to me. I would call it a “supernatural block.” So, since I’m aware that the gift of writing did not originate from me, I went directly to The Source-God and asked Him what was the issue with my ability to write. Read more>>

Neyda Urias

I launched my resume-writing business, Elevate Ur Career, in January 2021. For years, people had asked me to help improve their resumes, but I never did because I was focused on other priorities. It wasn’t until that January, after I bought a house that I started thinking about ways to earn extra income. An ex-colleague reached out requesting resume services, and the lightbulb finally went off – resume writing could be my new income stream. Read more>>

Michael Dimock

Turning an idea into reality is often where people get stuck. A critical step in moving forward is finding others who share your vision and are willing to invest their time in the project. For me, this meant connecting with actors who were eager to gain more exposure and saw participating in my films as a way to achieve their own goals. By building relationships with individuals who each bring something unique to the table, I was able to form a cohesive team united by a shared purpose. Read more>>

Bluto

After throwing a string of shows in the local dive bar scene of the San Fernando Valley, singer TImothy Stellar discovered local guitar prodigy Indiana Leary playing for a band called Mystery Rose. A few weeks after hearing him, just by chance, they met again through a mutual friend in a random encounter. After talking about music and guitar, both decided to start a new “supergroup” of local musicians, acquiring long time friends Ian Lindley to play bass and Josh Sturm to play Drums. Read more>>

Tonoa Manuel

The journey from having an idea in your mind to seeing it come to life on paper, and then executing it step by step, is both challenging and transformative. Let me walk you through how I went from making no money and having only a vague understanding of what I wanted to do, to launching a business with a clear plan.It all started with an idea, one that had been simmering in the back of my mind for some time. I knew I wanted to create something impactful, something that aligned with my passions and values, but the path forward was unclear. Read more>>

Judy Lei

In 2012, I started studying acting at The Barrow Group Theatre Company (TBG). At that time, Asian American actors were almost nonexistent on screen. We had Steven Yeun on THE WALKING DEAD, and that was about it. I wanted to be like him, so I did what most actors who are starting out did, I signed up for Actors Access, where they release casting calls for people to self-submit. I thought I would have the same opportunities as someone like Steven, but all that was available on Actors Access for an Asian American woman like me were roles filled with prostitutes, masseuses, or immigrants who spoke with an accent. Read more>>

Alexa Archibald

I had been working at Facebook for seven years and was heading out my second maternity leave. I had washed all of the baby clothes and installed the car seat in the car and then I was just sitting around waiting to have my baby. One thing about me is I hate being bored and because I was off from work and my baby ended up being late, I had a lot of time on my hands. I decided to start an Instagram account, focusing on my favorite design aesthetic – grandmillennial style. I was not really thinking at the time that it would become my full-time job eventually.  Read more>>

Lailyn Buvat

“Life has to be more than this.” Those were the words I told myself when I finally decided to seriously consider quitting my corporate job and starting my own business. On paper, I had everything: I graduated early in Caracas, Venezuela, worked for Fortune 100 companies, won international competitions, got married, bought a house. Everything seemed perfect. But deep down, I knew I was living a life built on external expectations, not my own. Read more>>

Brittani Sensabaugh

Well, my name is Brittsense, and I am the proud founder of 222Media LLC. My journey into the world of fine art photography and multimedia began with a deep passion for capturing the essence of cultural heritage and the power of melanin. My healing work is dedicated to creating & documenting narratives that are rooted from self awareness, Sacred Spiritual Knowledge & empowering, nourishing + activating communities. At 222Media LLC, we provide a range of products and services that include fine art prints from my 222forgottencities series, The Power of Melanin book, and the Class B mentorship program. Read more>>

Jade Oglesby

I was driving to work on a sunny Wednesday morning. While on Mopac, I began to notice my heart rate increasing and my hands began to tingle. I rolled down the windows for fresh air and began to think ‘what do I know about heart issues….’ I was scrolling the files of my mind to try and identify what was happening to me. The pinch in my chest grew tighter and I was scared. I pulled into the parking lot and managed to park my car amidst deep breathing and holding my chest. Read more>>

Jenefer Stevens-michelsen

I started working in restaurants, making pastries, cakes, quiches, or whatever they needed. Although I loved working with them I knew I had more to offer. I wanted to make my own creations, explore materials and ingredients. Basicaly, I wanted to play! So I decided to start my own bussiness and quit the restaurant jobs I had. Little did I know that 2 months after quitting COVID was going to hit and left me without work. Non the less that time gave me the opportunity to explore, so when COVID ended I was ready to sell. Read more>>

Jennifer McNeil

Life is about progression. I’ve provided professional business services for 21 yrs. This lead me to write about my journey and become a bestselling author. That in turn has opened doors for me to become a business owner with those same skillsets. Everything in life is relative if you stay the course. Read more>>