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.

Tracy Spiaggia

This concept of “idea to execution” is the epitome of my business in that every idea I’ve ever had about ways to support others in their mental and relational health journey first began with a challenging personal experience. The most effective and impactful helpers are those who have first gone through the fires that now lick their clients’ feet. The best teacher is ’cause and effect’ in our own lives. Most of what I offer to those I help are interventions, strategies, and insights that were most impactful in my journey. For example, I know firsthand that physical stewardship of the body puts us at a great advantage when attempting to relieve stress, depressed mood, and anxiety. When I was much younger and in the throes of life’s storms, it was obvious that I fared much worse when I didn’t get enough sleep or the nutrition my body needed to offer the resiliency required to healthily navigate the difficulty at hand. Read more>>

Amy Bracco Biden

About two years ago, I was sitting in the pediatrician’s office with my two boys, waiting for their appointment. It was just after the holidays, and the hallways were lined with family photo cards. As I looked at them, I noticed that most of the photos felt overly posed and all seemed quite similar. Not long before, I had worked with one of my favorite photographers and I was still inspired by the energy she creates on her sets—music pumping, people dancing, laughter, and movement. The images she produces are stunning, full of life, and have a beautiful editorial quality. It suddenly occurred to me that I could bring my 27 years of on-set modeling experience into the world of family portrait photography. Read more>>

Denise Ibe

In Asian culture, ‘I love you’ isn’t often spoken; it’s expressed through food. This love language became even more pronounced when my family moved to the US, right before the pandemic. Feeling displaced and even more introverted, I challenged myself to step out of my shell and reconnect with the world. What better way to do this than through food—the powerful force that brings people together? In November 2020, during a family and friends meet-up, I voiced my desire to start a food blog. Influenced by the digital surge during the pandemic and overwhelmed with food photos, I wanted a space to preserve these memories. Food evokes powerful emotions, and I needed a place to revisit those feelings. After that gathering, I found myself on Instagram, brainstorming usernames until I settled on @rollingwithdeneats, formerly @dlrieats. Read more>>

Cherise Michelle

For sure. So for me, it’s always been hard to make it to the end of a project because of my attention span. I start with these big ideas, and I can see the shape of the finished product, but I’ve rarely been able to have the endurance to stick with it. For this upcoming project, I was actually at a crossroads with this crazy situationship when the ideas for my project started flowing. I thought I had known this person for a while at this point, but he never knew me? (Laughs) Anyway, I was in my R&B bag and decided it was time to write some songs about the healing journey I knew was in front of me. Heartbreak and coming to terms with the idea that everything you thought about a situation was not mutual is a tough thing to get over.  Read more>>

Sam Ghanem

I feel like the moment you have an idea it’s up to you to just get started- start where you are and use what you have is amazing advice I received recently. It’s true! If we waited until everything was “perfect” nothing would actually happen. I take my ideas and I immediately think about who would be best to come along for the ride- even if we can do all the things on our own it does not mean we should; when we work in our strength the end result is so impactful and with even a single ally in this effort you could triple your results! When I come up with something I give myself no time to think about who, if anyone, has tried it before, what does it matter? Each idea, like an individual, is so unique that we get to try things out many ways, sometimes it sticks and sometimes not so much. Read more>>

Ellie Soleimanpour

Little Luxe Event and Decoration Services started with a passion for designing memorable events, but it truly came to life when my fiancé and family encouraged me to turn that passion into a business. I always knew I had the ability to create beautiful, meaningful events, but the challenge was figuring out how to take it from an idea to reality. Once I committed, I dove into researching the market, identifying what made Little Luxe unique, and planning how I could offer something more than just event design—I wanted to create experiences. My first big project was for my first client, and while I felt the natural nerves of any new business owner, I knew I could deliver. That success gave me the confidence to keep growing. Read more>> 

Ayana Eason

My journey from idea to execution is a testament to how passion can evolve into something greater than imagined. What began as a simple, thoughtful gesture for my sales manager’s birthday became the foundation of A.Beautiful Flwr, fueled by the encouragement I received and the reach of social media. I didn’t begin with a formal business plan—just a desire to follow what made me happy—and that led me to success. My experience teaches an important lesson: sometimes, the key is simply to start. When you pursue what brings you joy, the path often reveals itself, opening doors to unexpected opportunities. Read more>>

Erich Meager

The main catalyst for going forward with the idea that had been bouncing around in my head for quite a while was my discovery of a crafting machine called a Cricut. You’ve seen them if you gone into a Michaels or a Jolene’s crafting store, and now they are even in Target, but it was a pivotal discovery for my work. I’d toyed with the idea of creating my pieces by hand using an X-acto, but the set of stitches in my finger where I nearly chopped off the tip of put a halt to that plan! My work requires a level of precision that I could not create with an exact and a ruler. I know there are many other talented artists that cut by hand, but I’m not one of them. With the discovery of the machine came the next step, figuring out exactly what I wanted to create. Read more>>

Jane Stahl

“How charming!” I smiled every time I came up out of the Metro in Washington, D.C. and saw one of the elephant and donkey sculptures on the street–whimsically decorated sculptures as part of the public art project titled “Party Animals.” My husband, a graphic arts and marketing professional, had introduced me to Chicago’s “Cow Parade” a few months earlier during a shopping trip in which the Museum Store featured a collection of ceramic collectables fashioned after the life-sized sculptures in Chicago. A year later, during a return trip to Washington, I purchased the book about the project that inspired me further. In the introduction, the author described how the project had brought together people from all manner of occupations and interests, of all ages who otherwise would never had known one another to work together, to learn more about one another, to understand and appreciate one another. Read more>>

Sarau Becerra

The way I started was a greatly a blessing from God and I can’t exactly take credit for all of it. I was working full time as a project manager when several marketing needs kept coming up that centered around copy writing and creative ideas for clients. During this time I consistently shared how much I loved writing and marketing and was happy to help any way I could. One day at a meeting with our team my supervisor told me to go home and create an LLC so the company could do business with my company so I could be paid for the all work I had completed for an entirely different department. It was that day Creative Copy was born and I began to take on the company and its clients and the rest is as they say history. Read more>>

Kyra Leeigh

It all started during my freshman year of college when a friend reached out, needing help with their website. At the time, I had no prior experience in web design or branding, but I saw it as an opportunity to learn something new. I dove into research, spending hours figuring out how websites worked, what made them appealing, and how to structure them. It was challenging but exhilarating at the same time. After successfully launching that first website, I realized I had a knack for this. I loved the creative process and the satisfaction of helping someone bring their vision to life. That experience sparked the idea for Graphics by Leeigh. I remember thinking, “If I could do this for one person, why not others?” Read more>>

Martina Negro

In late 2021, I decided to take content creation seriously. I had always been passionate about fashion and loved expressing myself creatively behind the camera, so turning that into something bigger felt natural. The moment I made the decision, I just started—posting consistently, sharing my outfits online, and pitching myself to brands. At first, it was all about getting myself out there, no matter how small the opportunity. Within a month, I began landing gifting campaigns. I treated each one seriously, putting in extra effort to create quality content. The hustle was real—I had to figure out how the industry worked, make connections online, and learn the ins and outs of outreach. Read more>>

Rachel Boggs

Meilyn Originals started from an idea when I was around 8 years old. My aunt and I came up with my business name. Her middle name was Lyn. My Chinese name when I was adopted was Mei. I am very grateful for my family and friends with all of the love and support encouraging bc me from the start. As I grew up, art and design have impacted my work greatly. My desire to create was growing from drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. I grew more curious about Fashion design and it felt like a calling in life.  The idea is constantly evolving and this year I am launching my first collection which is a Spring Summer 2025 Coastal Resort Collection inspired by Psalms 139:14. I wanted to create a reflection that we are beautifully and wonderfully made. It is purposely designed for women to embrace their natural beauty and shape while having a feminine youthful style for spring and summer.  Our instagram, @meilyn_originals, will announce updates throughout the season.  Read more>>

Kenyatta Mireku

Dr. Kenyatta Mireku: The transition into the skincare business was challenging, but once we made the decision, we hit the ground running. During the pandemic, I took advantage of the extra downtime to complete a course on the logistics and fundamentals of launching a skincare brand, while Dr. Cornelius had been reading about a novel plant derived skin care ingredient called bakuchiol that behaves like retinol without the irritation. Dr. Tunisia Cornelius: From there, we researched and contacted various labs to understand the process of developing and formulating our products. After selecting a lab and testing different formulations, we moved forward with larger-scale production. Read more>>

Robert Jones

As a small-business owner and creative professional I’ve always found that being a professional photographer is a challenging profession. From running the day-to-day business operations, to the marketing and finally the creative process there’s always something to do to keep the business moving forward. Through perseverance, dedication to my craft and self-belief I’ve been able to have a fun and rewarding career and have been able to find clients that are loyal and supportive. I truly love being a professional photographer and am lucky to have the opportunity to do this work. It has not been the easiest journey but it has been worth all of the effort. Read more>>

Cirius Seals

I started PAIN because I needed a creative outlet. Initially I was only rapping and singing but I wanted to express myself more through fashion as well. I was already making jackets, t shirts, jeans and accessories but didn’t know where to start as far as making it a business goes so I started doing a lot of research. I got my LLC, EIN, and started looking into business funding and grants.It wasn’t easy at first finding funding but through the pandemic I used most of my unemployment money to get my clothes made. I even did my first pop up shop in Virginia. I visualized my brand being more of a fashion house than streetwear but as time went on everything just came together how it was supposed to. Officially, PAIN is a lifestyle streetwear brand catering to teenagers and young adults. Read more>>

Vance Mcleod Jr

I like this question because I feel like owning a business is an ever-evolving journey and reflection of self. My only idea was to do what I could to create a positive change in the world. Unfortunately, there is no clear business plan for that thought process, one that I believe many within my generation share. So, as many entrepreneurs might tell you to do, I tried everything. I failed many times, and still do to this day. It was only a combination of all these failures, the continuous living of life, and the faith of God that has brought me to this point of relative success. What you find in the process of trialing different business models and ideas, is that you gain lots of experience, very fast! Read more>>

Leah Dergachev

I had been consulting for about three years, operating informally under the name “Publicly Relating.” At first, I was mainly focused on PR work, obviously, but I also did a bit of communications and marketing work. But I wasn’t really operating under a formal business entity – I was just a 1099 contractor for my clients. The real turning point was when I realized that my clients kept tapping into my broader marketing background more and more, not just the PR stuff. I went into this thinking I would help write press releases, pitch news stories, create press kits, and so on. I then started doing social media campaigns, doing rebrands, and crafting messaging. So then I thought, “Hey, why not offer all these marketing services I’m good at instead of just focusing on PR?” It just made sense. It was better for me and better for my clients. In May 2023, I filed for an LLC, and just like that, Austley was officially born. It was exciting to see it on paper. Read more>>

Sophia Shannon

I started my own cleaning business because I was struggling financially. After so many people kept telling me how good and knowledgeable I was at cleaning I had a brilliant idea to start my own cleaning business. The thought of being my own boss and providing a much-needed service to busy individuals and families excited me. But turning that idea into reality was not easy. After having the idea, I began researching everything I could about starting a cleaning business. I read articles, watched videos, and even reached out to other small business owners for advice. I quickly realized there was a lot more to it than just cleaning people’s homes. Read more>>

Isaiah Jones

I have always loved clothing and fashion, so when 2020 came and there was no school for me, the idea of making clothes and starting a business quickly became a reality. The name “MEZO” comes from my household pet. During the first 2 to 3 months, I dedicated myself to studying and creating a product that I felt comfortable and confident enough to launch. During this time, I also developed a social media presence for my audience. The following months were focused on securing funding for the product, and once I had that, I planned photoshoots to showcase the items. It was a magical experience, working with family and friends to build my brand. This period laid a solid foundation, during which I learned and established the culture and core values of my brand today. Read more>>

Ryan Suender

When I founded WebDyno Developers, my vision was ambitious but uncertain. The goal was simple: to create a company that could significantly impact the digital landscape by providing industry-leading website development services and eventually transitioning into cybersecurity services. After registering my company in Michigan, I executed a rigorous market analysis. Studying both industry giants and local competitors, I identified key trends in marketing and outreach strategies for my specific development services. After researching, I allocated a significant portion of the company’s resources to marketing and outreach. Through online research, I developed a comprehensive marketing vision. Read more>>

Paul Barnes

The idea for The Clint Initiative Podcast was born from several factors. I studied and continue to study filmmaking after decades as a photographer. As a songwriter for decades, I had a multitude of songs and between working with musicians and performers and composing alone using a music workstation, it would always take so much time to produce a completed song. I was recently able to overcome that hurdle using AI powered software and it has been a revelation. All of the songs still require musicians and live performances is a big part of our mission and our fundraising efforts. So everything we produce via our software will be performed live by our in house band. Read more>>

Linda Moncur

Started 2019, I began looking into food business, I wanted to open a vegan restaurant. I’m a Taiwanese, moved to America in 2011, got married the same year, started working in an optometry office as an optician in 2012, became a mother in 2014, While I still have my full time job, I spent a lot of time after work on research, gathering information I need, such as what do you need & how to open a restaurant, where to find the equipment & ingredients suppliers, locations, and how to apply for loans. I visited my friends who own restaurants, I talked to restaurant owners when I eat in one, I had sections with business advisors, I had a good source of people from the relationship I builded as an optometry manager/optician, I talked to many people about my dream and my plans, and I’d get referrals to more people who are related or have the information I was looking for, I read posts on social media everyday, from there you can also catch many information and have connection with the people in the food business field. Read more>>

Julie Pal

Starting a peony farm was a dream that I loved to think and talk about. Through conversations and began to feel a growing passion that simply required a step forward. It was a decision and a leap. I started small, but I took a step forward by securing an acre at my parents farm, and then ordering plants. It would take three years before I had enough flowers to sell. I knew that I could use that time to develop my market, research opportunities for sales, and learn how to actually start a business. I was lucky that what my business was going to be, naturally required a period of time (years) before it was going to be ready to have a product. That made it feel less scary for me. Read more>>

Irina Zinovenko

Back in 2010, when I was studying at the Academy of Culture and Arts in Russia, I was invited to work as an entertainer at a children’s party. I enjoyed it so much that when I was asked if I wanted to do it again, I agreed without hesitation! Over the years, I became a great host for all kinds of events. All my friends always called me the ‘life of the party.’ In December 2022, my family and I migrated to America and settled in Pittsburgh. I didn’t speak the language, had no friends, and had no idea what I could do or how to start. Gradually, as I started meeting people and telling them about myself, I kept hearing the same thing: ‘Irina, you need to bring your parties here.’ For months, I had doubts and was really scared — it felt like such a big responsibility, especially for my family: spending money on costumes, finding clients, finding workers. Read more>>

Brandon Ballard

I would love to say that entrepreneurship was a choice, but it honestly felt like the only option for me. Growing up I did not do so well academically when it mattered the most, and occasionally that stuck with me. I attended Howard University in the fall of 2011 and did not complete my time there, as I joined the Army to help with tuition costs. Upon returning home from basic training and withdrawing from school, I explored a host of customer service oriented jobs which were always perfect for me, being that service to others was my natural gift. The first time I laid eyes on a camera was while I was working as a computer salesman at Best Buy in 2012/2013. The last employer I had was from 2015-2017, working in the casino industry where I was able to grow from being a security guard to a human resources professional to a vip concierge (marketing) in a matter of 2 years. Read more>>

Heather Pilder Olson

I’ve taking several project from idea to execution and this is one of the things I love about writing and producing films and TV pilots. Coming up with the idea for a script, completing that script, and then moving into the role of producer by hiring crew, helping with casting. choosing locations, participating in the production, and staying with the production through post, festivals, and distribution to the public. It’s always a marathon and it can be very challenging, but I love it. Filmmaking is the artform that combines all other artforms. When it works well, it’s like conducting a beautiful symphony. Each artist contributing in their own way and making the final product something magical. And each production is such a wonderful learning experience. I’m excited for more!  Read more>>

Paul Swartz

It took me about 8 years of traveling and putting ideas together. I saw a need for the youth to develop properly. I was on the verge of should I/ should I not when my son was born. The next day my mom passed away. I had a lot of life happen in 24 hours. On one hand, I didn’t want to hold my son to an expectation that I would not uphold myself. On the other side was my mom, she passed away with a lot of regrets. I didn’t want to be on my deathbed and wonder, “What if.” After that, I moved as quickly as I could to make my dream a reality. When you’re truly motivated and driven, no one needs to push you. You will just need to be shown the direction to run and the rest will follow.  Read more>>