Coming up with an idea for a business or creative project can feel exhilarating. Inspiration for a new idea can come from so many places and we’ve asked some great folks from the community to share their stories of how they came up with their ideas.

Jasmin Galloway

I knew that I would be forty soon and I was searching for my purpose in life in 2021. I already have the gift of inspiring others to live out their full potential and I motivate others naturally, but there was something else calling my name . Growing up people would compliment my skin and I would make my own skincare products. Read more>>

Sabrina Whipple

QueenBWavin! My baby! I created this company or this person I should say because the world needed her! Back story; I was known for having long, pretty and thick hair! Most beauticians would either charge me extra or refuse to do my hair. They would say it took up too much time. Read more>>

Katlyn Paskorz

I graduated from college in 2009, right smack dab in the middle of the recession. I applied to every place I could for 6 months and finally found a job with benefits. I was hired at a big bank as a teller. I eventually moved to work in one of their offices and stayed for eight years. Read more>>

Jennifer Cook

Hi! My name is Jen! My family has been hosting Sunday night dinner for nearly 3 decades. It started with my Grandparents in 1996. They along with my Aunt, Uncle, Mom, Dad and us three girls, were finally living in the same town! Read more>>

Magdalena Nicholson

The idea for my business was born out of passion and a need in the community. Previous to starting my business I was a full-time nanny. That experience allowed me to meet many parents in different stages of their life and see the need for additional services in the community. Read more>>

Tammy Darmel Moore

A life-changing trip to Ethiopia in the Fall of 2019 compelled me to birth Footprints in Africa, a 501c3 organization committed to aiding the people of Africa, in poverty-stricken communities, with the necessities needed to maintain a standard quality of life. Read more>>

John Wilkins

Hi, I’m Master Tennis 🎾 Coach John Wilkins I’m the former number one player from the USVI and top 3 in the Caribbean. While on the ATP pro tour I found that every player I spoke to no matter how enthusiastic or intent to get better would loose focus during long training sessions on court. Read more>>

Anthony Marcellini

In the late summer of 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I pitched, what later became known as, the Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC) program to Services to Enhance Potential (STEP), a non-profit offering services and supports disabled adults in Detroit and across Wayne county. Read more>>

Malarene Porchia

I came up with the idea of doing hair when I was a little girl, maybe 13 years old, my mom had a beauty salon and she would style my hair every Sunday but when I didn’t like it I would go home and restyle it to my liking. Lol. I figured if I could style my own hair, I could style others. Read more>>

Linysha Johnson

Growing up my family always had a creative eye for decor and could build /fix things. Our family was always known for throwing the best parties! I’m Linysha and I’m the founder of The Slumber Teepee Club LLC. Here we turn a basic sleepover into an exquisite sleepover filled with everlasting memories. Read more>>

Reiko Brown

My business began as a dream. A local reporter interviewed me about the success of my company in the dream. When I awoke, I wrote down the details of the dream in a notebook and forgot about it. Days later, I attempted to purchase tickets for a local symphony concert. The tickets were only sold in pairs. Read more>>

Kimberley Dunn

I am a storyteller. And not merely in the sense of my capacity to hone the power of words but also in that I have an ability to encapture and frame my experiences, whether they emerge from a place of personal growth, joy, or even pain. Read more>>

Gautami Joglekar

Herbiznet is a digital collaboration platform for women-owned businesses who have handmade/handcrafted products. As per our tagline “Women Empowering Women”, these women owned businesses showcase their unique products by leveraging each other’s networks. Read more>>

 

Pace Clayton

I have been in the travel business for almost 13 years and have absolutely loved it. I started my own company almost 1.5 years ago and have not looked back! BOOK IT PACE is a travel collective that offers a holistic booking experience to guide you in the pursuit of travel. Read more>>

Adam Banks

My radio show, Off The Cuff with Adam Banks started out as a podcast. The first episode was recorded on my couch, in my apartment living room, using an iPhone 4. Now the show broadcasts over the airwaves in a city with over 300,000,00 people living in it. I would like to think that the show has made moves since its early beginnings. Read more>>

Shalonda Massey

The Gumbo Lady ….. where do I start? I grew up in and out of foster homes for the beginning of my childhood. At the age of 4 I was adopted along with my older sister and younger brother. My adopted mother Sheila already had three children of her own so we then called ourselves the “Brady Bunch” three boys three girls haha. Read more>>

Jazminn Johnson

In February of 2020 I had just given birth to my son, 2 weeks later I was being medically retired from the Army after I was diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder. At 25 years old the thought of never having to work again was so strange. Read more>>

David Mendonca

After a 17 year career as a blue collar Journeyman Lineman I embarked on bringing awareness to the epidemic that has plagued America, “absentee fathers”. I myself guilty of being an absent father. I soon realized that this problem was wide spread and needed to be addressed. Read more>>

Paul Morales

Growing up in San Antonio,Texas and being of Mexican heritage I am familiar with tacos. The humble bean & cheese taco which consisted of refried beans, shredded cheddar cheese served on a flour tortilla is what fueled my childhood and set the standard for what I thought a taco should be. Read more>>

Candle Waves

Our vision and dreams began with 2 moms afraid during the pre pandemic. Afraid of having no source to provie for our families and losing our livelihood We turned that fear into a passion, and determination and created Candle Waves. We came together to produce something that our grandmother would be proud. Read more>>

Paula Nazar

Dru Mouser, Paula Nazar and Wendy Wilcox met many years ago at a Pilates studio in Bel Air and became close friends. The studio was home to a close knit group of amazing women (and men!) who made attending classes an important part of their lives. Read more>>

Michelle Harris Jefferson

I often get this questions: how did I come up with the idea for WhyWeLEAP Consulting, LLC. The reality is that this life/business chose me. From as early as I can remember, life began dealing me a tough hand. From divorce to neglect, I had somewhat of a tough way to go. Read more>>

Nikki Thomas

My husband, Hugh Thomas, the founder and head distiller of now Gorget Distilling Co., mentioned to me back in 2012 that he’s always wanted to open a distillery. At the time, our youngest was not quite two years old. To be honest, I thought he had been watching too much of the “Moonshiners” tv show. Read more>>

Caitlin Jeffery

It all started when I pursued a career in the software development space in the financial industry; I took Economics in University and always had a strong desire to use the left side of my brain since I loved math, logic and analysis. Read more>>

Josh Mejia

My family has had a children’s clothing line since 2008 called Penelope Wildberry and due to a family issue it was needed for me to come in and take over the business in 2018. I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire life, but I had never entered the apparel industry and did not know the first thing about it! Read more>>

Jacob Fannin

I’ve never been a coffee drinker – but never really liked tea growing up either. I didn’t quite understand it back then. I had taken a job with Carnival Cruise Lines some 7 or 8 years ago and was in the Caribbean for a full spring sailing season. Read more>>

Dr. Josh Funk

I was a Division 1 Lacrosse Player at Ohio State and heard these words for the first time, “surgery.” I had taken a direct blow to my shoulder from a teammate at practices and felt immediate pain in my shoulder. I was immediately unable to lift my arm, and in the days that followed had an audible “click” in my shoulder. Read more>>

Mirko Metitiero

My adventure in pazzoperilmare started for fun, I sent a photo with a short description to pazzoperilmare, it was successful and now here I am. More than eleven years have passed since that photo, over the years, I have made many articles, reportage and interviews, thanks to the appreciation of the people of the web if we still exist today. I like to tell the world of cruise ships and ferries in a simple way, direct and crazy. Read more>>

Gena Flick

Growing up, my family owned a local popular restaurant. Working there from the age of eight (yes, EIGHT!), I learned all about great food! Not just how to make it, but how food really does bring people together. I noticed that certain tastes and smells could transcend time. Read more>>

Courtney Tonelson

It was May of 2020 when I found myself being called back to creating art. I started with mini watercolors of animals and quotes that made me happy during quarantine. After showcasing these pieces on Facebook, I was asked by people to paint family members who have passed away from Covid-19. Read more>>

Maurice Person

So I was working in the fine dining restaurant industry and saw a lot of farm to table networking between chefs and growers when I started growing food professionally. At the same time I was a farmers market manager, I got this idea that I could help people grow food, by being inspired by my grandfather, Joe Person, who I grew up growing food with. Read more>>

Kimisha Leslie

I always wanted to own my own personal businesses growing up and as such made sure I did courses and watched videos in regards to business from high school. In terms if just kickstarting my business without any fear I’d say thanks to a girl I met in my 4th semester at UWI. Read more>>

Sharla Fagan

I have always been passionate about helping people see a positive outlook on life. As a hairstylist for almost 30 years, I have been able to create a positive experience for my clients through the services I provide and the quality time I spend with them. Read more>>

Paola Fuertes

The way I came up with Batter Creations was not the easiest but with a little bit of help I got to where I am today, baking was always my favorite thing to do since I was little, I started to make it a hobby in middle school with my best friend/ co-owner Emily Mota. Read more>>

Katherine Haynes

My husband, Anthony, and I started beekeeping in 2018 out of concern for the decline of pollinators, especially honey bees. When our children were little, I began to garden to spend some time outdoors while they played nearby in our fenced in backyard. Read more>>