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.

Lauren Witherspoon

The story behind Constantine Cigars starts when I was in college. In December 2017, I had this bright idea that I would start my own cigar company. My father, Larry Witherspoon, is actually an avid cigar smoker and encouraged me to pursue cigars. After doing my market research, I found out that the cigar industry is very lucrative but also male-dominated. However, I also found that there is a huge market of female cigar smokers! But not many cigar companies consider them as their target market. Read more>>

Natalie Maccanello

I was inspired to start Barzee when my brother Nicholas was sick with terminal brain cancer. I was living in Las Vegas and he was in Sydney, Australia, where we grew up. I was traveling back and forth to visit him and was introduced to Turkish towels by a friend and I instantly fell in love with them. As a mother of three I was always looking for ways to make traveling and outings with my kids easier, sustainable and stylish. Read more>>

Kristi Price

When I got divorced, I made a lot of mistakes when I started dating. I didn’t take care of myself first, take time to heal, realize my worth, and what I really wanted in a partner and a relationship. When I started dating over 17 years ago, I thought everyone who was online dating wanted to meet others for a relationship. This was not the case and I dated some men who were emotionally unavailable and just wanted to have fun. This is fine, no judgment, but not what I wanted. I’m also a giver so I attract the charismatic narcissist types who can’t sustain a healthy relationship. Read More>>

Shawna Mang

I have love flowers my whole life. I love their beauty and the connection that they bring between moments and people we hold dear. I love that they have the ability to convey what words cannot. The communicate our deepest feelings when words do not suffice. The journey to this road of floral preservation has truly been a lifelong accumulation of skill sets that have been built one upon the other like bricks building a foundation. Read more>>

 

Dream Gray

The idea to create the birth of PinkMagicByDream all started one day when I purchased hair from someone prior. After having issues and spending such a huge amount of money I said to myself , why not start my own business selling hair at a reasonable price with great quality. The idea sounded amazing at the time I was bartending in a strip club so the audience was there. I’ve always gotten compliments on my hair styles because of the colors I chose to do on myself that helped with the interest. Read more>>

Jessica Lee

Language and travel are two of the most powerful tools we have as humans. This is something I have always been aware of, including its extreme transformational tools. Growing up, I was extremely shy and had low self esteem. Language class was the only place in school I felt safe. I wasn’t supposed to understand everything and I was supposed to feel different. Read more>>

Carla Colin

I am an immigrant who came to Colorado when I was 15 years old and did not return to my country, Mexico, until 13 years later. My return to the land where I was born was not in a traditional way, I went as a DACA recipient with a permit called Advance Parole that I obtained through a previous employer, what this permit means is that you can leave the country for a very limited time and when it is time to return the immigration agent who receives you decides whether or not you can enter the country back, Read more>>

Priscilla and Elizabeth Palacios

My sister and I have always wanted to start a business together. We talked about many concepts in the beginning, from a full blown to restaurant/cafe to a coffee trailer. We landed on a coffee cart! Money was always the factor, so coming up with something that was financially responsible for us was key. It all started during lockdown 2020. Like most people, we had all the time in the world to really hone in on what our concept was going to be. Read more>>

Izzy Gandarilla

I am a second generation Latina growing up in the suburbs of Chicago-land., I was always walking the line between 2 worlds. In my twenties i started my yoga practice, first yoga healed my physical body from a knee injury, and then yoga took me on the path of healing emotionally. I carried the power of yoga close to my heart every day as i navigated the medical field as a neuro-psychometrist. Working in neuro-science department I learned a lot about the human body, and especially the brain. Read more>>

Ashlee Rose

Back in late 2015, I was 20 and didn’t have a job. Somehow I ended up watching soap making videos and it seemed like something fun to do. My dad had also been watching soap videos. We both had no idea we both were thinking the same until I mentioned it. He then bought me a basic soap making kit. I had a lot of fun making my own soaps and customizing it with different colors and scents. Read more>>

Delashawn Bordeaux

Speak Our Truth started as a blog in 2018 after I was advised by my therapist to start journaling so I could release the pinned up emotions regarding my sexual assault. I started writing and in the midst of the continuous tears I realized I wanted to share my story to see if i could help others. Helping others to me was way different than expected. I thought i would tell my story have a few people say me too and that would be it. Read more>>

Gabriel / Stephen Aprea / Humes

As actors bouncing around from job to job, we wanted to make something that was not only ours where we could continue to be creative, but also fun and different. We both came up with an idea: what if we make a podcast about craft beer? We could drink the beers on the mics and be our fun selves, while also educating our listeners on the specific brews and flavors. And then, Covid hit. The podcast quickly changed from something that was just fun to do when we had free time, Read more>>

Ashley Wade

I was doing graphic design for a friend of mines company, and some of my designs she didn’t always use. So I thought “why not start my own brand?” And use the designs I like and want to share. It gave me a creative outlet and a way to give myself some extra income. Read more>>

Don Jones

After living in NYC for 15 years and being a musical theatre pianist/accompanist at all levels of theatre, I realized when I moved to Atlanta that the city lacks a bit compared to other large cities as far as continuing musical theatre education is concerned. I wanted to create AIMT to give local actors the same opportunities their counterparts in other large cities had. AIMT is run by three of us who are passionate about empowering and enriching the careers and lives of Atlanta actors, as well as elevating the industry in general. Read more>>

Herbert Zhu

I sometimes watch other people’s work, mind storming, I also like to listen to music to have a feeling of what emotion I want to present. Observing other people’s work can be a great way to get inspiration and learn new techniques or approaches. Mindstorming or brainstorming is also a valuable technique for generating a large number of ideas quickly. Additionally, using music to evoke emotions can be an effective way to tap into your creativity and express a specific mood or feeling. Read more>>

Lindsey Wander

I originally enrolled at Cal State Fresno to study Biomedical Engineering. Several domestic and international internships later, I discovered my passion for teaching and re-enrolled in college to earn my teaching credentials. For several years, I taught STEM in the low-income neighborhoods of California, making it my mission to create a learning environment that was so engaging that it motivated my students to come to school. Read more>>

Cassell Ferere

It was a transition from my life as a photographer into a journalist creative. I started my career and spent the larger portion capturing fashion and lifestyle on camera. I went on to make short films of my own while working on larger commercial sets and independent films. I would end up a Head Photographer at an apparel company, but ultimately, my job was outsourced to China where the clothing was made. Read more>>

Jina Law

Bella Couture Bella Couture Takes a holistic approach to wellness. We believe and support complete wellness. Mind, Body and Spirit. With a background in wellness and beauty. I have always be a conscious individual. However, at the height of COVID we all had to pivot in our careers and life as we knew it. The pandemic dramatically altered all of our perception of wellness and beauty. We have never before seen so many health conscious, individuals aware of how their choices would ultimately affect their well being. Read more>>

Jaime Preston

I learned how to crochet from my great Aunt Alberta when I was around 6 years old. I never made anything because I felt I wasn’t skilled enough but when she passed in 2021 I obtained her crochet hooks and went straight to You Tube and I found a variety of wonderful things to make! I started making slouchy hats with flowers on the side. And I tell you when I look back they were beautiful. I still didn’t feel really confident with making them. One evening a friend of mines admired a hat that I was wearing and she loved it! I told her I made it and she was in disbelief! Read more>>

Elexus Hunter

Let E. Tell It A & E Media, has continued to surprise me with the longevities of our extended services for the future. Stay tuned! This brand initially was given to me in a dream back in 2017. I wasn’t sure what to do with it but to trust it. Coming full circle in terms of career goals and realigning our brand objectives for upcoming projects and new initiatives. The art of producing indie projects are the most essential part of the brand placement. Continuing to improve on business needs for more collaborative opportunities and exposure to other parallel interests. Read more>>

Michelle McCants

Well I got laid off from my job during Covid and I was waiting for unemployment to kick in. Made some cookies for some friends that came in town and they loved them so much they ordered more and then they told someone else and then they told someone else and the rest is history. Read more>>

Whitney Ezell

It’s March 2021 and my business partner Jay, and I, are visiting Augusta for a quick weekend getaway to relax and reset. We are visiting the museum and we eventually approach the “Prohibition” exhibit. I find it odd that I’m looking at a stuffed tiger that is actually stuffed with a liquor bottle inside and the head is removed. This is one of the ways liquor was hidden during that time. I start to really think about what I’m looking at, and the idea of discretion comes to mind instead of hiding. Read more>>

Garrett Derr

This is kind of a funny story. It was about seven years ago when my wife, Hannah, and I were looking for furniture for our home at the time. It was a large dining room space and she really wanted a large farmhouse table. We looked online and everything she liked was outside of our budget. She told me I should make one. At the time, I had no workshop, no garage, yet alone the tools to even build one. But, I decided why not? About a week later, we had our very own farmhouse table. Read more>>

ROBERT BECKER

In 1982, I took a 3-D design course taught by the sculptor/designer Erwin Hauer, and he showed the class some of his works that involved repeating units of hyperbolic surfaces (For hyperbolic, think Pringles potato chip!). Fast forward 6 or 7 years and my daughter Jenna and I are playing with a plastic construction set comprised of squares and triangles that link together along their edges. It’s fun, but I thought, “Hmm, what if these pieces were hyperbolic? Read more>>

Ayanna Dutton Delaila Catalino

[Note for the editor: Delaila and I worked on this together each of us answering two questions] Ayanna answered: Delaila and I met backstage working a show during New York Fashion Week one year. We were in a group with other wardrobe and backstage crew members, but we were the only two people of color. Someone made a joke that wasn’t funny and we both gave each other a look and laughed at how funny the joke wasn’t. After chatting further we discovered that we were both Brooklyn girls, had mutual friends and we were both in sororities. It was an instant connection! Read more>>

Dave & Jenn Pfahlert

In a nutshell – we went from running a business for our own gain to getting to a point in our lives where we recognized the need and desire to pivot to taking more of a service role to empower others. David grew up with a lot of creative and entrepreneurial influences at home and in the community, so it wasn’t a surprise that got his start spending all-nighters at his dad’s graphic design company printing designs, starting and playing in bands, Read more>>

Kenye Pierce

Coming up with the idea was definitely out of the need for better and safer skin care products for pregnant women. In 2017 I was pregnant with my second child, and the skin on my body was a complete mess due to the effects of pregnancy and the third trimester. I had a growing belly, itchy, dry skin, hyperpigmentation as well as other issues that made my pregnancy high risk. I was very cautious about what type of products I used on my body to care for my skin. Read more>>

Steven Watson

A few summers before the pandemic, I was visiting New Orleans. Like most visitors, I was walking down Bourbon Street on a very hot summer afternoon and observed everyone walking with a drink in their hand. One thing stood out to me. Everyone was holding their drink in one hand and fanning themselves with the other. So, I had a thought and a vision…. what if their cup could cool them off as they drank their drink. Ever since then, I have been working on developing and preparing for manufacturing an invention which I call the Fancup. Read more>>

Raji Eid

It all started back in 2017 on a 3-hour drive with a good friend of mine who was roughly about a month out from opening his first barbershop. We were having a conversation about business and the best part of being an entrepreneur is personal scheduling flexibility, along with building a prominent business and not having to worry about answering to anyone i.e. a “boss” but most importantly providing amazing customer service and eminent value to your customers. Read more>>

Tracy Memoli

I was working as a publicist in the corporate PR world and left my job to pursue my passion in the food and beverage industry. I always loved frozen cocktails, but they were always filled with a lot of sugar and bad ingredients. I was shocked that a healthier option didn’t exist, and I wanted to change that. Together, with my life-long love for ice pops, I set out to create gourmet, low alcohol-infused ice pops without any added sugars, syrups or dyes. Read more>>

Bianca Akmal

Unknowingly I started my business at the age of 11 it was the year 1998 when I discovered my passion for hair I was always fascinated with Braids and Hair in general and so therefore I begin practicing I started to use pieces of braiding hair extensions that would fall to the ground when my mother would do my hair I would save those pieces and then use it for practice on my baby dolls. After a while, I got really good at braiding, but it wasn’t until I met a young Nigerian girl who would change my life forever. Read more>>

Samantha Hanson

As a serial side hustler, I have always tested and explored options to create something I believed in that fit my strengths and made a difference. In 2021 I was gifted my first pack of Unpaper towels and after a year of using them I decided to try to make a pack myself. I signed up for my first market in July of 2021, completely unprepared but so excited to see what would happen, I sold $35…to a friend but I was hooked. Read more>>

Seth Pearson

After my Mother ended her life on 2017, it inspired me to deeply explore the topic of self-love. I started a podcast called Love Amped. It followed me and my friends’ journey with self-love. I was in the software field at the time, and I knew I was here on Earth to help myself and others. There was a self-love problem in the world. I attended Seattle Life Coach Training in 2019 and experienced this healing modality called the Life Activation in 2020. Read more>>

Cameron Smith

We are working full time jobs while pursuing their company, Ironpulse. Instead of just talking about being different, we are taking action to prove that Ironpulse is unlike any brand you have been a part of before. Therefore, we are pioneering a new market for entrepreneurs and trendsetters, called Visionwear. Read more>>

Cole Claybourn

I created my podcast, “In No Hurry” when I was in a transitional period of my life. I was leaving a job I really enjoyed as a teacher and tennis coach, and on top of that, my wife Emily and I were moving cities. Leaving my job was hard, but so too was the fact that it meant leaving my hometown where my family and friends were. To add to it, I was leaving education at the time to focus more on my creative projects, like writing and starting a podcast. Read more>>

David Lopez

Since I was a kid I always have been passionate for surfing and skateboarding. I had obsession specially for boards, it was fascinating for me. I grew up having that feeling always with me. Unfortunately I was born in a little city in the mediterranean where we didn’t had any waves or any skateparks. I never tough that under those circumstances I could do anything that was linked with surfing or skating. Read more>>

Annette Mathis

I started off in this business by way of working for another air duct cleaning company in their office staff area. It was a good job and I found out after a short while that I excelled at this type of work and quickly moved up in the ranks of the company. It also took some help or knowledge from other family members I had working with me in the company out in the field. Read more>>

Marigrace Pilger

I came up with the idea for Love-Brain one day when I had made myself a mental health t-shirt. I came up with a design and then purchased it from website. Once it came in, I fell in love with the T-shirt and I had so many other ideas of designs I think would be cool. I got tons of compliments when I would wear my design and realized that other people may also be interested in what I had to offer and so Love-Brain was born! I was so excited but also nervous since I knew it would be an investment of my own money. Read more>>

Kristine Jingozian

My sister, Rose (our namesake), and I started this company in May of 2020, after the pandemic had all but decimated our previous family venture with our mama, Karine, where we made decorated cakes and pastries for events. We had been in the space of custom baking for nearly five years then suddenly had to pivot due to all the closures and subsequent cancellations. It was a scary time, to be honest. Read more>>

Jeffrey Mankin

I’m an old rock hound and Deadhead who was stuck in corporate America. I had a nice career but it had long outlived it’s natural lifetime. I was miserable in the corporate world, miserable enough to take crazy chances on my core beliefs. I had been spiritual but not in a formal way. It was however calling to me in many ways. I was starting to understand that it could effect my life with certain holistic practices. Read more>>

Amy Gardinier

I have a long history of volunteering and serving others, especially via the Boards for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Cary Ballet Company, and Young Life. My career has spanned from NC to Silicon Valley, a hub for technology and innovation. Mix that with my passion for inspiring others to give back (and my two daughters’ need to track their volunteer hours to get into college) — and my new startup Givefinity was born. One evening at the dinner table our oldest daughter was talking about having to track her volunteer hours for different clubs at school, like Key Club. Read more>>

Mike Meldon

Doug Gilbert and myself, Mike Meldon met via a phone call. Doug is a wildlife ecologist and had recently moved to my town, Loveland, Ohio. He was interested in meeting up with like-minded people that were concerned about environmental issues and the local ecology. After searching the internet, he stumbled across a YouTube video of me speaking to our city council about ‘building green’ and making our town a green example to the communities around us. Read more>>

John Gagnon

I first came up with the idea because of my love for having fun and traveling. On a group trip in New Zealand about 13 years ago they had stopped the bus for all of us to stretch our legs, because it had been a long travel day. There was a large open field with wildflowers, flowing grass, and wonderful sunshine. Our new friends and I darted off the bus and all started frolicking in the field. Skipping, laughing, and taking photos. This was my first experience of frolicking bliss. Read more>>