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.

Amy Rowan

For 13 years, weekend after weekend, women would come into my private ordering room and tell me what was happening in their bedrooms. The good, the bad, the frustrating, the satisfying. They would ask, “is this normal?” “What’s wrong with me?” “How do I explain this to my partner?” “I never knew that about my body!” Read more>>

Brandi Marconi

I have been a practicing pagan for over 10 years and candles, herbs, oils and crystals are a big part of Rituals. I have shared this part of myself with friends and one reached out asking if I could recommend somethings for them to boost self-love. I wanted to make something for her to help with this and combined everything into a single candle because she loves candles. Read more>>

Abigail Gallagher

My name is Abi and I’m the owner and artist of Words for a Season. My company offers a beautiful way to wear a meaningful word without the commitment of a permanent tattoo. How often have we had a word on our hearts carrying us through a season or love the idea of a tattoo but don’t want to commit? Read more>>

Amanda Montabone

I come from a large family that is very close! We love exploring new places and traveling together whenever possible. When we would go to new cities, my dad and I would love to try new breweries, but since half of my family didn’t like beer, or only liked Coors/Bud Light, we often did not go. Read more>>

Troy Snead

As a young black boy growing up in Baltimore, I was always fascinated by math and numbers. I had a high iq, and an exponentially growing imagination but was rarely challenged. My family referred to me as the quiet one. Little could they know that my young mind was racing a mile a minute. With Besosian ideas I’m sure. Wisdom and hindsight has shown me how spiritual and technical I had been at an early age. Read more>>

Eileen Martin

This was my inspiration to write my first 400-page historical novel, Lena-tu-ha, An Apache Maiden. I am married to the great-great grandson of Geronimo, the famous Apache warrior. 30 years ago, when I met my mother-in-law, I asked her to tell me something about being an Apache. Read more>>

Krista Elvey

Plant Pals evolved from an idea I had for years: I’ve always wanted to redesign the small plastic plant tag that comes stuck in the soil when you buy a new plant. It’s a small thing, but it’s been a pet peeve of mine for years. Those tags are so impersonal and provide little to no helpful information on how to take care of the plant you just purchased. Read more>>

Carson Butler

How I came up with the idea for my business is I saw that people loved the message behind my brand Scars Make Stars clothing, as I was in a car accident at the age of two, but despite that I now show my scars confidently at the age of 19. However, people did not like the designs as much as I thought. Also, I realized I didn’t have any experience in designing either. Read more>>

Mychal-Bella Rayne Bowman

Well we were in Pandemic mode and it was my 5th anniversary as a transplant from NC to Los Angeles, when my mom & I decided to commemorate it by launching MBI Management …a holistic talent concierge with a humanitarian component. I can remember my mom and I figuring this industry life out all by ourselves. Mom closing up her business of 25 years leaving North Carolina in 2015 on faith to pursue my dreams; not knowing how we were gonna make it happen but knew it was gonna happen & still making it happen! Read more>>

Roger Lee

Roger Lee Arts, LLC was launched during the spring of 2012. I wanted to create a lifestyle business that produced my work as an independent multidisciplinary artist, gave me the autonomy to make my own art without interference, and gave me true work-life balance. Read more>>

Jeff Mendoza

Dead Skin Club was born because I saw a gap in the market that needed to be filled. I longed for designs that not only resonated with my identity as an esthetician but also harmonized seamlessly with my everyday style. I found myself on a quest for apparel that could express my love for skincare while reflecting my unique personality. Read more>>

Ari Jogiel

I launched my fashion brand in 2017 and started manufacturing operations in Los Angeles. bringing my ideas to life and creating garments proved to be quite challenging, involving the search for pattern makers, sample creators, and sourcing materials, in addition to figuring out how to position my brand for success. It didn’t take long for me to recognize a significant gap in the market—a full-package service that could empower brands to conceptualize and produce their designs from start to finish. Fast forward six years, and I’ve become the resource I wished for when I first embarked on this journey. Read more>>

Jimmy Murn

The idea for Arise Shine Center was born years ago in a smalltown in Wisconsin. Whereas I was a bright, outgoing child through about 4th grade everything that followed was unfortunate. My parents split and as school went along I realized that the teachers were not interested my view, my well-being, my ambitions. Read more>>

Clarissa Serrano

I knew right away, after I graduated from Cal State Long Beach , that I wanted to start my own digital marketing agency. At the time, I had my own clothing brand called Young and Woke Society. It was a streetwear brand with uplifting and positive messaging, and our goal was to shine light on entrepreneurship and local businesses. Read more>>

Jessica Montelongo

Many years ago, I was living in South Florida because I was in grad school studying to become a Biologist. I was in my very last year where your only responsibility is to write up all of the projects and work that you did from the 5 previous years to create a cohesive scientific dissertation. Because I did not need to be on campus anymore, my wife sold her business that she started in Florida and we used the money to buy our first townhome in our hometown of Houston. Read more>>

Vince Morales

As a professional Mixed Martial Artist since 2015, it’s rare to not see a fighter with a few hard learned lessons in their professional career. Our job is to learn, adapt, and turn potential career ending shortcomings, into markers of growth. None bigger than my 2020 loss to Chris Guiterrez in the UFC. Read more>>

Ini Eyoh

I am a registered nurse with a public health nurse certification based in Minnesota. During the peak of COVID, I was working my first job as a new registered nurse as well as finishing my second degree. Due to the increased stress and workload, I needed an escape. Unity Scrubs was my creative outlet made with the intention of connecting with several healthcare heroes, making an impact in healthcare and my community, and merging my passions. Read more>>

Andre Sebastian

Growing up, I’ve learned that I was really good at two things: connecting people, and creating experiences. Whether it was in school, or on my swim team, or with my co-workers at Google, I’ve always had this passion to bring people together to create memorable, life-changing experiences. People would always say, “Are you going to Andre’s?” or “Let’s have the pregame at Andre’s!” so I knew that I was always the hub of whatever social group or community I was a part of. Read more>>

Kyle DallaTorre

I always loved teaching. I’m a big nerd for learning how the creative machine works. It’s almost laughable to say because each creative machine is, in and of itself, unique. So, I sought out to learn as much as I could about various methods of songwriting, approached to music theory, physics and the anatomy of vocal use, and how to actualize an artist idea into reality. Read more>>

Shai Guidry

Intimate Birthing LLC was ultimately founded because of my passion women’s health, the reproductive system, pregnant women. and newborn babies. The name ‘Intimate Birthing’ was created because of my unwavering belief that the birthing process is the most intimate experience that a birthing person/family can witness. I have held this passion for as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Kelly Dailey

I have always loved dance and have been dancing since I was 7 years old. When I was little, I took ballet and jazz classes. I loved dancing and wanted to share my love with the other girls in my neighborhood. Read more>>

Brad Hammer

A lot of the work I create is seen and/or promoted on social media. I carved out a niche market with the music videos I direct and produce, but realized these were not bringing in the type of revenue I wanted to take my career to the next level. Read more>>

O.P. Almaraz

In December 2020, as the elevator doors slid open, I was immediately struck by the palpable anxiety emanating from the crowd before me. The evacuation orders were in full swing, and my fellow community members were in a frantic scramble for safety, holding on to the hope that the menacing “Blue Ridge” wildfire wouldn’t take everything they cherished. Read more>>

Deneen Witherspoon

My love for candles is what brought La-Li Fields to life! I’ve always loved burning a good smelling candle and just basking in the aroma as it fills my home. One day I was talking to my daughter and said wouldn’t it be nice to have a candle that not only smells good but is made with natural waxes and looks good too. Read more>>

Lucia Reyes

Well, after working in education for almost two decades, I became painfully aware how Eurocentric and often dry, misleading, and nationalistic our history curriculum is at the secondary level. And by that time, I had gotten very good at curriculum writing and even better at engaging kids in the middle school age group in learning experiences that empowered them. Read more>>

Shanna Reid

It is funny how I had nothing to do with this business but it had everything to do with me. It all started in the year of Covid when the world ‘paused”. I was investing a lot of time in my spiritual man and it was an amazing time for me. My spiritual growth was overwhelming and new versions of myself kept unfolding. Read more>>

Torey Searcy

Leading up to 2020 during the day I worked as an IT professional by day and did photography(mostly people) as a creative outlet. I was fortunate enough to be able to continue working remotely once we were into the pandemic, but there weren’t many opportunities for me to photograph people given the restrictions that were in place at the time. I turned to cooking and baking as a creative outlet. Read more>>

Dr. Sheirra Marci

urned out, feeling unappreciated, and stressed from my role in retail management, I decided it was time to tap into my true passion. Being a retail manger allowed me to obtain key skills that assisted in supervising, training, and developing staff members efficiently. However, it was not enough. I wanted to do more. I needed to do more. Read more>>

Lisa Kastner

I’ve been a writer for over 25 years. I started off in journalism and corporate communications. Eventually I decided I truly wanted to explore fiction. Not for any specific reason. I just felt like I had all of these stories inside of me and I wanted to play. After several years of submitting to various publications, while attending conferences and workshops and seminars, I joined the board of various writers organizations. Read more>>

Isaac Williams

I came up with the idea of 215 Music Group when I noticed that the digital consumption of music was evolving and that the need for full-length albums has become less of a necessity. With this in mind, I wanted to create a company that focuses on a single-deal model, giving artists the freedom to explore their creativity and reach their goals without the burden of a long-term contract. Read more>>

Kache’ Stewart

The Rockstar Xperience Beauty Studio is workplace that offers beauty professionals a safe place to service their clients on a daily basis. The system provides an alternative way to allow beauty professionals to service their clientele without any long term commitment. They are allowed to rent suites and booths, daily, weekly and monthly at an affordable cost. Read more>>

Adonis Reyes

Came up the idea for my T-shirt business back in 2018. Was a tragic time for me and my family. Had just lost my grandfather when we were approached by someone who makes T-shirts. We took his offer and what we received was not what he showed us. I made it a point to take over the funeral T-shirt industry business. Read more>>

Peri Bolts

Eclectic CO. was really born out of the need for a place for artists/makers and customers to come together in a beautiful and harmonious shopping experience that keeps community at the forefront. My background is in business operations, I worked for Starbucks for 9 years and loved supporting a large team and developing leaders. Read more>>

Charlotte Berry

Interpersonal skills – how many people today stand out in this area? Read more>>

Amber LaTrece

Ever since I can remember, my heart has always had a special place for helping people. It’s been a driving force throughout my life, but like all journeys, mine had its challenges. There were moments when I desperately needed support and encouragement, and that’s where the power of connection was revealed. When I connected with fellow sisters, there was an undeniable magic in those bonds. Read more>>

Sophie Danielson

As an educator in Southeast Asia, I struggled to find contextualized learning materials that catered to the various ethnicities of my students. I was left with no choice but to build my own learning materials that could foster greater engagement for literate and illiterate students. Read more>>

Tony Maisano

I graduated high school in 1993 and never attended college. I excelled in 2 things in high school, Radio & Television class and Graphics (printing) class. I learned quickly after high school that the real world radio and television business wasn’t very “fruitful”, lol, you’d work a 8 hour shift and they’d pay you $20. Read more>>