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.

Desiree Rivers

The desire to provide women with a space to escape their daily stressors, spend time with family and friends, and create memories while sharing in a hands-on experience. A few years ago, my family and I visited a place where you could create your own scent for a variety of home & body products. We had such a great time that we returned on a number of occasions, but the location was far and there was something missing. Read more>>

Vivian Campbell

I believe in all good things specifically being of service to others first and foremost. I am a firm believer in helping one another. I know that inspiration, motivation and encouragement can help someone get to the next the level. I thought long and hard on how I could share this knowledge and believes on a large scale and see what difference I could make. Read more>>

Shamay Oware

Akoma Cares started out as a couple of homeschool moms meeting in a local park in search of connection and community. My husband and I made the decision to homeschool in 2014 and officially took the leap in 2015 when our oldest child started kindergarten. Read more>>

Alex Manfredonia

The concept behind VIN 909 Winecafe’ was a collaboration between myself, my father and our founding chef. My father was the president of a restaurant group in DC for over 20 years. I worked in his restaurants in my youth and then branched off to California where I continued in the restaurant industry trying every job from dishwasher to server and eventually moving into fine dining and management. Read more>>

John Charles Dickson

When I was a pre teen I went to a small mall in Shreveport Louisiana for the first time in my life. As I walked threw Macys that was the first time I ever saw a picture of a model. I said to my mother. I want to do that. She said ok. I’ll buy you a pair of the Calvin Klein underwear. I said no. I want to be the guy in the picture. Read more>>

Vincent Steinbach

Growing up, I always loved to create things, whether that was drawing, creating imaginative worlds/characters, and stories. I’ve always loved sci-fi, and as for how I started writing my own novel, it began in 2015 in junior year of high school in my English class, where we read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, I was fascinated by the dystopian genre from then on, which inspired me to write my own novel. Read more>>

Ulenni Okandlovu

As a freelance journalist most of my story ideas I pitched to the media house about visual art & Zimbabwe’s subcultures never made it to the press. On top of that there wasn’t mainstream platforms that gave a chance for the subcultures & underground artists & creatives to showcase their work. Read more>>

Mandy Schulis

I started this crazy journey after retiring from Massage Therapy in early 2022. I’ve always been very into energy and healing pain points. It was something I have always been inherently good at, so I was heartbroken when the nerve damage in my left hand became too painful to continue my career. I took a logical approach of pivoting to help other entrepreneurs. Read more>>

Mark Divine

The idea for SEALFIT came after a government contract we won with the U..S. Navy’s recruiting command to mentor Navy SEAL trainees prior to their attending boot camp ended. I had wanted to do some innovative mental development with the candidates, but the recruiting command denied the request, wanting us to stick to the known physical fitness and water skill training. Read more>>

Maria Reaume

As a child I began making cookies with my mom before I began kindergarten. It became such a beloved tradition making my mom’s handed down and her own modified recipes. They were always homemade and hand crafted Cookies were holiday treats, birthday additions, gifts, and always a comforting treat available in my mom’s cookie jar growing up. Read more>>

Aaron Pridmore

Starting a podcast has been something I have been interested in for a few years. However, I never dared to put myself out there. At the end of 2021, I decided to create a show focused on youth baseball players. As a youth coach, I have seen and heard a lot of negativities that happen at the fields. Read more>>

Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT

Empowering Veterinary Teams – EVT – was the brainchild of Caitlin Keat, MSM, and myself. We have been friends now for over 20 years, and in 2019 we were both getting to the point of burnout in our respective careers. I had been in clinical practice in veterinary medicine since 2004, had 7 knee surgeries, and was physically & emotionally drained. Read more>>

Dasha Wallace

I moved when I was a teen and made a new friend after the move. I was always a reader, but my new friend introduced me to writing as as asked for my help with ideas. After that I had my own story ideas and started writing on my own. I had to go to school very early and I spent that time writing novels. Read more>>

Dr. Maurya Cockrell

Side Hustle Honors originated in 2015, recognizing individuals adeptly managing full-time commitments alongside their entrepreneurial pursuits. The inaugural awards ceremony unfolded in St. Louis in 2018, marking the genesis of a consistent annual growth trajectory. Read more>>

Matthew Woodland Huntley

I hold my mother’s jewelry close to my heart. It has always been a precious reminder of her love and care. Making rubber band jewelry has been my favorite pastime for as long as I can remember. I used to sell them for a dollar or two, never really thinking of it as a business. But in 2021, I stumbled upon an article about owning a business and the risks of getting sued for using someone else’s name. Read more>>

Trey Bailey

My business blends the two aspects of my life that have been consistent for 30 years. My faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ and my passion for Basketball. I’ve been coaching basketball since 2015 and have been coaching at the college level since 2017. Read more>>

Karyne Tinord

One day in 2014, after losing everything I had like, home, work and boyfriend. I was sitting in an empty apartment, and hear God’s voice say” Let’s see if you can turn this hair into a bra”. I did not argue with the voice and question it, I just though, what do I have left to lose. Read more>>

Carlos Alcantar acosta

Amidst a period of personal darkness and a profound desire to create something positive, the idea for Foggy Clothing emerged. During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself grappling with the physical and emotional repercussions of two surgeries, spiraling into a state of despair. However, rather than succumbing to this overwhelming negativity, I chose to channel my pain into something meaningful, to transform my artistic expression into a force for good. Read more>>

Ashley Yearby

In 2017, I joined my first start-up. It was one of the first hospitality companies to build and scale a business using a short-term rental model (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.). I was the 14th employee so I had a front-row seat to watching this small company grow to over 100 employees. I started on the customer service team and we did a lot on that team. We managed reservations, relationships with all of our vendors (housekeeping, procurement, maintenance, etc.), and everything in between. Read more>>

César Verdúguez

Since I was a child, art and culture strongly attracted my attention. I always dreamed of being able to dedicate myself to drawing or creating comics, but I didn’t know how, or what path to follow to achieve that dream. As the years passed and I did not find that dream path, I had to work to be able to have an economic support and that took me away from my dream. Read more>>

Dacia Ruth

My business was birthed out of a time in my life where I felt like everything that could go wrong did. 2016-2017 was a span of time that really shook up my world. Born and raised in Chicago, after recently losing both grandparents within a six months, experiencing major friend-breakups, a romantic pursuit failing, and being laid off from a job – I took a leap of faith and moved to Atlanta in the fall of 2017. Read more>>

Willie Mitchell

The idea for my business sort of came by accident. Ever since I was a child, I always wanted to have my own art & design business and creating 3-D fashionable art was unthinkable. Until one day many years ago while I was working in my Aunt’s African boutique in Brooklyn, NY. A customer walked in and requested to see some cards. She didn’t see the exact card that she wanted. So she asked my Aunt if I could make a special card for her. I said yes and the rest is history. Read more>>

Dominique Cole

During the height of COVID, all of the restaurants in Austin were closed, so we were doing a lot of cooking in the Cole household. After weeks of eating the same foods, I decided to make an attempt at creating my dad’s recipe for bbq chicken. Read more>>

Makenzi Henderson & Jade Coleman N/A

Honestly, it all began with one crazy idea. As 10th graders, Jade and I were always highly involved in school and extracurricular activities throughout outside organizations. However, we recognized that not everyone at our school had the same opportunities as us. This realization prompted us to initiate a club that promotes leadership, mentorship, and career readiness, ensuring that all students had an equal chance to advance themselves while in high school. Read more>>

Penny Hyde

Many years ago, I found myself at a crossroads in my career within the real estate industry. Having spent six years as a real estate agent in Canberra for a wonderful agency, I had become increasingly disheartened by the ethical challenges I faced. Read more>>

Shayla Wilson

The inspiration behind creating a soy candle brand stemmed from a desire for a cleaner and more eco-friendly alternative. Recognizing the environmental impact of traditional paraffin candles and the benefits of soy wax, I embarked on crafting candles that not only deliver a longer, cleaner burn but also support sustainable practices. The versatility of soy wax allows for exquisite fragrance blending, enhancing the overall experience. It’s a commitment to both quality and environmental consciousness that sparked the idea and continues to drive our passion for soy candle craftsmanship. Read more>>

Basha Hill

I always loved to dressed but as I got older I loved being comfortable but cute at the same time. So I thought created just that. I love a sweatsuit that you can dress up and dress down. Imagine going to pick up the kids from school but have a pair of pumps in your trunk that you can switch into for happy hour with the girls. That edge look, where you can swerve a look while being comfortable. Read more>>

Shinada Phillips Personal Finance Blogger & CEO

As the oldest child of a single mother living in a low-income neighborhood, money was not being saved in our home. We did not have checking or savings accounts. No one in the neighborhood believed in putting money into banks. We hid money in drawers, old lunch boxes, or under the bed. No one in my home or neighborhood had the basics of financial literacy; money was a tool for survival. Read more>>

Hilary Higgins

The first time I translated photography to business was as early as high school. They had started a trial class with 50 students that challenged us to create a business plan over the semester. Read more>>

Rachel Spencer/Wolff

I started my business in the midst of eating disorder recovery–having no idea where it would take me. For context, I went to college for acting/theater and was quickly evaluated based upon my looks and body type. So I spent most of those college years exercising until I’d pass out or trying to skip meals in order to “fit the mold” of what was “cast-able” after graduation. Read more>>

Tiffany Tyson

Boss Babe Szn was established on October 18, 2021. It is built on the biblical kingdom principals of the power of the tongue , speaking things into existence , and casting all of your anxieties on him– Romans 4:17, Proverbs 18:21 and 1 Peter 5:7. Boss Babe Szn is a brand and apparel line that encourages overall well being , and becoming the “boss” . B.O.S.S is an acronym , which stands for Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency. Read more>>

Saniyyah Hasan

When I started my travel business, it was originally something that I was just doing on the side for extra income and to get some savings on my own travel. My ideas for my business have changed since I started it two years ago. I started off booking travel for myself, family and friends. But I knew I wanted to do something a little more meaningful with my business. Read more>>

Kevin Jordan

Throughout my life, I have struggled with ADHD and achieving my goals. It can be exceedingly hard for me to sustain focus day in and day out. Adderall or Ritalin alters my personality and makes me irritable, which can be hard on my family and friends. I create lists and daily schedules to solve my problems with maintaining focus. Read more>>

Joan Lesikin

I moved to Hendersonville, NC six years ago, not knowing anyone. But I knew that nearby, Black Mountain and Asheville, had history and an ongoing interest in the arts. Yet I had no gallery representation here (not for lack of trying). One day, walking the streets in downtown Hendersonville, I came across two artists who had adjacent studios one block behind Main Street. Read more>>

ANITRA DAVIS

My love for baking started on Christmas Day when at 6 years old I received an Easy Bake oven. My absolute favorite gift of all time. I always found myself being in charge of the desserts during holiday gatherings with family and friends, yet I didn’t take baking seriously at all until a few years back. Read more>>

Nate Alexander

In High School I had a friend Who created The Brand Name “Mainly” which didn’t have a vision or any logos for the brand. My Friend came to me which an idea and asked me to create logos and a vision for him (in which i did). Eventually after high school i Took the brand into my own hands (making a long story short). Now making and evolving into the brand it is today,. Read more>>

Olivia Klein

My whole life I have loved creating things. Constructing works of art for myself, family members, friends, and strangers put a smile on my face and motivation in my heart. During my senior year of high school, I decided to start looking for a future profession since college applications needed to be filled out soon. My computer was running 24/7 trying to find something that sparked my interest. Read more>>

Bryant Blakemore

I have had a lifelong dream of being professionally involved in off road racing. A dream that stemmed from a sole passion for cars and the challenge of using a machine to explore nature as well as pushing the limits of human endurance. I spent most of my life pursuing that dream in the best ways I knew how, learning, exploring, and directing my self towards that ultimate goal. Read more>>

Eric Eckhart

Making pizza for me was something that I grew to enjoy doing when I got laid off from my brewing job during the COVID shut down. At the time I was living in Delaware and there was a bit of a void of really good pizza. I started very small with sheet pan sourdough and eventually moved on to making cast iron pan pizza and New York round pies. Read more>>

Heather Shaughnessy

I was unemployed (by choice) over last summer and really enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of creating my own schedule of how to get done everything else that I needed to do each week (my husband and I were living in a tent and building our own home at the time- so there were a good deal of chores and various things I still needed to be doing despite not being employed. Read more>>