Starting a business or creative project is scary for many reasons, but one that is often overlooked is the anxiety related to whether this is really “the one.” To some, this isn’t a valid consideration while to others this is the only consideration. Some argue that what you work on, along with who you work with are the two most pivotal decisions you’ll make and so we’ve asked folks to tell us about how they came up with their ideas and how they knew this idea was the one.

Greg Hendry

William & Fields Media started as nothing more than an idea—and a drone. I’ve always enjoyed flying drones, and I knew I wanted to find an industry where I could put that passion to work. At first, I focused solely on offering drone services, but I quickly realized that in order to make this a sustainable business, I needed to expand my offerings. Read more>>

Gina Boykin

Live Music Junkiez started with my passion for discovering great live music. As an avid concert-goer, I found myself attending live music events several times a week, driven by a relentless desire to discover new artists and enjoy live performances. Read more>>

Nicole Pringle

I started Gullah Business of Charleston initially because I had another business selling lingerie and makeup. I thought, wouldn’t it be great for Black-owned businesses to have a platform where they could showcase their brand, do interviews to highlight their products, and share their journey into entrepreneurship? Read more>>

Darius Davila

I started Haunt Me back in 2021 exactly one day before Valentine’s Day. This was peak pandemic period and I was coming off of a bit of a break from playing music or being in a band. The reason for that break being that I had been playing music ever since I was twelve years old and I had been writing music and fronting bands ever since I was fourteen and a freshman in high school. From the time I was fourteen up until I started Haunt Me at age twenty five I knew I wanted music to be my career and I knew I wasn’t meant for a traditional 9-5 job. So for more than half of my life I had been trying to make it in the music industry. Read more>>

Amanda Smith Mccombs

Believe it or not, I signed up for a beauty pageant. It wasn’t anything I ever thought I would do, but I felt the pull towards something different. Until recently, I was a teacher. I was going to tea parties and other events and kept thinking they should be connected to a charity. I wanted something more than socializing with people, I wanted to help others and raise awareness for causes around me. Read more>>

Melissa Baril

In 2016, after 15 years in the Paris area, my family and I moved to Detroit. As a Canadian, I was quite excited about this new chapter in our lives. It felt like a fresh start with more possibilities to develop new projects.
While I wasn’t concerned about my kids learning English and immersing themselves in their new environment, I worried about how they would stay connected to their native language and two cultures. Where was I going to find books in French for them? This proved to be quite a challenge. However, I soon realized I wasn’t alone in this situation. Read more>>

Earl Varona
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I didn’t plan to be in business or even the creative field, but my circumstances led me down the path I’m currently on.

It all started when my parents started a limousine company in 2006 and needed to market their new business. My parents didn’t know what to do, so they asked me for help.

I didn’t know anything about creating or designing websites and marketing. I didn’t know where to start, and YouTube wasn’t popular then, or other video learning platforms I could watch. Read more>>

Dorothy Wade

When the idea of Herb Shack was first mentioned, it was merely just a joke. When asked about what my next endeavor would be after my father closed his business, I replied, “I’m going to put a shack out in the parking lot and sell herbs.” After making the joke, realization set in that the only thing keeping the idea a joke and not a dream come true was only myself. It hit me, “why not?”. I expressed the idea with my daughter, and co-owner of Herb Shack, and it soon came apparent that we were both just as excited to bring Herb Shack to Clarksville. Herbalism had entered our lives in a way that we could have never imagined, and we had a lot of information and knowledge through our own experiences that we were eager to share with our community. Read more>>

Erin Jantzen

For every family holiday or get together, my mom and I go over the top. That’s how it’s always been. My siblings joke that our homes look slightly different with each visit, whether that’s an updated furniture arrangement or a newly sourced antique with a wild story behind it. Oh, this old hutch? I was driving and found it on the side of the road! You like that dresser? Thanks, I just restored it. A man delivered it strapped to the top of his Honda Civic from Facebook Marketplace for $50. Read more>>

Kevin Harris

As a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers me and a old friend would talk about the team for hours. In 2016 I started listening to podcasts and then I thought, hey I can start a podcast about the Steelers. After the 1st episode, I knew something good was going to come from this. Read more>>

Alec Magee

Christmas has always been a special holidays for me. I can remember growing up my mom would always gather my sister and I together to decorate the tree right after thanksgiving. We were a poor family but managed to make the holidays special. My grandmother especially. She went all out for Christmas. My aunt made Christmas swag that she sold to buyers in the city. big full standing reindeer, Santa and sleigh. Grandma had the full set and did not miss a year of putting them along with light around her house and angels. I was inspired from a kid. She had the most beautiful yard in town. Fast forward fears later Moving to Atlanta I shared my love for Christmas and decorating with a friend of mine and she kept in mind. Read more>>

Maura Mitchell

I need to explain a little bit about my journey.

I moved from Austin, TX to LA at the age of 21 with big dreams of becoming a “movie star.”

I wanted to be famous, make great and meaningful art, and I wanted to be “somebody”.

Marilyn Monroe, my idol since age 16 said, “I just want to be wonderful” and I shared the same burning desire. I was desperate to be wonderful.

After little to no real success in acting, I pivoted into the music industry. I wrote songs and performed all around Los Angeles in a duo and sometimes full band for fifteen years. The band broke up and I eventually found the nerve to “go solo” and record an album. Read more>>

Van Sharma

Alongside my brother, we both grew up in the Indian restaurant business our entire lives which our family has been in for over 50 years in Europe and the United States.

During COVID, we both re-jigged our lives and moved back to Portland, Maine after living in London and Australia for a decade. During this time, major beer brands struggled with distribution, especially Asian and international beers from places like India. This got us thinking of ways to solve the supply chain when it came to ethnic beers in the U.S., and the rest is history. Read more>>

Conrado R P Maleta’

If the system is against you, work with the system for your benefit”. After many years producing artworks in Cuba, Spain and Israel, I moved to new York City. Few weeks after my arrival to it, a very famous and well known Cuban artist told me: “I work with the number one gallerist for Latin American photography in this country. Let me take you to meet him”. After some time, we had scheduled a meeting with the Gallery team. I showed them 10 of my artworks and they gave me many words of praise as well as advice. The Gallery purchased at surprising high price 4 of my works and told me: “We will buy and storage it until your Artistic Identity in this country is mature.” I was completely unfamiliar with the way that American Galleries work so I asked what they are expecting to happens. Read more>>

Heather Dearmore

As an autism mom, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find truly inclusive play spaces for children like my daughter. Every outing felt like a challenge—either the environment was overstimulating, the activities weren’t suited to her needs, or I found myself constantly explaining autism to others. Even when I did find a place she enjoyed, I had to be a helicopter mom, hovering over her every move to make sure she was safe and accommodated. Instead of relaxing and connecting with other parents, I was always on high alert. Read more>>

Caesar Walker

Eight years ago, I began enjoying cigars during special occasions, appreciating not just the flavors but also the camaraderie and community that comes with it. A pivotal moment occurred at a motorcycle event with my friend Cnote, where I discovered a cigar trailer that ignited a vision for a cigar lounge of my own. Read more>>

Latasha Baker

One night i was laying on my grandmother couch talking to God and i had told him that i wanted to start a business but i didn’t know actually what i wanted to do and i heard it clear as day Paws and Beauty and i was like huh? lol like God you want me to sell puppy clothes? and instantly i knew that’s what he wanted me to do. Read more>>

Zakiyyah Suluki

On 9/11/2001, I took a leap of faith and had a grand opening of 1st Impreccion Salon. At the time, I had already been a licensed cosmetologist and educator for years, but I knew I wanted to create more than just another hair salon—I wanted a space where clients felt seen, heard, and truly cared for.

The early 2000s were a time when relaxers, heavy chemical treatments, and heat-styling reigned supreme. Women were coming to me with severe scalp damage, hair thinning, and breakage. I realized that the traditional salon model wasn’t enough. Clients needed education, holistic care, and products that actually nurtured their hair—not just styled it. Read more>>

Lauren Caldarera

Every great story begins with a crisis—and ours started with COVID-19. In March 2020, HTX Sewn Goods quickly mobilized to meet the urgent demand for PPE. In less than a year, we produced over 75,000 cloth face masks. Through this experience, we discovered a valuable skill set within our community. Read more>>

Danielle Spencer

I believe my journey into an artistic and creative career was something I was “pushed” into rather than something I intentionally chose. My background is deeply rooted in STEM—I hold degrees in the medical and IT fields and have worked in IT for nearly 25 years. My expertise lies in business operations, finance, and acquisition management, not in creative writing or storytelling. Read more>>

Christina Boos

I’m deeply honored to be the second-generation owner of a woman founded metaphysical business. Sacred Temple Wellness was founded many years ago by my shamanic mentor and his wife. When they took me under their wing in 2018 and began guiding me on my spiritual journey, I never imagined that, in 2025, I would be entrusted with carrying on their legacy. Read more>>

Rj Dunavan

My family has owned a small restaurant located in Cayuga, Indiana, since 2004, called Angie’s Country Kitchen. For years my Dad and I have had the idea of doing a food trailer at some point in life. It wasn’t until late fall of 2023, that the perfect opportunity came up to buy a trailer and it was only an hour away from us. A little research and a quick trip, next thing you know, “Angie’s On Wheels” is coming to life. I knew once I found a trailer, it was only a matter of time before we’d be serving our delicious food that our community had grown to love over the last 20 years. Read more>>

Valluvan K.

My love for visual storytelling started with a hand-me-down DSLR. It wasn’t just a camera; it was a portal to a different world. While my family saw it as a way to capture memories, I saw it as a tool for creation. I’d spend hours experimenting, taking pictures of everything – my friends, my family, the world around me. And the best part? People loved them! There was something about the way I saw things, the way I framed a shot, that resonated. It wasn’t just about taking a picture; it was about capturing a feeling, a moment in time. Read more>>

Claire Audrey

Entrepreneurship has always been in my blood. Growing up, I watched both of my parents build and sustain successful businesses, instilling in me the belief that with passion, dedication, and strategy, anything was possible. From a young age, I knew I wanted to forge my own path—one that allowed me to create, connect, and leave an impact. However, the question was: In what industry? In what capacity? Read more>>