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.

Patrick Bardsley

Spectrum Designs was a business born out of necessity. Adults on the autism spectrum have an unemployment rate of nearly 85%, according to the Department of Labor. A moment that will always stand out to me, and directly inspired the business, was a heart wrenching conversation with the parent of a recent high school graduate who was on the autism spectrum. Read more>>

Ebony Davis

I started Butler & Davis Consulting LLC because I wanted to help private and government agencies better serve Black communities and other marginalized communities. As a student of public administration and social work, I quickly recognized the void between evidence-based practices and what was really happening on the ground. Read more>>

Dalton Okolo

1108 spawned out of a growing want to create and distribute a variety of media in an empirical fashion. Throughout my professional career I’ve been afforded the ability to work in every part of the media production process – from conception, to screenplay, to shooting, to editing and finally archival, I’ve gotten to do it all. Read more>>

Kim J Mills

Entrepreneurship is a passion of mine. Specifically relating to our family owned Natural Skincare Line, it was birthed out of necessity. Cultivated in love, and grown to build legacy and create generational wealth. We began during the pandemic because we didn’t want to go and/or weren’t able to find the things we wanted in stores, so we made our own. Read more>>

Kjersten Faseler

In 2020, I published my first children’s book, E is for Elephant. It took 10 long months of researching the publishing process on Google, YouTube, and podcasts – anywhere I could find resources that walked me through the steps of publishing. However, I found a significant gap in my search: I couldn’t find any one resource that walked me through the entire publishing process from A to Z, and resources on the publishing process for children’s books specifically were even more limited. Read more>>

Joie Gharrity

I have been a Livestream and Podcast Content Creator for over 4 years, and it has upleveled my business for me and taken me to some amazing places. I was invited to Podfest Expo 2022 in Orlando by an influencer in the arena, and I enjoyed it so much that I applied to speak at the 2023 event and was accepted! Read more>>

Zary Irurita

My love for interiors was always evident in my youth years as my grandparents always took my siblings and I thrifting. Sometime my grandma would have me help her put event decor together also. But, this business really took a turn for me when Covid hit and I was stuck at home trying to find myself as I’m sure everyone was. Read more>>

Noelle Vander Brink

We were publishing a lifestyle magazine in the area we lived in- Poconos, Lehigh Valley, suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. We had an equine section in it. A number of friends/associates/readers told us that an equine magazine was needed in our area, and to pull the section out and do it as it’s own magazine. So we started Bucks County Equestrian in March of 2008. Read more>>

Allisa Song

After reading an article from NPR titled “Drug Companies Make Eyedrops Too Big, and You Pay for the Waste”, I envisioned a simple, patient-centered solution to a global problem. An eyedrop bottle adaptor. Current eyedrop bottles dispense up to five times the liquid an eye can absorb. Read more>>

Dwight Morris Jr.

I started my journey during tough times when I felt down and undervalued. I decided to make a change for the better. As I began reading, I discovered the power within myself. I was surprised to realize how external influences like the world, music, news, friends, and family had conditioned me. Read more>>

Laree Starke

BeltlineCosplay was a spontaneous mix of my love for Halloween costumes, a bit of modeling in the past, and a stint as a bodypaint model in Jacksonville. Discovering cosplay at Dragoncon in 2018 opened up a whole new world, and I fell head over heels. Read more>>

Sammy Peltz

Growing up as a woman surrounded by mentors and teachers all teaching repression of taboo topics, I accepted at a young age that it was important to create an altered version of myself: dampened, small, quiet (ish), and afraid. Read more>>

Cecilia Rubiera

My love for balloons did not come over night. It all started in 2020 during Covid when times fell hard for me and caused me to be homeless. Being a teacher back then we had our VPK graduation and my boss wanted balloon decor. I reached out to my friend from high school that I knew had a balloon decor business. Read more>>

Max Crawford

Creating spice rubs as gifts for family and friends turned into a mission to live an independent life. Max is a young man with big passions and dreams who happens to have Down syndrome. In addition to wanting a fun and meaningful job he loves sports, music and earned a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Read more>>

Kelli O’Keefe O’Keefe

The Idea to start FunLuvin’ Fleece was born on the River. For the past 18 years I have been guiding river trips across the Western United States. It really is the best job ever! Guiding has helped me to explore some pretty magical places and get paid for it too. It is also where I came up with the idea to start my own clothing company. Read more>>

Jakob Holmes

During the summer of 2017, I was feeling both disappointed, and genuinely unfulfilled with where my career was going. I was working in places that had nothing to do with my own interests, and time was passing me by faster and faster. For some reason, I never seriously considered trying to make a career out of anything creative or artistic. Read more>>

Daniel Olson

I have wanted to start my own business for a while. After working in retail for almost 10 years for both private and cooperate settings I began my research on how to start my own business. I watched a lot of YouTube channels trying to get all the information I could. Read more>>

Heather Barnes

How it all started was had been growing vegetables for about 5 or 6 years for my family. I was very interested in learning everything I could and trying out all of the different plants and methods so my husband built me a greenhouse just like the one I remember my grandpa had when I was really young. Read more>>

Jade Dietrich

If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I came up with the idea; it found me. Let me explain and dive a little deeper. I’ve always loved the fashion and beauty world, I’m what one would call a girls girl. I started to play into it a little more in my high-school years, and be more creative and expressive with my makeup choices. Read more>>

Jancy McPhee

It was a convergence of multiple events related to my childhood, hobbies, professional training, career path, innovation training, and spark that pulled it all together. Read more>>

Cierra Rosen

The Healing Studio was birthed from a chat between two best friends, who desired to create something to fill a need. As busy moms, they wanted a space of safety, serenity, and all things wellness for themselves, and for others. Read more>>

Shantal Aleman

It all began as a mistake, literally. In the midst of trying to save for our wedding, I found myself in a tight spot. About a year ago, I watched my now husband put in long hours working as an electrician for seven full days a week… a real grind. We had an agreement: I’d take care of all the household chores and make sure he had lunch and dinner during those work-filled days. Read more>>

Jennifer Vinson

I have always loved creating. One day, with the help of a do-it-yourself You-Tube video, I struggled through my first attempt at creating a handmade mesh wreath. As frustrating as the first attempt was, I continued fine tuning my wreath making, and eventually loved the results I was seeing. Read more>>

Dr. Corrinne GRAHAM

The idea to start my company, venture out on my own. This idea came about as I was in my corporate management accounting role and while in college and in my 3o’s. I am only 29! At this time, there was an economic downturn…through my lens; it was not really a downturn. It was just some individuals not being able to what other opportunities were available for job opportunities or scale business or even start a new one. Read more>>

Tim Lyons

I always knew streaming was the future. I always wanted my own television app. Read more>>

Dary Dega

10 years ago, I immigrated to the USA to join my husband and decided to start life from scratch in another country. I left a good and successful job, many years of career and education, and followed the voice of my heart, ending up in a small city in central Texas after the rich cultural capital of Russia – Moscow. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Read more>>

Jazmin Booth

Embarking on my self-love journey in 2020 led me to a profound connection with my natural hair and sisterlocks. Through different life stages and diverse styles, I realized the significance of embracing our crowns. Beyond Your Crown Hair Boutique was born from this journey, aiming to share empowerment and support others on their unique hair journeys. Read more>>

Julianna Williamson-Green

In 2020, my then boyfriend and I moved to Western North Carolina on a whim. It was time for a change of scenery and the Smokey Mountains just ticked all the right boxes. By the fall, I had started working at the retail store Anthropologie, in Asheville. Read more>>

Mick White

The inspiration for my business arose from a profound personal journey and a commitment to living a purposeful life. Following a pivotal moment in my life, I found myself navigating through challenges in relationships, parenting, and my own mental health. The realization that life is fleeting and the desire to create a meaningful legacy became the driving force behind my entrepreneurial journey. Read more>>

Shamari Grant

I didn’t originally come up with the idea to do a beauty vending machine .I knew it was being done in other areas ,but I knew it wasn’t being done where I resided .I wanted to give people a product ,where I didn’t have to be involved .They could pick the product that they liked ,and go on about their day .In todays society people like connivence. Read more>>

Maddie Cain

I’ve always loved photography since I was a kid. I used to always take my moms digital camera and take pictures of everything. I noticed I was pretty good at capturing a moment in high school but I was such a shy kid so I didn’t pursue anything. A few years ago I got gifted with an older professional camera but I let it sit in my closet for a year. Read more>>

Milton and Gina Hambly

Our ancestors were dairy and cattle farmers so farming is in our blood. Our children grew up raising animals in 4-H and FFA, we loved the lifestyle and knew we wanted to live on our own farm someday. We bought our 26 acre farm near Paso Robles in 2017. Read more>>