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.

La’Joya Orr

My business was a bit of an accident! I grew up with a creative mother who made everything from her daily wear to wedding dresses, so it’s always been around me. Read more>>

Kimberly Vawter

Top Hat Rides was the idea of my father, Jim. As someone who has always enjoyed classic cars, my father saw that there was a need and opportunity for classic cars within the Charlotte area around the year 2014. Read more>>

Mahsa Darabi

I’ve always reached for chai or chaii (Persian tea) when I want a cup of comfort. During the pandemic, I found myself wanting chai with more depth and flavor, but without jittery caffeine. Read more>>

Alex Flanders

I was raised by my antique-collecting grandparents. Growing up, we had around 93 antique clocks in our house, antique prints on all the walls, and other eclectic furniture pieces. Read more>>

Phyllis Tucker

I was a couple of years into trying to raise my 9-year-old great niece. I decided we should serve in the church together and we volunteered to pack for BackPack Buddies. Read more>>

Sam Holder

When my girlfriend and I Bella McCowan started dating last summer we realized early on that we shared a love for hot sauce & cooking. I had a garden going with different varsities of hot peppers, and I really wanted to impress her with some homemade sauce. Read more>>

Katie and Christine Reilly

We inquired about doing our local farmers market and we asked if we could sell ornaments that we handmake. The coordinator told us he is looking for someone with baked goods such as cupcakes and welsh cookies. Read more>>

Malette Johnson

Growing up, I didn’t have the privilege of learning about financial literacy from my parents or in school. I recognized the impact this lack of education had on my own life and vowed to make a difference for future generations. Read more>>

Kaley Tocco

The idea of my business came up to me I suppose. I began teacher training in 2017 while working a full time job as a lab technician. Read more>>

Jennifer Jayne

IN 2020 and 2021 life threw me some curveballs, and I caught them with an idea that eventually turned into the business I launched with my partner Charissa. Read more>>

Kris Burns

One day in 2016 I was installing a cabinets and wall panaling for a residential library, and while staring out of the window, I noticed a tree company taking down a huge Ash tree. Read more>>

Tatianna Jones

The year of 2017 I started my first business selling hair extensions and wigs. Selling hair and wigs really taught me a lot as being my own boss and running my own business from dealing with customers Read more>>

Shalisha McKoy

I ventured into the world of baking out of necessity. After organizing and hosting my Dad’s 70th birthday bash, centered around a nostalgic 1940s theme, I found myself financially drained. Read more>>

Jessica Bentley-Johnson

In 2010, my life took an unexpected turn as illness struck, robbing me of my college aspirations and career dreams. After enduring two years of uncertainty, hospital stays, and surgeries, I was handed a daunting diagnosis: Lupus, Pericarditis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Read more>>

Debra Fenner

How I began my childcare business: It was late 2016, I found out I was pregnant with my 1st child (I had been trying for years). At the time I was a parole officer for the state of NY. Read more>>

Cruz Ochoa

I’ve always had a love for music, mostly for Hip-Hop. I would memorize and recite lyrics to my favorite songs as a kid. I didn’t consider writing my own lyrics until I was 16, thanks to a friend I met in art class who challenged me to write and exposed me to artists I hadn’t heard of before Read more>>

Christina Pascucci-Ciampa

I started All She Wrote Books, because I saw a lack in different types of bookstores, and a lack of curation in the types of feminist and queer books carried. Read more>>

Erin Phillips

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved all of God’s creation, but especially horses. When I was very young, my family and I watched the Cloud: Read more>>

Whitney Ferrin and Leah Nielson

First, let us introduce ourselves: We are Whitney Ferrin and Leah Nielson (hence how the name Felson was born..)  We are the dynamic duo behind Felson Jewelry. Read more>>

Alyse March

I graduated from Casal Aveda Institute in 2013, I had many ambitions as all new stylist’s do as they leave the training era of the industry! Read more>>

Kala Maxym

In the summer of 2023, we were a couple of years into dating, a year into living together, and ready for the next obvious step: noodling business ideas. Read more>>

Peggy Wiltz

When I was young, I started out on my journey with oils on canvas to express my artistic side. Life became too busy for me to pursue it further, but later in life, I was encouraged by a lifelong friend to try photography. Read more>>

Ash Glover-Ganapathiraju

I’m Ash, I use she/her pronouns and I run Ojaswe a regenerative food business, on a mission to make delicious, nourishing & culturally relevant food accessible on a rapidly warming planet. Read more>>

Chantell Garrett

Since I was just five months old, the passion for travel has been ingrained within me. As a youngster, my summers were spent visiting relatives across states like Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Read more>>

Amanda Dare

I started Woman-Owned Wallet as a response to emotional trauma I felt growing up. I was surrounded by positive masculinity and femineity was only ever tolerated. Read more>>

Juan Galán

I began my career in marketing at a large corporation in 2014, but I always harbored the ambition to be my own boss. Inspired by ordinary people who grew massive audiences on Instagram, became influencers, Read more>>

Sally Kamara

After embarking on a spiritual journey to Christianity, I became particularly intrigued by the idea that God created us all for a special purpose. Read more>>

Jeremy Webster

The idea for ODAAT Apparel crystallized during a transformative period in my life, shortly after moving into sober living post-rehab. Read more>>

Shelby Brown

I planted the seeds for Beyond the Pretty Face during my college years 10 years ago. Have you ever been told your face will get you far in life? Read more>>

Bailey Chalker

I originally began Magnolia Marsh with the purpose entertaining myself during this struggle of first time stay at home mom life. Read more>>

Christine Ubbink

I love exploring boutiques and finding unique small businesses whether it’s in a larger city or a small town. I’m tactile by nature, fascinated by texture, style and high quality goods, whether it’s fashion or food. Read more>>

Justin Tauch

I created Breakwater Tattoo in the fall of 2019 in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach, California. I came up with the idea after hitting a turning point in my career and wanting to curate my own environment and experience with tattooing. Read more>>

Mike Geeter

I had been in Engineering for 30 years and comedy around 10 at the time. When COVID hit in January 2020, I realized that if I didn’t have my Engineering career, what would I love to do? Read more>>

Maria Delany

My boutique named Louella was the culmination of 10yrs of transition from corporate sales jobs in telcom and pharma to stay at home mom with a passion for creativity. Read more>>

Shaconda Simmons

I worked for a big name tax company. I loved doing taxes. It upset me the prices that people had to pay for a simple return. I felt like I could serve people better by treating them like more that just a customer, at more affordable prices. Read more>>