Over the years as we connected with incredible from folks from almost every imaginable industry we realized that every nook and cranny of our economy is full of small business owners, artists and creatives who live and breathe what they do – and their stories are nothing short of heroic. It’s the immigrant parents who overcame the odds and kept their small business alive for decades allowing their next generation to thrive and the artisans who pour their passion into every piece and refuse to let even the most common items remain mundane that make our communities come alive. The stories below will inspire you and we hope you’ll take the time to read and connect with these incredible folks.
Jimmy Blanco
From the start of my company it was just me, I did everything myself from shooting to lighting to sound and editing. I did that for quite a few years until I got really good at each position. It also taught me how to communicate exactly what I wanted efficiently to every one of my department heads when working on bigger projects. It’s something I recommend every aspiring director try. Read More>>
Amber McMillan
I started CLEO with my co-founder, Brian in early 2024. Though both of us are seasoned hospitality operators, neither of us had direct experience in the aesthetic dermatology / medspa space prior, so we were sure to allocate a large block of time to recruiting our initial providers before opening up our first location. Through a combination of referral from friends, our medical director and posting on Indeed, we were able to surface a strong pipeline of candidates. Read More>>
Sherese Danielle Ezelle
One of the most impactful stories from my practice involves a client who initially approached therapy with a great deal of reluctance. This individual came from a cultural background where seeking therapy was often stigmatized, and they didn’t see its value. When we began our sessions, they were grappling with extreme stress at work and struggling to connect with their family, resulting in feelings of hopelessness. In fact, their anxiety score was the highest I had encountered in my career. Read More>>
Al Snow
The best advice I have ever given a client is to remember that anytime we experience the belief or feeling of separation, it causes depression. For example, as soon as we think we are better than someone or a group of people, or when we believe there are individuals or groups more important than ourselves, we are going to fall into a state of depression, whether we realize that consciously or hold the belief subconsciously. Read More>>
Gloria L. Parent
Absolutely—I’m much happier as a business owner than I ever was in any corporate role. Throughout my career, I worked in several industries, and I consistently found it challenging to be truly seen as a leader or to feel empowered, despite my dedication and hard work. There were always systemic barriers, conflicting opinions, and layers of corporate structure that often limited advancement, especially for someone like me—a senior, minority woman. Read More>>
Vanessa Mangan
The first two weeks was the turning point for me. As I studied anatomy and physiology I realized massage field wasn’t as foo foo as I thought, i quickly realized I really liked it and after class one day I went and drop out of college, which I was suppose to start in the fall for business school. Read More>>
Danna Davis
When I came to the US from China, I knew very very little English. However, in China, I worked as a massage therapist and aesthetician at a five-star hotel. I wanted to continue in this area, but I needed to get a license in the United States in order to practice as esthetician. I decided I would enroll in the Esthetic Institute in Virginia regardless of not knowing English. Read More>>
Amy Tackitt
I have to say that I have been incredibly blessed lately as I continue to grow and change personally and in my small business life. In May, I participated in the Boerne Handmade Market which happens twice a year and you have to apply and get selected. Before the market took place, one of the leaders of the market, Tiffany, had reached out and asked if they could feature some of my brittle (along with a few other vendors) for their segment on KSAT 12’s SA Live show! Read More>>
Isabela Livingstone
The tattoo industry has historically been a male-centered space that suffers from a very insular culture, and remains oftentimes very damaging to female artists, queer artists, and artists on the spectrum. Consequently, many shops are workplaces that feel uncomfortable or unsafe for those groups. I have heard many horror stories from my artists, shop owners, and customers about their experiences in traditional tattoo spaces, everything from discomfort to assault. Read More>>
Elijah Knecht
Thankfully as an aspiring photographer, vacations are the time where I really get to play with my craft, indulge in the extraordinary things in the world, and see things literally and figuratively through a different lens. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day of life but prioritizing getting out into the world to recognize the magic that could be considered mundane for one person could be extraordinary for me. Read More>>
Katie Sica
Yessssss!
You’ve got to do it. I believe we were created for good and meaningful work, but we are also human, and we need rest. Without time away and time to invest in yourself and others, you won’t be able to give your best self to your work. We mentally need breaks in order to sharpen focus. Read More>>
Brian Bell
Yes, we donate a potion of every project’s proceeds to animal shelters and rescue foundations. It’s something we’ve done since the very beginning of Rescue Media. The name itself is a nod to our mission – not just to help clients tell meaningful stories, but to do some good in the process. Read More>>
Ellen Zangla
In 2018, I published a book, “Tails of Loudoun County,” that raised more than $30,000 for two animal welfare groups in Loudoun County: Friends of Loudoun County Animal Services (FLCAS) and the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition (LCCC). The book featured photos and stories of more than 200 pets in scenic and historic locations in Loudoun. I donated 25% of each session fee to those groups (split between them). Read More>>
Caroline Ward
When I stepped away from my full-time CPA work to focus on family, I found myself feeling totally lost and disconnected, as may moms do. I wasn’t taking care of my body or mind, and depression crept in. My doctor suggested walking to get moving, but honestly, I could barely get out of bed some days. Those long walks with my babies became my medicine & a lifeline—times I prayed, wrestled, and begged God for clarity and peace. During a walk, I heard from the Lord ‘Do what you love!’ Read More>>
Natalia Love Angelou
When I first stepped into the path of starting my own holistic practice, I didn’t have a map, I had a calling. I knew I was meant to help people connect to their healing through body, mind, and spirit. I didn’t wait to feel ready. I trusted myself, showed up every day, and took small, soul-aligned steps, even when no one was watching. Read More>>
Vincent De Cosmo
Well, this has been a concept we have been struggling with, as a small family business that has A LOT of overhead costs. But what it keeps coming down to is, we don’t want to compromise the quality of our products by solely focusing on cutting costs, at all costs. No, rather we began working on creating events and promotions to drive business and bring awareness to our business. Read More>>
Danny Fingeroth
Jack Kirby. Kirby was an enormously talented writer, artist, and editor who co-created most of the Marvel Universe. Aside from his creativity, he was known for his great integrity and for the guidance he gave to many young writers and artists. Read More>>
Kate LeCerf
I launched my interior design business in the fall of 2021, a time when virtual services had become the norm. From the beginning, I built my business model around offering virtual design—and it has been incredibly rewarding. Virtual design has allowed me to work with clients across the country, expanding my reach well beyond my Colorado base. Read More>>
Nico Grossfeld
When I started in the industry I was working out of multiple recording studios in LA. It was invaluable experience to be present in hundreds of sessions and to be working with musicians, artists and producers. I eventually found my strengths and was able to do most work in my home studio. Session files could be sent to me, I’d comp and tune vocals, mix and master songs, handle client feedback all from home. Read More>>
Liz
Absolutely, I’ve experienced a few U-turns in the yoga industry—and one of the biggest has been the shift from aesthetics and performance-based yoga toward a more therapeutic, inclusive, and function-based approach. Read More>>
Nicole Sahbaee
When we started En Root Travel, we knew we wanted to create a safe, joyful space for HBCU alumni to explore the African Diaspora. We also knew that service was core to who we became at Howard University. That’s why intentional service —meeting the real wants and needs of the communities we visit, has been part of every trip from day one. Read More>>
Kristen Wilson Day
Women in the shooting industry are a small demographic…. at SHOT Show (largest industry show in Vegas every year) you walk around and mostly see men. At shooting competitions, largest demographic is men. Most shooting related manuf target men, because they are the majority. Most firearms instructors are men. You walk into a range, most are men. I teach women to shoot and encourage women to get into competition and help break through the barrier of the male dominated 2A industry. Read More>>
Christopher Sisco
At Foot Forward Foundation, we know firsthand what it feels like to grow up without a quality pair of sneakers. That’s why we proudly champion our Kicks4Kids Ambassador Program an initiative dedicated to providing brand new, high quality sneakers to underprivileged children in our schools and communities. Read More>>
Tracy Thompson
Yes, Thompson Enterprise Youth Association (TEYA) definitely serves underserved communities. We focus on young people who lack the opportunities and support that many others take for granted, which often hinders their potential. Read More>>
Cynthia Kennedy
One of the things I love doing for clients is surprising them with a personalized lookbook and a handwritten note after we complete their closet transformation. It’s my way of celebrating how far they’ve come and reminding them that their style — and confidence — is absolutely worth honoring. Read More>>
Ammy And Hien
We genuinely love showing our couples how much we appreciate them. It really is such a privilege that people allow us this intimate window into their lives and trust us with documenting it. That’s something we never take lightly. Read More>>
Paola Rachal
I manage my own social media. I feel more connected to my clients or potential clients when they see me interact on a message or on a post. I am thankful that I do have the time to do it myself, for now haha! Having my Photography business is allowing me to be creative and show case it on my social media by either doing my own videos or posting a little something personal. I think that is important for the viewers to see who I am. Read More>>
Christian Di Fede
Social Media has always been a conflicting subject for me. On one hand, I understand the appeal of it. The ability to connect with people, reconnect with lost family members, and keep up with people in your life. But at some point, I thought to myself, “Am I really connecting with these people?”. At the time, I was using Snapchat as my primary form of communication with friends because it was convenient to chat with multiple friends simultaneously by maintaining a streak with each of them. Read More>>
Logan Moore
When I first started making goat milk soap, I partnered up with my friend. We were both so excited in the beginning that I overlooked any potential problems that could come with starting a business with my friend. As time went on, it became clear that we were at very different stages in our lives. Because of this, we had different priorities, time commitments, and goals for the business. Read More>>
Phil Johnson
There are two ideas the general public thinks about standup comedy that really aren’t true.
Cancel Culture – Comedians joke about being “cancelled”, but for the most part it’s just not a thing. Sure, if you really do something stupid you’ll lose some gigs and some fans. But just about every comic that complains about being cancelled has found an audience elsewhere for whatever they’re peddling. Read More>>
Aisha Alfa
I am an actor, stand up comedian, writer, host and Mama. I make great efforts to make time for my family, my wellness, my friends and my mental health. Some of my friends ask me how I balance everything and my response sometimes shocks them– I tell them, I don’t balance everything. The truth is I am constantly failing at something. Read More>>
Carrie Boos
I believe that using a travel advisor is not mainly about getting the cheapest price, but it is about saving time, reducing stress, and having someone in your corner who knows how to navigate all of the options. Many people think that booking for themselves is always easier and more cost-effective. But, in my experience, the overwhelming number of choices, conflicting reviews, and constant policy changes can lead to frustration and confusion. What looks like a simple DIY process can become hours of research, second-guessing, and worrying you’ve picked the wrong thing. Read More>>
Lucía Roig Lago
It might be very cliché, but my hero is my mother. Ever since I was little, I saw how gentle and generous she was with everyone, no matter what, and as the years went by, I watched those qualities—which she used to think were her greatest weakness—turn into her greatest strength, and she managed to save a company that was about to shut down. Read More>>
Annait LJ
I am my own business, so naturally, I have to invest in myself. Writing is an ever-evolving art form. The prose gets better as I learn what works for me and my stories. Whether I gather inspiration from the world around me or the books I read, I take it as a learning moment on what I can do better and what my readers deserve. Read More>>
Tania Smith
My career began as a professional live and studio musician, playing keyboards for various artists including a world tour with Kylie Minogue. I was fortunate to grow up in Australia as the protege of a local jazz musician which deeply shaped my path, and I eventually moved to the USA. After co writing a song that won a Grammy I became a hypnotherapist and started studying ancient healing practices from Peru, India & Japan. Read More>>
Andrew Moy
I was a competitive Muay Thai fighter & boxer training under retired world champion kickboxer Edge Brown. He trained and passed on all the knowledge I possessed regarding fighting, as well as coaching and training. He not only focused on the physical elements of competition but, more crucially, on the mental components as well. With a fortified mindset, I was not only prepared for competition but also motivated to embark on a career in establishing my own personal training business following my fighting career. Read More>>
Erica Mattia
Throughout my schooling & training I have always followed my intuition and my heart to follow what I’ve felt most inclined to learn, and that has brought me to end up with learning and practicing in quantum biology. I feel it’s been very important to follow what feels right and watch for what opens up with that. I found it to become pretty clear what I’m most interested in as I step in the right direction and then continue to follow that lead. Read More>>
Ann Peden
I love being a business owner! I was a cardiology nurse but I’ve always been obsessed with making things and art. I still cannot even believe my job is to be creative and inspire creativity in others! Looking back at my last 25 years (I quit my job, gripping with great determination a pair of pliers and wire cutters, signing up to sell my jewelry at my first art festival, hoping my new job title wouldn’t be ‘starving artist’). It’s been an amazing adventure- learning to delegate the things I’m not good at (numbers and money) and figuring out how to market what I do and how to bring others along with me Read More>>
Andrionna Kuroki
I definitely think that being a business owner has its’ positive and negative points. I was just talking with a friend today about how I sometimes long for the days when I would go to a job, clock in, do my work, clock out and go home. I could leave all my thoughts of work behind and not have to participate in its’ functions until I returned. But when you own your own business, there is really no leaving it. Especially with a business like mine, a boutique artisanal bread bakery, I am a one woman show. So not only do I do all the actual baking and decorating of products, Read More>>
Sara Abernethy
On a day-to-day level? Honestly, not always. There are plenty of moments that are exhausting, overwhelming, and riddled with doubt. But looking back—and even zooming out in the present—the answer is a resounding yes, I am ultimately happier as a business owner. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s allowed me to create and pursue my own destiny in ways that wouldn’t have been possible had I stayed in a traditional job. But it comes at great sacrifice. Read More>>
Krystal Melnyk
In 2021, someone in the same small city I lived in started a business selling very similar products to mine, with the same company name. I quickly hired a lawyer and incorporated my business. It was a personal growth decision to look at myself in the mirror and commit to building this empire. The next year, we moved my workshop from my home garage into a commercially leased building. I was ready to take a bigger risk and prove my business was successful to the local community. Read More>>
Emiley Schnieders
The best investment I have ever made for myself was my very first booth at my first artist alley event. I have always been a creative, and have yearned to create some type of living from the art that I create- mostly because I just HAVE to earn a living somehow. If I could create art all day and live for free, trust me I would do that too. I am someone who plans plans plans.. but in these cases we have to dive in head first. Read More>>
Ahmad
Since I started my business, ongoing contributions to several organizations were set up.
As an interior designer, I believe my job is to enhance people’s wellness through the spaces they use whether it’s a workplace, their home or a place they visit temporarily. Read More>>
Scott Bennefield
When asked why I love triathlon so much, a primary reason is because it is such a great parallel to life. Although you race as an individual, you are never alone in your journey. You can plan and prepare properly, but on race day, you have to be ready for unexpected things to happen in an endurance event. Things that are outside of our control such as weather issues, mechanical issues, your stomach decides not to cooperate…. Read More>>
Guneet Bhatia
I have seen technology growing too fast in space of Software development from introduction of .NET framework to current version. From Manual work to find details in thousands of PDFS to usage of large language modals to do search and give us answers in more efficient way. Read More>>
Lydia Reed
As LPR Agency grew, maintaining quality has always been my top priority and something I never wanted to compromise on. I run my business alone, which means I’m deeply involved in every single campaign, and because of that, I’ve had to be really intentional about how much I take on at any one time. I only work with artists I genuinely believe in and feel passionate about. That not only keeps the work exciting for me, but it also ensures I’m pouring the right level of energy and care into every campaign. Read More>>
Rachel Babb
At Honey, like most salons, our clients are the lifeblood of the business. From the moment someone walks in, we want them to feel like the center of our world, because for that appointment – they are. Read More>>
Benz Veal
Yes, I currently work with several modeling and acting agencies that help secure opportunities for me in the industry. Back in 2011, shortly after Season 2 of *Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too* wrapped in June, I relocated to Los Angeles in August to pursue more work. However, I returned to New York shortly after to participate in New York Fashion Week. Read More>>
Darcentia Turner
One of the most unexpected challenges we faced as the company started to grow was assuming that upgrading our systems would automatically make everything more efficient. We were expanding , more clients, more staff, and testing new regions, so naturally we invested in better scheduling tools, improved HR processes, and new systems to support our operations. Read More>>