We asked some fantastic entrepreneurs and creatives to tell us about their first job in their field. Check out their stories below.

Carlos Urias

I joined the Army as a tank mechanic. I was stationed in Ft. Hood, TX for my first assignment. With this job, we spent a number of months in the “field” doing training exercises. The tank was new at the time and was powered by a turbine jet engine. So you can imagine, working on a tank engine whose exhaust is 1700 degrees in the middle of the Texas heat in the summer. Read more>>

Claudette Walker

It was not a goal or a dream to work in plastic surgery or anything aesthetics. My background and passion was in the cardiac ICU. However, in 2005, my best friend who worked for a facial plastic surgeon asked if I wanted a part time job to recover patients. It was an easy job and paid well, compared to the hospital. Once I started the plastic surgeon I worked with saw that I was a hard worker so asked for me to come on full time. Read more>>

Colleen Fletcher

David, My First Client Read more>>

Jerita Mitchell

I was looking for work that aligned with the Kinesiology degree I just earned from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La. Upon searching on Indeed, I came across a coaching opportunity with Up2Us Sports that made mention of AmeriCorps. Being slightly familiar with the benefits of serving as an AmeriCorps Member and having an interest in community health and wellness, I applied for the position and started my first term serving as an assistant PE coach and Girls’ middle school volleyball, basketball, and track coach in a school in New Orleans. Read more>>

Kala MacDonald

On earning my first yoga teacher training certificate after an immersive month in Bali, I had plans to move to LA and begin teaching in a studio immediately. The market is so oversaturated there and my certification felt to me to be above and beyond average, so I never considered that I’d have a difficult time earning a spot teaching in any number of studios. Boy was I wrong! I applied to/emailed/walked in to so many studios and was told “no” but every single one. Read more>>

Sonia Romero

Although I didn’t know it at the time, my holistic journey really began with healing my own body as new mom, fighting for my life for 15 days with Toxemia after giving birth to my old son. I was in a wheel chair not able to walk with out support and unrecognizable. Then 6 months later being diagnosed with uterine cancer. at the age of 24 years old. Read more>>

Ellie Laks

The Gentle Barn has been my dream since I was seven years old. I always loved animals and noticed that the people around me did not, so I would yell at my poor parents as often as I could, “You’ll see, when I grow up I’ll have a big place full of animals, and I’ll show the world how beautiful they are!” Read more>>

Gloria Baraquio

In 2006, it was my 3rd year of practicing yoga. I had moved from Honolulu to LA to the Big Island of Hawaii. While I found 2 yoga studios and a few teachers in the area, I longed for a stronger and dynamic vinyasa practice that kept me engaged. I began to practice so much on my own (with books and magazines–no YouTube or Instagram yet!) that I thought I had something wonderful to offer my Hilo community. Read more>>

Chris Bossom

Long story short, I was sick of how I felt after nominal attempts at getting involved with fitness and figuring out my nutrition. I finally got fed up and hired a nutrition coach who transformed my mindset and my relationship with food. Realizing I had the power to change my trajectory by the simple willingness to take action opened up a whole new world of possibility I had never experienced before. My personal success inspired a deepening passion inside of me to help as many people across the world as I possibly can who struggle with the same things I once did. Read more>>

Anthony Bacchus

I have been playing drums for over 40 years doing shows and performances and I’ve also did Drum Circle is in the pack and then the beach. Read more>>

Elijah Zoarski

My work in the mental health industry started at a club in Santa Monica, selling bottles of Alcohol. Read more>>