Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Mike Gentile | Founder & CEO, Girl Dad

I wanted a roofttop tent and I had questions about roof racks, tents, awnings, and other car camping related accessories. I found it wild that here in Colorado of all places, it didn’t exsit. Even REI’s massive flagship store in Denver sold tents back in 2018, but didn’t stock them, they weren’t educated on the topiic and didn’t have any to get hands on. The places I called nationally were rugged to say the least, the attitude of if you have to ask, it’s probably not for you. I knew there were others like me that were interested in the growing segment, and I wanted to share, show, educate and build community. Read more>>

Shobie Spear | Colorado Custom Built

My entire life I have been exposed to self employed business owners. I grew up in a generational construction family; my grandfather, my father, both of my brothers and my father-in-law were all general contractors. To say the least it runs in my blood. As I got older and had the opportunity to develop my skills and experience, through it all it made me understand the in’s and out’s of the construction business. I realized that when you run your own small business you have an opportunity not only to own and operate a business but to provide opportunity for everyone who works with or for you.  Read more>>

Ben Wolfe | Tennis Performance Coach

As a former teacher and a service-oriented person, I felt inspired to start my own business because I realized that my unique pathway in learning tennis allowed me to help others improve not only their game but also their overall well-being. Watching my clients transform through a holistic approach to tennis is incredibly rewarding. Read more>>

Leah Gritton Smolensky | Founder & Brand Builder

I never set out to start my own business. In fact, I knew nothing about founding a business. But I could not get the idea out of my head. It actually started with a google search. With a problem I was trying to solve for myself and my family. I hated putting on lotion, and so did my children. But, living in the desert, I also hated how dry and uncomfortable my skin felt when I neglected to moisturize. So, I searched online for “a lotion for people who hate lotion,” to find a better product. I tried every option out there but never found a body lotion I loved. What I did find in my search was that I was not alone in being dissatisfied with the category. Do many found bottled lotion cold, sticky, and uncomfortable and lotion bars hard to apply and not hydrating. Read more>> 

Arturo Urquijo | Auto Detailer

One day sitting at the light rail seeing all the dirty cars passing by. At the age of 24 wasn’t sure what to do with my life. I was at the end of my road. Then a light bulb came on. That’s when I decided to start up my own little mobile Detailing business. Back in 2007 that’s when I decided to pull the trigger and try my luck at running a business. Read more>>

Deneishia Leartiste | Writer, performer and caterer

I feel like I spent a lifetime fulfilling other people’s dreams and expectations. Working for someone else, I was achieving their creative goals, I was contributing to their financial success and I was too tired after working all day for someone else, to put in the time to invest in my own goals and dreams. I am committed to investing my time and energy into myself, my goals, my dreams, my success. Starting my business was, for me, the ultimate show of my faith in myself, the ultimate proof of commitment to myself.. Read more>>

Jill Lees | Women’s Mental Health Therapist & Reiki Practitioner

As a mental health therapist who identifies as a female entrepreneur, my journey to starting my own business was deeply personal and driven by a desire for flexibility, autonomy, and alignment with my values. I was searching for a career that allowed me the flexibility to design my own schedule. In traditional settings, I often felt constrained by rigid hours and policies that didn’t accommodate the diverse needs of my clients or my own lifestyle. I wanted to create a space where I could offer support in a way that felt authentic to me. Read more>>

Erik Shaw | Publisher Extraordinaire to the Stars!

We started to realize back in 2007 that Veterans, in particular, were being exploited for their stories and not compensated fairly by the industry for their time and work. We went through the process and ultimately did not sign a book deal, but it was at that point we realized we could do better and help new writers better understand the industry and be prepared for what comes with being a published author who is looking to make money in this industry. In 2011, we launched Tactical 16 and solely focused on Veterans, but in 2020, we rebranded to “Black Vellum” and refocused our efforts on all writers who need our help. The rebrand has been very rewarding for us, and the opportunity to work with some of the best up-and-coming new writers in the industry has been an honor. Read more>>