Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Elizabeth Valeski

My thought process was shaped by both my professional background and my experience as a parent. My background is in counseling psychology, marketing, communications, and public relations, and I’ve always been drawn to helping people navigate important decisions and life transitions. Read More>>

Jami Snyder

Growing up in a family that owned and operated a successful small business, entrepreneurship was always part of my life. I saw firsthand the hard work, dedication, and pride that come with building something from the ground up. That experience inspired me to start my own business. Read More>>

Dr. Lila Kime

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I never thought I wanted to be a business owner. Throughout graduate school and for many years afterward, I worked at JFK Partners within the University of Colorado School of Medicine, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). I loved my time there. I was surrounded by brilliant colleagues, engaged in meaningful work, and had the opportunity to help children and families navigate developmental disabilities.  Read More>>

Jaquelyn Smith

When I began feeling into starting my own business, I wanted to do what came naturally for me. I had been a yoga instructor for many years and wanted something that came through me in that way- something I didn’t have to plan for or study. So often people focus on what makes money or what other people do for work. I was falling into that narrow way of thinking when I realized that most likely, we are all here on this planet in this lifetime  Read More>>

 Charlene Janke

I decided to start my own business because this industry can be very demanding, especially while raising a family. As a mom of four, it was important to me to have the flexibility to be present for my kids and not miss the little moments that matter most. A traditional 9–5 schedule wasn’t something I wanted long term. Starting my own business gave me the opportunity to create a career that allows me to balance both my professional goals and my family life. Read More>>

 Mitchel Davis

I’ve always wanted to run my own business. I had started a few small businesses before, but I needed steadier income, so I ended up working for a friend who owned several duct cleaning companies across the US. Read More>>

 Kim Marie Rasmussen

Starting my own business came from a much deeper place than simply wanting to work for myself. After years hustling in corporate sales and marketing, I became increasingly fascinated by the growing disconnection so many people were experiencing from themselves. I witnessed firsthand how chronic stress, overwhelm, and the demands of modern life were showing up not only mentally and emotionally, but physically within the body as well. Read More>>

Marcelo Alvariza

Opening a restaurant was a dream I shared with my father for many years. The name Orejano actually comes from his nickname back in Uruguay, so the restaurant is also my way of honoring him and keeping that connection alive.

Most of my life I worked in family businesses in Uruguay and later owned a commercial flooring company in the U.S. for about 14 years. I learned a lot from those experiences, but deep down I always knew my real passion was the restaurant business. bringing people together through food and creating a place that feels welcoming. Read More>>

 Suzanne Akin

Honestly, starting Akinz was never some big master plan. It kind of grew right alongside me.

The thought process itself was pretty simple: I wanted to make the kind of stuff I actually wore for the life I live. Casual, Functional, Gear for everyday adventures. And anytime I couldn’t find something the way I wanted it, my instinct was just to make it myself.  Read More>>

Nate Ewert

Starting Somatic Synergies came from a really simple (and honestly very personal) realization: I didn’t want to do bodywork in a way that felt rushed, generic, or disconnected from the real human experience underneath the pain. I kept meeting people who had tried “all the usual things” for chronic tension, injuries, anxiety, and stress—and they were still stuck. I knew there had to be a space where someone could be fully seen, listened to, and worked with in a way that honored their whole system: body, breath, emotions, and nervous system. Read More>>