Deciding to start a business is an unusual decision. It’s often considered irrational and yet for many it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. So we asked folks to think back to when they were starting their businesses and to tell us about their decision making process.

Mandalyn King

When I first started my business, I was 7 months pregnant with my second child. My husband had just gotten out of the Army and was a full-time student, so finances were tight. Creating a strategy that included doing something that I loved, while also giving me the freedom of flexibility, was a necessity. I wanted to create a situation where I could stay at home with my babies, but also bring in some income to help supplement the family.  Read More>>

Marty Slayden

When I retired from my career as a full time public school teacher, I took pottery classes at Bemis School of Arts for several years. But when the school closed due to Covid, I resorted to playing with clay in my kitchen and struggling to find ways to fire my work. Then in 2021 my husband and my son built a workshop in our backyard, I bought a kiln and suddenly I had my own pottery studio! Now I love going to my studio almost every day and building whatever crazy thing I feel. The freedom to create without boundaries is so wonderful – sometimes I feel like a kid again! Read More>>

Fallon Rose Dalton

I’ve always loved creating and cultivating art. When you have multiple passions, it can be hard to find alignment. Which is why I believe you don’t have to choose one; being your own business owner gives one the flexibility to combine all of their passions, however they see fit. Read More>>

Carol Smith

The thought process behind starting Green Magick Apothecary was deeply personal. My journey into herbalism began as a necessity—I was navigating my own healing after a serious health complication from an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder forced me to step away from my career as a cosmetologist. During my recovery, I discovered the powerful potential of herbs and natural remedies, which not only helped me heal but ignited a passion to help others. Read More>>

Shannon Hillard

This business began out of a need. Skincare is some of the most toxin riddled products we unknowingly absorb into our systems and for many it creates conditions of all kinds. As with many families, it fell upon me as the mom, to try to remedy these issues. Read More>>

Bryonna Williams

I needed a change & more money haha. I was working as an interior designer & I was miserable. I was crying almost everyday & on top of that I was only making about $1600/month. So I could barely pay my bills & was struggling bad. I baked a caramel apple cake Thanksgiving 2018 for my family & got so many compliments on it. Read More>>

Mindy Gonzales – Poulin

In 2020 I believe I had the same thought process as everyone else; in order to stay connected I needed a community online. I wanted a fun and light hearted way to engage others in speaking about their social experiences and pop culture, a place free from politics and religion. Not that we’re not invested in such things personally, but I wanted to create a community where we could speak about our everyday lives in a safe space. I added in the element of surprise on how we pick our topics and people enjoyed the outcome! 5 years later we’re still a small but happy community looking for more people to join! Read More>>

Mariann Taigman

I have loved creating art ever since I was a young lass and over the years, my passion and love for creating art has only grown stronger. I am also an avid photographer which is my second passion in life. After I retired from my career as a school-based registered occupational therapist (OTR), I decided to combine my two passions of art and photography to create my new business, Read More>>

Lisa Morey

Starting my own business for me was an expression of being a torch bearer from previous generations that built with earth. The genesis of earthen masonry – using clay and sand to form structural masonry blocks – dates back to the walls of Jericho over 10,000 years ago. Lisa became involved first in adobe brick construction while living in New Zealand in the early 2000’s, and benefited from working with the world’s best earthen masonry codes that have been written in New Zealand.  Read More>>

Brenna Rosales

I chose to get divorced in a really small city in Oklahoma back in 2008. I had been told by my realtor when we bought our home there that I’d be a great realtor so naturally (I say sarcastically) I went from being a stay at home mom of 4 to being a single mom on a commission only career with fees, lots of taxes, in a crashed real estate market. No. Nothing crazy there (also said sarcastically lol). I cried so hard when I sold my first home. No idea what I was in for and thank God cause I would have ran away. Read More>>

Philip Neri

Starting my own business was driven by a combination of factors. My military background, a desire for independence, and a passion for providing reliable, high-quality service to my community. After serving 23.5 years in the military, I wanted to transition into something that allowed me to build something of my own while still maintaining the discipline, structure, and leadership skills I developed over the years. Read More>>

Stephanie Leach

I had been working as a certified juice therapist and health coach, helping people adopt a whole food, plant-based lifestyle that includes juicing to help them improve their heart health naturally. The clients that embraced the daily juice habit saw health improvements the fastest, so I knew the power of fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Read More>>

Kayla Klaus

Honestly, starting my business was something I had dreamed about for years, but actually making the jump was a little scary. In 2020, I was working in healthcare and pregnant with my third child. It probably seemed like a crazy time to start a business, but in so many ways, it felt like the right time. I really wanted to be home with my kids and soak up those early years with them. Read More>>

Kaitlin Miller

After leaving an abusive relationship, I knew I wanted to build a better life for myself—one where I had control over my future and didn’t have to work for someone else. KM Customs isn’t the first business I’ve started, but it became the one that truly reflects my passion. I’ve always loved creating personalized and custom items for friends and family, and turning that passion into a business felt like the right path. KM Customs was born from my desire for independence, creativity, and the ability to provide something meaningful to others while building a life on my own terms. Read More>>

David Lieberman

Entrepreneurship has always been in my DNA. On my 18th birthday, I skipped high school to become the youngest licensed builder in Michigan. That same year, on prom night, I spent the day building a deck for a client and had to race home to get ready and pick up my date. During undergrad, I built homes while juggling classes, often stepping out when my pager beeped to find a payphone and call my contractors. The thrill of building something from the ground up—whether a business, a home, or an idea—has always driven me. Read More>>

Noah Soble

I was excited to create something that resonated with my values and inspirations. A big inspiration of mine is connecting to nature and the many conversations surrounding that idea. My career field is absorbed in Asian history, medical history, and human history. The relationship of East Asian Medicine to the natural world is profound. and it wouldn’t be possible without it. In that way, I felt that creating my own business had to reflect and share those ideas in some way or another.  Read More>>

Lisa Jones

The thought process behind starting my Strategic Business Oracle work was deeply personal and purpose-driven. After years of working as a CPA in high-level corporate environments and later stepping into my intuitive gifts, I saw a disconnect between financial success and true fulfillment. I’ve witnessed firsthand how high-achieving business leaders can have all the outward markers of success—wealth, influence, power—yet still feel empty, misaligned, or stuck. Read More>>

Brittany Stuart

My business was born out of my own need for therapeutic art. I had no idea that Art Therapy was an actual degree. I just knew that art helped me cope in a dark season, and I was a product of therapeutic art.

Aida Vasilescu Rashelle Weinberg

The idea for Élevé Matchmaking was born out of our personal experiences navigating today’s dating landscape as single moms. Both Aida and Rashelle have been single for nearly three years, and when we got married, dating apps were just beginning to gain traction, meaning we missed out on that entire phenomenon.  Read More>>

Simone Schiess

As a former educator, I wanted to be able to have more freedom with my life and be able to explore creative pursuits more aggressively. That said, it happened quite organically. I was teaching Art and Photography in Denver public schools when one summer I decided I wanted to photograph some weddings in the area. Read More>>

Jennie Swenson

I’ve always wanted to work for myself, but I got so caught up in climbing the corporate ladder that I never gave much thought to what kind of business I’d start. My idea for my wedding blog, microWED collective, came on a whim, and I started it while I was still engaged in my career in Project Management. A few months later, I was unexpectedly laid off, and so I decided that the time was right to pursue entrepreneurship. Read More>>

Alex Maloof

After retiring from a job of 17 years, I had to decide…”What next?” Spent awhile trying to figure that out. I was “institutionalized” from my old workplace and had to think waaaaaaaay out of the box.
“What do I want to do when I grow up?” Read More>>

Aleigha Hans

I recently had a student in one of my extension certification classes ask me how I stay humble while being successful. The question really stuck with me because my answer ties directly to why I started my business in the first place. I wanted to help more people and never turn away guests. After hearing horror stories about negative salon experiences, I made it my mission to offer something better. Even when I reached full capacity, I still wanted to do more—so I began training apprentices and stylists to approach their work the way I do. It’s been a beautiful journey, finding success while empowering others. Read More>>

Laura Stratton

My wife and I started Butterscotch Studios for multiple reasons. We were both feeling burnt out in our previous work and wanted to create something that would bring us daily joy and fulfillment. After getting married this past September, we felt inspired to begin our new chapter by building something meaningful together. Read More>>

Shawna Carter

My thought process behind starting my own business was simple. I wanted to have something successful to leave my child when I’m gone whether he decides to keep the business going or sell it to make a lucrative profit off it to set him and his family up for a while. Also, being my own boss doesn’t hurt. I wanted to be able to make my schedule and be more flexible while my son is growing up. My husband works a strict schedule as an airplane mechanic, so my schedule had to be more flexible for certain school events, doctor’s appointments and days he has no school.  Read More>>

Ema & Jade

Starting Lashing Out and Nailing Life was about creating the resource we wished we had when we were starting our own businesses. We know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to take that leap, figuring out finances, marketing, boundaries, and still trying to have a life outside of work.

Our thought process was simple: so many women in their twenties (and beyond) are stepping into entrepreneurship for the first time, and there’s not enough real, relatable guidance out there. We wanted to create a space where we could share our experiences, lessons, and even mistakes, so others don’t have to learn the hard way. Read More>>

Kylee Bandy

The idea for After Loss Advisors came from personal experience, but the decision to start my own business was about more than just filling a gap—it was about building something I wholeheartedly believe in and creating a life that reflects what truly matters to me. Read More>>

Sara Taylor

I’ve been dancing since I was two but made the decision that I wanted to own a dance studio when I was sixteen years old. I knew exactly what I wanted to do in my life and what I wanted for a career and a future. I went through a phase where I didn’t know if that was going to be a possibility (I worked for a studio in Northern Colorado instead) but when my husband was offered a job at DTC, we moved from Johnstown to Castle Rock, I saw my window of opportunity to make that dream a reality. I was twenty-four years old when Tempo School of Performing Arts opened its doors. Read More>>

Rubylena Asylum

I started my business back in December of 2020, at the beginning of that year I went back and forth with the idea of opening my own small business for awhile until, I would say around June of 2020 is when I decided to go with the idea. TikTok, Etsy and other platforms were a definite inspiration to opening my own small business, next was going through ideas. I rested on doing ribbon chokers and other jewelry and accessories.  Read More>>

Micah Bleyenberg

I have always had in my head growing up that I did not want to work for someone else my whole life. I want to make something great and help people in a way that is new. I want to set my family up for success and live the life that people dream about. Read More>>

Ashleigh Cochran

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but after COVID, I started seeing the industry—and my place in it—differently. I had a few experiences at design firms that made me realize I didn’t want to be part of the interior design industry in the traditional sense. I loved helping people, but I didn’t want to run my own firm. Read More>>

Sraw Arellano

three eyed is a 2 person job me and Natyli work so hard together to make this amazing I am the founder of three eyed in 2017 I was inspired to make my own clothing brand I was taught how to sew as a kid by my grand mother and I love high end fashion from clothing to jewelry to every small accessories as a tattoo artist it was easy to creat and us my skills of sewing I felt the tattoo world didn’t have much of a fashion seen so since 2017  Read More>>

Ken Usui

My goal has always been to provide a comprehensive solution for athletes and exercise enthusiasts at every stage of their journey—whether it’s injury treatment, daily conditioning, injury prevention, or recovery. In my experience, most facilities tend to specialize in only one aspect of care, which often forces clients to seek multiple providers in different locations, resulting in unnecessary time and effort. Read More>>

 James Soldner

I do not really like the idea of working for someone else and filling their pockets. I feel I would rather contribute to things I am passionate about and be compensated financially for my time and efforts. Read More>>

Candice Ensign

The genesis of *Live Your Crazy* wasn’t a calculated business move—it was a calling born from the unraveling of the life I had built. In my 40s, after nearly two decades of marriage, I found myself standing at a crossroads, stripped of the identity I once knew. Who was I beyond the roles I had played? Where was I headed when the path I had walked for so long simply disappeared beneath my feet? Read More>>

Kristen Evans

I have always had a love for all things photography related. I was always the girl with the camera growing up, asking for the newest, coolest, digital camera each year for Christmas, staying up all hours of the night taking silly photos with my friends. When I turned the big 3 0 I was really searching for something that gave me purpose and fueled my passion as well as paid the bills.  Read More>>

Dave Hall

The thought process behind starting my own business stemmed from years of attending art fairs, where I found inspiration in the creativity and passion of other artists. Over time, I began to believe that my own photography was strong enough to be showcased alongside them. I had a collection of images that I was truly proud of, and I wanted to share them with others in a meaningful way. Read More>>

Marnie Williamson

I started my own business because I recognized a significant gap in the healthcare and wellness industry that wasn’t being fully addressed. My career in healthcare began in 2001 when I earned my Massage Therapy certification, which gave me a deep understanding of how therapeutic touch can play a critical role in pain management, injury recovery, and overall well-being. Later, as a Physical Therapist Assistant, I worked closely with patients and saw first-hand the struggles they faced when they didn’t have access to the specialized care they needed, especially for targeted treatments like massage therapy for pain relief. Read More>>