It takes a lot more than an idea to build a business, but there can’t be a business without the idea. So we asked folks who’ve built wonderful businesses to tell us about how they came up with the idea in the first place.

Tanya Davis-Ezidinma

The idea for my business came to me during a major life transition in 2020—yes, right in the middle of the pandemic. My son had just graduated high school and was preparing to leave for college, and I found myself stepping into the role of an empty nester. I’ve always been passionate about supporting women, especially single mothers, and I had previously launched a ministry at my church called And Still I Rise: The Making of a Butterfly, which focused on helping women escape domestic violence and equipping their families with tools to offer support. Read More>>

Russ Erbe

About 15 years ago my wife was gifted a DSLR camera with a few kit lenses and I immediately took to it. I became consumed with learning photography and I grasped it very quickly. I had a hunger for learning the art of it combined with the cerebral challenge of understanding light and how to be able to create photographs, not just take them. It challenged me and rewarded me so much that I relentlessly pursued it. I was self-taught and within a year of touching that camera, I had purchased two more more that were both upgrades, began shooting for magazines and had passed the certification process to become a certified professional photographer by the PPA (Professional Photographers of America). Read More>>

Tionna Brown

I came up with Sweet T’s Juices from my own personal and family experiences. 5 years ago I started juicing as a hobby and to help me get my health in check and I fell in love. Juicing helped my health in so many different ways I decided I wanted to share it with the world or whoever I could. Juicing is looked at as an expensive health craze when that is far from the truth. I wanted to show people that look like me and may not have the financial resources that juicing is something that is affordable and can also impact their health positively. Read More>> 

Karole Campbell

I’d spent my career in media sales – traditional television, rep firm and cable television. When I realized I wasn’t happy in that environment anymore, I started exploring what I WAS suited for and how I might fit into that landscape as a viable business. I’d recently helped a client select a new agency and I noticed there were so many specialists in specific areas – website development, creative, research, PR, event planning, media buying, – who weren’t necessarily getting work because a potential client couldn’t see how that particular service would serve their business. Read More>>