How did you decide to start a business?

We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.
Kim decided sometime during high school and college, that he loved teaching martial arts, and wanted to have his own school. Read more>>
There are a couple of things at play here. First, I’m somewhat of a legacy dentist– my great-grandpa, grandpa, and dad were all dentists in Kansas. So, I had always wanted to be a dentist. Turns out I became an orthodontist instead, but it’s close enough. Read more>>
The main thought process was recognizing that I wanted to use my skills but I couldn’t find jobs that were looking for what I had to offer. So I would need to create it myself. Read more>>
Repattern Therapeutics was created as a business to house all of my professional offerings — body-centered psychotherapy, social/emotional wellness workshops, yoga, and yoga therapy services. Repattern Therapeutics offers people different avenues to repattern their minds, bodies, and hearts. Read more>>
For me, starting my own business has always been the dream, and something to strive for. I have been very fortunate to be immersed into the fitness community throughout my childhood and teen years, which has taught me so many valuable lessons about what a healthy fitness practice looks like, and what it doesn’t. Read more>>
There really wasn’t much thought to it actually. It’s been over a decade since I picked up a camera and it has always been my way to preserving my memories. I never dreamed about owning a photography business but it seamlessly ended up that way. Read more>>
There are a few good reasons why I decided to start my own business- I wanted independence, I felt limited in my current work environment at the time, and ultimately I felt that I could help more people by going out on my own. Realistically, however, these were reasons that I discovered after being asked a question by a client and mentor of mine. Read more>>
Oh man, that was years ago but I still remember the dread of working for a corporate fitness center and feeling limited in my growth. The gym I was personal training and managing at at the time had a different set of ideals that I did/do, and I felt that in order to maximize my potential and feel as fulfilled as possible I had to start my own business. Read more>>
Worldwide, garment manufacturing contributes to over 20% of all water pollution. It takes over 200 years for non-renewable fiber like polyester to finally decompose in landfills. Manufacturing a single pair of jeans produces the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving a car for 80 miles. Read more>>
This line of products came to life in my mind a couple years ago! I suffer from extremely dry skin (especially on the back of my hands) and wanted to help people who have issues with dry skin like I do! There are not a lot of skin care lines out there owned by an African American who offers lotion bars. Read more>>
I was morally obligated to start the CLEP School, There is a quick way for any American to receive their Bachelor’s Degree in a year and graduate without student debt and colleges refuse to tell students about it, through many testing strategies that most people don’t even know about. Read more>>
I think the main reason why I felt compelled to start my own business was in an effort to have greater control of my life. I’ve taken my work and career very seriously and I noticed that my professional decisions have a ripple effect that ring throughout my life. What I mean by that is our careers affect our health. Read more>>
Initially we (owners Mike and Shannan) were not planning on starting our own business as early on as we did, but we had an opportunity to buy a small business that a family friend was selling and we couldn’t pass it up. We pooled our resources and bought the business together. Read more>>
I got my masters in Social Work and work as a mental health therapist as well as doing photography and yoga teaching on the side. I am also a foster mom and when I got a placement that did not work with my 9-5 schedule I knew I had to take the leap. Three weeks before the pandemic arose I decided to go full force into photography and pray that it worked. Read more>>
It has been a naturally evolving process over the last 5 years of wanting to do something besides teaching and raising my own children that brought me joy. Refurbishing vintage furniture has always been something I did for necessity, getting married young and having no money and needing furniture led me to some DIY projects. Read more>>
I really love when people ask me this question, because the answer has a somewhat fractal quality in that each aspect of the answer, when observed closely, contains an endless string of synchronicities, realizations and pivotal moments. The process can be outlined with a few key qualities. Read more>>
Handmade soap by heart is an essential need in everyone’s active life and I always disliked how commercial soap dried my sensitive skin and would not lather. My brother began making organic soap from Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil; he encouraged me to follow his steps. I instantly began making my own soap for my family and friends. Read more>>
How can I find a way to create my own way. I was unhappy in my traditional 9-5 and I needed a change. Then January 2017 happened! I started to explore the things I was passionate about and there it was videography / editing photos and videos! It truly was an “ah ha” moment. I’ve been into video production since high school and decided to turn it into a passion! I haven’t turned back yet. Read more>>
I always felt that I was supposed to run my own company one day. From my first career and on, I would evaluate my bosses and write the best or worst leadership qualities they had. This helped me define how I wanted to lead. I was scared to start my own business, but it felt that all my opportunities were lining up. Read more>>
The main idea behind starting my own business as a Chiropractic and Fitness/Rehab coach was to have a place where holistic meets modern medicine. A lot of things can be solved with the approach of healing the body from the outside in. I was motivated with the idea of this when I was able to significantly improve the condition of my psoriatic arthritis by using all natural means; including diet change, chiropractic care, mindfulness and exercise. Read more>>
After spending time working for another doctor in private practice and for a large integrated healthcare group, I realized that the only way I could deliver the patient experience that I believed my patients truly deserved was to build it myself. Read more>>
Starting my own business was something I always wanted to do. I started my first business when I was about 10 years old selling bead geckos to other school children. In middle school, our class volunteered to clean the environment. As we were there, I realized there was a more efficient way to help; I set up an assembly line so we could do more with the time we had – create more impact. Read more>>