The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Jay Schwartz | Head Herbalist at Plant Healing Woman LLC

I wanted to offer women high quality, wildcrafted herbal extracts made with the intention of supporting their wellness inside and out. Read more>>

Kid Astronaut | Singer / Father / Spaceman

My journey to becoming an artist was really more of an intuitive thing. I’ve always loved music and been drawn to creating in some ways. Kid Astronaut became the perfect vehicle for that because the brand and name and idea gave me something to strive towards as well as give me some direction with what I wanted to create and say. Read more>>

Lisa Pache And Cali Bonham | Estate Managers

We started our company Tending le Castle because we noticed a huge deficit in the Denver/Boulder area. There were many services that helped working professionals save time but one was missing – Home/Estate Management. In L.A and NYC many professionals leverage the services of an Estate Manager (aka personal assistant) so they can relax after work. Both of us share the same life experiences of juggling a career alongside the role of wife and mother. In the 1990’s, we were expected to be both a model employee and a partner that managed the household. Simultaneously, we are also expected to be the primary care givers, and teachers in raising our children. Over the years, there were times when we had help, and times when we didn’t. With the help of a House Manager, we were happier, and felt more peaceful, which in turn trickled down to the rest of the family. What an immense and positive difference it made! Read more>>

Brian Chontosh | Founder Crooked Butterfly Ranch, USMC Veteran

I realized; maybe more like accepted, that I had a lot to offer to the world outside of punching the clock for a paycheck to make ends meet. Starting a business was never something I had aspired to do or thought I would ever attempt. After spending 21 years in the Marine Corps I don’t really know what I was expecting. I didn’t really have a plan or any specific ambitions. I generally figured I would find a 40 hr/wk job trying to do something outdoors and physical in nature. I was also in an advantageous position to be able to take my time figuring out what I wanted or needed to do. I was collecting a retirement and was in a relationship with a financially secure partner. Then opportunities started falling into my lap at random. Read more>>

Alessandra Guzman | Mother & Matchmaker

I had previously dedicated more than 15 years of my life working in the arts. So much of that life was meeting new people, planning events, and building connections. I enjoyed that work immensely, but more than anything, I loved getting to know people on a personal level. Whether it was gallery clients, artists, donors, or co-workers, I just wanted to chat! Dare I say I was a bit nosy and loved to ask personal questions. One of my favorite topics was other people’s love lives. I would regularly try to set people up and often say, “I’d love to be a matchmaker.” I even knew what my business name would be: Meet Cute Matchmaking. I’ve had the url reserved for years! Read more>>

James Hohenlohe | Founder & President – Spotsurfer

I was always curious about solving problems … especially everyday problems. Being a big skier, I would drive through resort towns and there was nowhere to park. Literally nowhere to park … all the garages were full, etc. But I noticed there were other parking spots open at banks or churches or schools or at lodges where they had extra parking. So, I thought, wow, if I could lease those spots and then market them as being available online, there might be something here. Kind of like AirBNB … but for parking. I did some testing and all the responses were positive. Spotsurfer was born! Our now CEO, Erik Davison, came on board and we built out a great team, developed the technology and began building partnerships.  Read more>>

Sarah Maxey | Business Owner of Slate Social Management – Social Media Management & Content Creation

I never thought I was going to own my own business. I went to school to be an Elementary Teacher. I worked full-time for a business all through college. I never thought that owning a business was in the cards for me. While I was working full-time in college, I was presented with opportunities to explore social media management and the digital marketing world. And once I started submerging myself in that world, everything clicked. I knew I was going to school for the wrong career. I knew I didn’t want to be a teacher. And I knew that I found a career that I loved and was passionate about. I ended up still getting my degree while working full-time (thanks to Covid and all the online class options). After college, I knew I wanted to continue down this road that I was on in social media management & digital marketing. Read more>>

Kristen Puma | Award winning children’s author

I’ve been writing since I was 10 years old. I firmly believed my life’s journey would lead me down a path of journalism to some degree, but that never came to fruition. I’m a mom of two and with the kids growing, I thought now was the perfect time to get back to my roots. A few years ago, I decided to pursue writing full time and fulfill my life long dream of becoming an author. I initially started with what I *thought I wanted: submitting my manuscripts to traditional publishers. However, after years of “almosts,” and, “not quite what we’re looking for yet,” I decided to research different avenues. Since signing with an independent publisher, I’ve grown my following, sold hundreds of books, won a few awards, and I have no intention of stopping any time soon. Read more>>

Sean Kelly | Professional Wedding DJ & Event Coordinator

I used to grin and bear it in the corporate world, but didn’t experience the joy I feel being a wedding DJ and running my events business. To be fair, I eat a lot more cake as a professional event DJ than I did as a marketing expert working in the agency world… but I am happy to apply my expertise to my passion – live events. I launched my business, S+L Events, with my partner, Lindsay, because I saw an opportunity to produce the highest quality weddings for my couples, and most efficient events for my corporate clients. I break the mold of the typical DJ by utilizing high-level project management and exceptional organization to ensure my clients experience the event they deserve. Read more>>

Liz Zhou | Holistic Trauma Therapist & Speaker

I started my business, Seasons of Growth Counseling, because I wanted a way to practice psychotherapy and support clients in a way that aligns with my values and needs. As a therapist in private practice, I get to make decisions about how I run my practice, what type of work that I do, and how much I work – in a way that ultimately allows me to be present and show up fully for my clients, my life, and my community. Read more>>

Adrianna Munoz | Executive Coach for Women Leaders in STEM | Healthcare Consultant

As a nurse of 10 years and experienced leader, I saw the same problems popping up over and over again. And that problem is lack of strategy and communicating the strategy. Many times processes are put in place but not evaluated, and leaders also aren’t supported or given resources to help the team be successful! I started my coaching and consulting business, Ogden Peak, because after interviewing peers and fellow women leaders in STEM for the past several years, I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling a bit lost when it came time to step into new roles. Read more>>

Liam Abujawdeh | Owner of LAZ Creative Media

My business started out as a hobby as I enjoyed video editing as a kid and continued to learn through trial and error. I started out by creating videos for things that I enjoyed and was hyper-fixated always on my next video. This developed into something I began to obsess over. My mind would constantly ask: How do I make this better? How do I learn more? What am I doing wrong and how can I be better? After working at a media company for a short-time, I was teased with the possibilities that were out there. I loved the idea on how video and photo is custom to each person – there’s no perfect way of doing it and everyone has different artistic visions. Read more>>

Ohgee | Rap Artist / Entertainer / entrepreneur

Honestly after owning 2 body shops in the past and failing and now being an independent artist . Depending on what the business is and what’s needs to be accomplished to reach the goals you want to achieve I feel like proper planing and proper capitol are the keys I go by now . When I had the auto body shop I was young and wanted something big to happen so fast that I jumped into things a little too quickly . But I don’t regret losing my shops I learned a lot from the experience. And I believe writing out a list of steps or goal list basically and just taking the risk investing all your extra time and energy and just 1 by 1 start crossing out each step as you go to reach what you need for the business to be successful. but as long as the vision and the drive is there and theirs skill behind it I believe dreams can happen Read more>>

G. Bosch | Artist | Educator

Having my own business has been something I’ve been thinking about ever since I was very young. In elementary school I would make jewelry and sell it to my friends, family and even my parents friends, ha! Looking back now, that was very sweet of them. But all throughout my life, that was a constant theme or something in the back of my mind. Fast forward to 2018 in Miami, I discovered Precious Plastics, an organization focused on reducing waste by working with recycled plastic while also making all of the knowledge accessible to the community. Since processing plastic at that capacity was out of my reach at the moment, I started working with recycled paper clay. I fell in love with the process and the possibilities of the material. My entrepreneurial instincts kicked in again and I started to look for more information on, what are the steps to make this a reality? Read more>>

Jordan Hayes | Children’s Author and Reading Specialist

After getting my master’s in reading education, I felt that I could share what I learned on a bigger scale. So often, young parents or parents with painful schooling backgrounds have a challenging relationship with reading, and this transfers to their kids. By no fault of the parents, this idea that reading is painful is the family legacy, and I wanted to change this. I learned through raising my young kids you need two things. Support through a group and confidence to do what you know is right with their education. I gained confidence through earning my master’s, and I knew through going to moms’ groups that community was vital. I aim to share reading strategies with parents of all backgrounds to help close the achievement gap. Read more>>

Anastasiia Soltysiak | Photographer & Videographer | Content Creator

I began creating videos on my phone and quickly developed a strong passion for it. After a year of hesitation, I decided to invest in a camera, which marked the start of my journey into photography and videography. My thought process involved recognizing my deep interest in visual storytelling and the potential to turn it into a business. I researched the market, identified opportunities, and made the commitment to upgrade my equipment to enhance the quality of my work. This decision set me on the path to developing my own business in this field Read more>>

Peter Donello | Entertainer and public speaker.

I have been a performer since high school when I was in touring choir and gymnastics team. That was also when my interest in magic began. I actually worked my way through College as a restaurant magician and a Disco DJ. I have been doing one or the other (or both) ever since. there have been day jobs occasionally over the years. and I got fairly good at some of them. But on at least 4 different occasions, the company I was working for closed down or was bought out. So I finally decided that the only person I could count on was myself. it required a lot of hustle and work, but I never had to worry about getting fired or laid off. Read more>>

Amy Gardikas | Custom Keepsake Blanket Creator

It started with a tote in my closet full of important paperwork, saved greeting cards, and other miscellaneous items. I realized that I hardly ever looked at all of these saved cards from loved ones because they were stashed away in this tote and I wanted to capture the feeling I had when I read them, putting that joy at my fingertips. So, I started thinking about everyday use items I could put images of the cards on, and blankets came to mind. The thought of being able to curl up under a warm, soft blanket and read the words of my loved ones any time I wanted sounded so comforting to me. Then, it was just a matter of figuring out how to create the product so I could share it with the world. Obviously, starting your own business is scary and full of uncertainty, but I really believed in my product, so there was no question in my mind that I needed to start my own business and make my idea a reality. Read more>>

Byron-gabriel Proutt | Founder and CEO, Good Duck Productions

Well, I have loved interviewing people for a VERY long time. I even have this old Facebook Page for a project I did YEARS ago titled; Conversations with Byron-Gabriel. That being said, as a publicist (another business of mine) I feel everything needs a brand and name. So when I decided to interview people and create a documentary I felt it was no better time than any to start a Production Company so that I can produce my projects and anyone else that wanted to hire us as a Production Company. We also offer other services like Family Memories Videos. It’s been one of our most popular services; Good Duck Productions will come to your location, set up audio and video equipment for you to interview your family member(s). Read more>>

Addison Farrier | Tattoo Artist

I started in the body modification industry a bit late in life by “conventional” standards (if that exists in the tattoo industry). Although I had always been interested/involved in the industry in some capacity I came to a point in my life where I wanted more: more freedom, creativity, connection, and community. I had to really look inward and decide that I was ready for the hard work that it took to get to that point, and I knew I was ready. Read more>>

Kimberly (kim) Muhlenbruch | Owner, Clinical and Executive Supervisor, and Therapists at SOBT Therapy, LLC

Initially, my desire was to work either at the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or the Veterans Affairs as I wanted (and still do want) to work with service members, veterans, and their families. However, I soon learned, upon graduation from my graduate program that it is very difficult and one pretty much must “know someone” to get a position at any of the departments I mentioned above. Read more>>

Heather Goodrich | Editorial Director & Writer

Gesture Press & Journal’s genesis was a response to consistently closed doors in academia and publishing for emerging writers and especially women writers. Instead of festering in frustration, I decided to create a feminist space for writing. I had the power to change, and I did so by creating Gesture. That was in 2011, during the end of my first year at graduate school, and Gesture has been going strong ever since. Read more>>

Lindsay Tucker | Real estate agent and investor

When I started investing in real estate, I didn’t really know what I was doing — it just felt like something critical that I needed to do right then and there. I can’t even remember how I found my first real estate agent. The first house I bought, I lived in it while I rehabbed it (mostly myself). When I sold it four years later, I used the profits to purchase two other investments: one house hack (a duplex in Denver that I lived in and also rented out rooms) and a short-term rental (STR) outside of Disney World that I rent on AirBnb. When I bought my first Airbnb, I didn’t know how I was going to get it up and running from two-thousand miles away — I just knew that if I bought it, I’d figure it out. Today it’s thriving, but I learned every single lesson the hard way. Read more>>

Cei Lambert | Artist , Educator, and Entrepreneur

When I started tattooing in a shop owned by someone else, I knew immediately that my end goal was to have my own space. I was thinking, oh, three to five years down the road. Then a short while later it was 2020 and the pandemic and the shop I had been working at let me go. I had also been working remotely in public health but had given my notice in January 2020. As of June 2020 I was unemployed, so I decided to take the leap. I took what little I already knew and worked with my wife to craft a plan for me to open my own business. We created everything so that I could run the entire business by myself. I had my first client on August 1st, 2020 and it’s been going great ever since. Read more>>

Abby Schirmacher | Co-Founder & Editor

I started The Curio Cabinet, a digital magazine that covers fashion, beauty, music and more to embrace my passions. The passion project allows me to pursue my loves for writing, fashion and uplifting my community and affords me the opportunity to engage in journalism outside of my full time role. I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset and The Curio Cabinet has taught me valuable leadership, developmental and analytical skills. Read more>>

Kelly Klene | Therapist

My passion has always been for supporting queer/trans and traumatized folks, and during covid I began to get more requests than I could reasonably manage. I had a colleague at that time who was looking to begin their career, and decided that it would be ideal for both of us to bring them into Cairn. We have been able to grow and meet the needs of hundreds of queer/trans and traumatized folks. A beautiful piece of that is that I never intended to grow Cairn to where it is, I just saw that my community was in need and felt a strong desire to help. Now I get to learn from incredible clinicians, see the extraordinary resilience of my community, and run an effective little business. Read more>>

Meshell Dowell-calderon | Financial consultant/Life,Health, and Annuities agent

I started my own business in life insurance because of my dad and my brother in-law both passing away from cancer. My dad had brain cancer and begged me to help him but unfortunately I couldn’t and 9 months later during the Covid’s pandemic he decided to deliver pizzas to the community and caught the virus himself. So 2 weeks later he passed away and my brother in-law also had cancer and 9 months later he to passed away leaving behind nothing to support there families the only income was now gone forcing my best friend to go to work for the first time in three 30 year marriage. No ged and no skills or experience. She now works as a pool cleaner at the age of 53. Read more>>

Paris Heinen | Health and Wellness Accountability Coach

My thought process behind starting my own business began after 20 successful years as a top Weight Watchers coach. I loved my job, but as the company started heading in a different direction, I realized it was time for me to pursue a vision that truly resonated with my beliefs. I founded Always On Your Side Coaching because I believe there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to health. That’s why I created the Power of 13—thirteen essential elements that I believe are key to living a healthy lifestyle. This isn’t just about diet and exercise; it’s about mindset and lifestyle, too. Read more>> 

Scott Miller Vargas | Crime Scene Investigator & Creator

As a real life Crime Scene Investigator, finding clothing and merchandise for individuals in our field can sometimes be tough and take a lot of time and research. I have always been very crafty with pretty much anything that I do, so I decided to take the knowledge that I possessed from my career as well as my crafting ability and create something unique and amazing. That is when The Curious CSI Trading Co. was born. Read more>>

Marni Rueger | Real Estate Agent

Starting my own business as a real estate agent was a decision driven by a combination of passion, knowledge, and the desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others. I have always been drawn to the dynamic nature of the real estate industry, where every day presents new challenges and opportunities. My deep understanding of the local market, coupled with my strong communication skills, made me confident that I could offer exceptional service to clients. I saw the potential to help people navigate one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives—buying or selling a home—and knew that I could bring both enthusiasm and expertise to the table. Read more>>

Larry Cooper | Reiki Master, Sound Frequency Expert

Our Goal is to work with people to help them heal themselves without using drugs, pharmaceuticals and other substances that are chemicals. Colorado Alternative Wellness, LLC truly understands that holistic well-being goes beyond mere relaxation, and that’s why we offer a diverse range of cutting-edge treatments designed to enhance your healing journey. From state-of-the-art beds intended to increase human voltage to therapeutic sauna, our products are carefully crafted to nurture mind and body Read more>>

Sandy Lee

I was living in Berlin, Germany back in 2009 when I discovered the most amazing holiday treat: a gingerbread-like confection known as Lebkuchen. Nürnberger Lebkuchen is the finest and most premium variety, containing the highest percentage of nuts like almonds and hazelnuts. You could find it at every Christmas market and also in many specialty shops during the holiday season.  It was absolutely delicious and unlike anything I’d ever tasted. Read more>>