Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Jane Jones | entrepreneur

I’ve been passionate about childcare since my teenage years. My early life included work as a babysitter, camp counsellor, swim team coach and Elementary school teacher. I moved into the business world and spent 25+ years away from a child related field. After having my son, I hired a nanny for his care. During the recruitment process, I was inspired to start my own nanny agency that would provide a highly professional service with a unique pricing strategy. Read more>>

paul gunn | Actor/Artist/Entertainer

The thought process behind starting my own business was a tough one. I had been performing onstage for the majority of my life, but, I was now deciding to leave a good position at a great job with insurance and benefits. It happened after my last divorce, 8 years ago, while I was transitioning from being a stage performer to being an on-camera actor. Read more>>

Melissa Meier Lyons | Ceramic artist & maker of other cool stuff

Several things happened in my professional life that led up to starting my own business. My first experience with self-employment came after a layoff. I was fortunate to not have to go back to work right away, and my husband encouraged me to launch my own consulting business. This endeavor was marginally successful, but it led to my discovery of the Birkman Assessment. Read more>>

Leah Sullivan | Business Owner & Clothing Designer

Growing up, I always had a strong interest in fashion but didn’t think of it to be a “practical” career choice. In the 7th grade their was this trend of wearing great sweatpants tucked into folded over Ugg boot. I personally developed an opinion that wearing sweatpants in public was lazy and lacked any sort of style. I swore off wearing sweatpants in public from then on and committed to it. Read more>>

Sofia Lindroth | Owner of TVC, MELT Method Instructor, and Sound Healing Facilitator

I wanted to open a business that didn’t quite exist in the Vail Valley yet. We have yoga studios, but this business was more designed to be a Wellness Studio. A “one stop shop” if you will for your mind, body, and soul. Read more>>

Bailey Budnik | Digital Marketer | Entrepreneur

I have always been interested in the digital space and social media and with that passion, two years ago I had my “lightbulb” moment! At the time, I was working as a Science Journalist and part-time assisting a Colorado-based space science business with social media. Through that experience, I saw firsthand how impactful a strong digital presence can be on small businesses. Read more>>

Kimberly Dawn Diaz | Senior Concierge Services

I became a Nurse because of my grandparents and the exposure I had to Veterans specifically as a child going back and forth to Hines, VA visiting with my Grandfather. I could not go into the room but would sit in the common area where Veterans would gather and just hearing there stories inspired me and I knew they needed my help. Read more>>

Justin Williams | Owner, Teacher and Business Manager

Jordan, a second-generation glass artist, began by helping run classes in her mom’s studio. She traveled ten days a month to the Alabama studio to give a helping hand. With this, we quickly considered other ways for Jordan to fill her time during the other 20 days a month and started teaching classes part-time while partnering with a local stained glass studio. Read more>>

Alexander Denner | Trigger Point Therapist

My thought process to starting my own business was sink or swim. When I ended my job with the last employer I’ll ever have everything was officially on me. If I could not create a clientele to generate enough income that provides food, rent and general expenses before my savings run out than I have “sank”. Read more>>

Efrat Rafaeli | Founder, Alix Clo, and age-inclusive skincare brand

The thing that pushed me to start my Alix Clo, and age-positive skincare brand, was becoming acutley aware of the pervasive anti-aging narrative, and the overal disadvantage that women feel as they become older. I myself felt that age was working against me, and not for me. I am 53, and had lost a a corporate job soon after tuning 50. Read more>>

Danielle Roper | Licensed Esthetician & Skin Health Coach

Since going to esthetic school in 2007 I have always wanted to have my own business. I have been a business owner on a very small scale since graduating but only doing it after work for friends and family. It wasn’t until I moved to Colorado Springs and met my amazing boyfriend that I started to take it more seriously and want to actually make it my full time job. Read more>>

Taylor Williams | Attorney & Owner of Williams Law

I have always wanted to be an attorney and never thought I wanted to be a business owner, let alone someone who owned multiple businesses. When I graduated law school, I accepted an associate attorney position at a corporate and commercial litigation firm. Read more>>

Brandon Crocker | Musician and Photographer

Ever since I was young, I was very independent in thought and action. I liked to do things my own way, from making my own breakfast when I was very young, to skipping class in Highschool to study at the library since I preferred my own method of learning. Read more>>

Sara Vaas | Dizzy Charlie’s Jazz Pop Ups

I have been working in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years and have experience with community organizing. In 2020, I helped started our outdoor summer concert series- booking bands and fundraising. I have been an avid music love and have spent the last several years getting to know bands- especially jazz bands. Read more>>

Meredith Gill | Glassentrate Owner & Artist

Starting Glassentrate happened kind of accidentally. My husband worked for a cannabis extraction company and they were hosting an event and asked if I was interested in creating a couple of pieces for the silent auction. My background was in glass art and I thought it would be a fun challenge and I took the idea and ran with it. Read more>>

Dane Hoover | Landscape Designer and Sustainability Consultant

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, inspired by an father with and endless drive to work for himself. That attitude formed a deep sense of autonomy within myself, and I created a couple businesses over the years. Those businesses have had varying degrees of success. Read more>>

Brennan Molleur | General Contractor / Home Builder

Both my Father and Grandfather were self-employed. I watched them be their own bosses from a very young age in my life. My father always told me how even though he had to work harder than most, he was comfortable with the fact that the risk was his own to manage, he never had to report to anyone else or work on someone else’s time. Read more>>

Pearl S. | Evidential Psychic Medium

I really didn’t feel I had a choice! Once I realized I was connecting to spirit, and started my development, it was all an unfolding from there. I feel that this work chose me and I am doing my best to honor this work. I have had to learn as I go the business side of things. Read more>>

Sarah Walker | Wood Ya At That | Colorado Cornhole Craftswoman

Wood Ya Look At That. was just a seed planted in 2019. Primarily a side business to get by and raise money for a mission trip to Brazil coming up in Spring of 2020. Winter of 2020 began and so did the pandemic. I had left my formal places of employment, anticipating being stuck in Brazil for much longer than a normal mission trip. March 14 2020 international flights were canceled. Read more>>

Katrina Martin | reading interventionist and academic coach

I have multiple chronic illnesses that made holding down a typical 40-hour-a-week job challenging. I’m also neurodivergent, and I value choosing how I want to spend my time, rather than answering to someone else’s schedule and values. I wanted to create a life where I have more control over my schedule so I can plan time for writing, music, hiking, podcasting, and other things I enjoy. Read more>>