Starting a business can be terrifying. Weighing the pros and cons, the risks, and other considerations can be so overwhelming that often promising entrepreneurs stop before they even start. We asked some phenomenal entrepreneurs about their thought process behind starting their own businesses. Our hope is that by making the thought-process less intimidating we can help more folks think through whether they should take an entrepreneurial leap.

Alyssa Gregg | Jewelry Designer and Metalsmith

I’ve always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, but the biggest part of the process was learning to trust and have faith in myself. I knew deep down that I could succeed, and once I embraced that belief, everything started to fall into place. It wasn’t just about creating jewelry; it was about creating a brand that reflected my soul-driven values and my desire to inspire others. Read more>> 

Solange Inciarte | Entrepreneur & Event Specialist

When I started my own business, my thought process was quite organic and driven by circumstance. Initially, my thoughts were not very clear, but the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 played a significant role in shaping my direction. Like many others, I found myself without work and needed to rethink how to generate an income. During this time, I also faced a personal challenge: I wanted to create a special birthday party for my daughter but struggled to find anyone who could deliver the level of detail and perfection I envisioned. Read more>> 

Charley Perry | Owner of Perry’s Plants

That’s a loaded question! Initially, my motivation stemmed from an “I’ll show you” mentality—definitely not the healthiest starting point, but it fueled my journey. A few years ago, I found myself on a quest for self-discovery and passion. Fitness has always been a cornerstone of my life, so becoming a personal trainer felt like a natural fit. Before that, I was bouncing from job to job, desperately searching for happiness. Read more>>

Adi Reuveny, Elle Smith, Meg Welch | Co-Founders

Persephone Candleworks was born out of a desire to take a step away from the droning toil of office life and create something to be truly proud of. Wanting more control over our career paths and the opportunity to truly express our creativity and utilize our strengths, we decided to take a leap and start our own business where we could design unique products we believe in. We were also concerned by the types of chemicals found in many mass-produced candles and wanted to provide an affordable artisan alternative that was safe for people, their pets, and the environment. Read more>> 

Jay Richard | Luthier – a repairer (and maintenance) of string instruments

I’ve always been fascinated over the years with all kinds of instruments. I started playing instruments at an early age. Later I developed carpentry skills and tried my hand at building guitars as a hobby. My full time job was at a fortune 500 company, where I worked for over 17 years before being laid off. It was a good opportunity to start something new. While making guitars is a long and time consuming process, I did a little research to find there were few repair shops. I didn’t some training under a veteran guitar maker and luthier and started my own shop in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Read more>>

Belen Baquerizo | Business & Marketing Manager

My husband and I started our business in 2021 and the idea was to help entrepreneurs and business owners release the stress and overwhelm of everyday marketing tasks by doing it for them, so they can focus on what they do best and what they love the most. Read more>>

Jesse Tapsfield | Head Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor/Owner

In June of 2005, at 23 years old, I began my career in law enforcement. Nearly two decades later, I remain an active full-time police officer. Early in my law enforcement journey, I was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), a martial art originally developed for a smaller or weaker person to be able to defend themselves against a much larger or stronger opponent using the proper application of leverage, super positioning, joint locks, or chokes. Read more>>

Alaina Devenney-copico | Nutritionist

Starting my own business was a spontaneous but deeply meaningful journey. It all began when I came across a study revealing that only about 26% of Reishi mushroom products on the market were genuine. As someone who had been using functional mushrooms for nearly a decade, I felt betrayed and deeply concerned about the lack of transparency in the industry. With companies often selling mushroom products that didn’t even contain real mushrooms, I knew something needed to change. Read more>>

Kari Cao | CEO | Founder | Medical Provider | Professional Chef

For over a dozen years, I worked as a family medicine practitioner, a Physician Assistant (PA) serving the uninsured and underinsured populations. I was responsible for the health of over 1,200 patients, managing everything from diagnosis and treatment to the prevention of various conditions, including supporting them during their prenatal journey and caring for their entire families. However, like many in the field, I experienced burnout. Seeking a more meaningful connection with my patients, I transitioned to doing home visits, which I found incredibly rewarding. Read more>>