Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Lauren Storeby | Restaurant owner and coach

Happy Trails Coffee Co is actually the 3rd business that I currently own. I also own Snack Attack Specialty Sandwiches and Brews and The Online Restaurant Academy with other business partners. The thought process behind starting my most recent endeavor was that there’s no better time than now. I grew up around entrepreneurship and I absolutely love being a business owner. It sometimes feels like there’s no other way, in terms of working for someone else. I grew up in the restaurant and apparel industries and love everything about people and how creativity inspires others. Read more>>

Shelley Schreiber | Co-Director: Continuum Art Studios & Ceramic Artist

Actually, I wasn’t thinking about starting a business. Instead, I was thinking about providing a studio environment that would bridge the gap between ceramic artists taking classes vs. working solo in a private studio. The idea came about from talking to another ceramic artist years ago, where we discussed creating a space to give technical support and guidance to artists wanting to transition into an environment where they could work independently, but didn’t yet have the expertise to go out on their own or they preferred to work in a community setting. There was an obvious need to create a space where artists could continue to learn while having access to a studio, equipment, time and support needed to take their art to the next level. That idea turned into a business, or better said, a labor of love. Read more>>

Naomi Wood | Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, Founder of CC Mobile Arts

CC Mobile Arts is a program borne out of the pandemic, a heightened awareness in the discrepancies of access to arts, and increased need for community care. CC Mobile Arts is a program run by Dr. Naomi Pueo Wood at Colorado College, it is an extension of the College’s non-profit model and has offered free pop-up programming in visual and performing arts around Colorado Springs and El Paso County since 2021. Inspired by the carnaval celebrations in Salvador da Bahia, Brasil where large trucks carry bands, dozens of loud speakers, and performers the CC Mobile Arts truck features a fold out stage, rooftop speakers, a solar-powered generator, and a full stock of arts and crafts supplies. Seeing the ways that the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated social inequalities in our community and the deep collective sadness that many of us felt being unable to gather and build extended communities inspired the foundation of this project. Read more>>

Neal Palles | Psychotherapist, Mental Performance Consultant and Coach

It’s something that I wanted to do for years, when I say years, I’m referring to since I earned my first graduate degree in 1998. I initially started my private practice in 2006 and had to take a hiatus around the time my daughter was born in 2009. I was also juggling a full-time job and communting seventy miles a day (round trip) that on top of running and family was too much. I started again at the end of 2019 and went full in late 2023 when I was laid off from Elevance Health. The layoff was a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to dive into business building full-time. My purpose is to help athletes that are struggling with self-critisicm and feelings of low self-worth and anxiety become more flexible in their feeling and thinking, have more self-compassion and worthiness and belonging and taking action on what matters to them. Read more>>

Tara O’brien | Landscape Disruptor & CEO

The thought process behind starting Climatescaping was pretty simple: I love helping people grow, adapt, and thrive—and I wanted to do it on a bigger, greener scale. Whether it was helping others build and scale their companies for 10 years, leading military members for 12 years, or teaching high school and university students for the past 5 years, my career has always been about guiding people to their ‘aha!’ moments of growth, resilience, and transformation. After years of leading, coaching, and problem-solving, I thought, ‘let’s channel these strengths into addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change?’ And while I was at it, I figured I’d bring a modern makeover to the old-school world of landscaping to transform how we think about outdoor spaces. My goal is to leave a legacy of environmental stewardship—oh, and have some fun with some really cool people at my side along the way! Read more>>

Liz Hughes | Makeup Artist

At the time I started my business we were tight on money and we had a daughter that was asked to be on the high school cheer team and it was very expensive. I wanted her to have this experience and was determined to make it happen. I was working with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics at the time as a Regional Makeup Artist and have had experience doing makeup. Shortly after, I was serendipitously asked to do makeup for a wedding, which went extremely well; the bride even happened to be a blogger and asked if she could promote me to her audience. Things then kind of exploded, and I was suddenly doing makeup for tons of weddings. That validation was great, I realized I really had a talent for it, so I started my own business, and over 600 weddings later, I’m having more fun than ever. Read more>>

Rachel Harris | CPDT-KA, certified professional dog trainer

When I started my business back in 2012, I knew that there were loads of dog guardians who loved their dogs but just didn’t understand how to get them to behave in certain ways. I had seen first hand how frustrated dogs and people both got from a lack of communication and I knew that starting my own dog training business would enable me to help people and dogs live more successful lives together. I wanted to be able to serve my clients without having to conform to how someone else wanted things done and I am so glad that I did. It’s been an amazing ride with A Good Feeling Dog Training. Read more>>

Sofia Moore | Mandala artist & wood work enthusiast

I think this is such an interesting question. Because looking back, I think it was all there. The pieces were all there waiting to be fit together like a puzzle and I just needed to listen. Once I began to listen to my inner voice and trust that it was worth pursuing, it started to come together… That, and the universe gave me a few pushes along the way. Honestly, the universe threw me right off the cliff. Read more>>

Dylan Bellerose | Tattoo Artist and Painter

I started my business because I wanted independence. I craved the freedom to work how I want, make my own schedule, and be my own boss. Also, I wanted to travel and didn’t like the idea of having to ask permission from an employer to do so. I don’t do well with being told what to do so having my own business was my way out of an authoritarian corporate life.

What’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
The piece of advice I disagree with is that you have to earn a college degree in order to be successful. I have always defined success not in monetary terms but in the sense of my fulfillment with work, relationships, and ultimately myself. I think being genuinely happy in life is the ultimate success. Read more>>

Annalise Kurowski | Real Estate Agent

I have always beat to my own drum. I knew even during college that I wouldn’t survive a overly structured environment. Also, I knew I wouldn’t be the best employee. I started my first business in personal training when COVID took off and everyone went virtual. I fell in love with being able to put my energy into something and create a result I was proud of. I have always felt that I work harder, because I’m working for myself and my future. Read more>>

Brittany Lowry | Bookish content creator

Normalizing Audiobooks as a form of reading. When I first became a content creator, I noticed no one was talking about Audiobooks in the book community, as if people thought it was invalid. I saw the void, and filled it and was able to build a large platform based around the accessibility and appreciation for audiobooks. Read more>>