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.

Devoun Rushing | Realtor

Starting my own business has always been a personal goal. From a young age, I recognized that my vision and ambition were too expansive to be shaped by someone else. I understood that not everyone would see things the way I did, and I never wanted to be in a position where someone else had control over that vision. It was clear to me early on that working for myself was inevitable. My mindset from the beginning was simple: It has to work—I never gave myself the option to believe otherwise. Taking that leap of faith has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Kamryn Nichols Engberg | Portrait Photographer

At the time photography was just a small side hustle that I mainly did for fun, but word was getting out and I started getting more clients outside of just my friends and family. I was enjoying it so much and started thinking that it made sense to pursue it as a career due to the success I was already having with it. I’d started working at a photography studio about a year before the COVID pandemic, but I was furloughed shortly after the lockdown. At that point I was basically forced to rely on my photography business as my sole income. Read more>>

Vereesha Motiwala | Houston Photographer and Videographer

Hi there! My name is Vereesha Hanif Motiwala, I am the founder VHM Photo & Video (previously known as Vereesha Hanif Photography) and a Co-Founder of The Artsy Weddings based out of Houston, TX, Pakistan, and Dubai. When I decided to start my own photography business, I was driven by a few key factors, one of which was the desire for creating a space for myself which would allow me to be creative, travel, choose my own schedule, meet new people, learn new things, be independent and have financial freedom. I wanted to create something that allowed me to not only pursue my passion for photography and videography but also have control over my career and the opportunities it presented. Read more>>

Andrea Driskell | Speech-Language Pathologist, Private Practice Owner

I had been working for 1 1/2 years as an independent contractor with a school district in Oklahoma. We have the option of working as an employee of the district and getting paid a teacher’s salary or contracting independently for speech services. I was told by others that if you establish an LLC, you will pay less taxes. I had another friend who had recently began working for himself as a building contractor and he generated a “Getting Started” guide that he allowed me to use. The schools were closed and I had extra time during an ice storm in my area in February of 2021 so my husband (Mike) and I went to the Secretary of State to submit the paperwork. Read more>>

Stephen Hayes | I’m a Travel Dentist, real estate investor, philanthropist, and dispensary owner

It initially was an idea my family spoke about for years prior to me starting a dispensary. It wasn’t too many people of color in this space and still isn’t. I wanted to do something for the culture and transition people from the street products. It’s so many harmful perspectives of the street products due to the legality and the health aspect. The health aspect as in drugs can be laced or manipulated which can have some dangerous and life long effects. Furthermore as a healthcare provider i see the benefits of cannabis for people with anxiety, depression, adhd, stress, back pain, etc. Theres not much research yet in this space but thats what i see with our customers. Read more>>

Jesse Watson Jr | Real Estate Broker & Sports Management

I’ve always inspired to work for myself. I knew that I couldn’t stop working while building the business so there had to be a plan put in place to make as smooth a transition as possible. Being present for my family and creating legacy has always been the thought process behind starting the business. Read more>>

Tyler Edmonds | Owner, Faded World

Ever since I was a little kid I’ve always wanted to start my own business and run it from the ground up. After going through a few life changing things in 2017-2022 I decided to start Faded World in September of 2022 to shed light on drug addiction and mental health. There wasn’t too much thought to it really. We came up with a cool first design and started to go! Now, in this current day, we’re trying to stay a lot more on brand than we have been in the past. One thing we always wanted to have from the start of the business was a trademarked phrase. Earlier this year in May 2024 we trademarked the phrase “Still Alive” and checked off that goal, and continue to push harder with the main focus of our brand! Read more>>

Saumil Manek | Corporate Wellness & Sound Healer

I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 22 when I opened up my jewelry and diamond business. I stayed in India for 2 years learning how to look at diamonds. Then I came back and opened up my own company. I’ve faced many challenges in the business and learning from my mistakes along the way. During my 15 years of business I was always trying to find ways to find another way to make money and leave the very toxic environment. At the age of 39 I started to shift my thoughts and focus on myself. I started practicing yoga and going on different retreats for guidance. Read more>>

Kenneth Zarella | Broker/Owner Revilo Real Estate

After 24 years in real estate, including 13 as a broker working for large companies, I realized it was time to branch out and start my own business. Over the years, I gained valuable experience managing teams, developing strategies, and driving growth. However, I wanted the freedom to create a business that reflected my own vision and values—where I could leverage my expertise to offer a more personalized, client-focused approach. By starting my own company, I have the opportunity to build something that aligns with my passion for real estate and empowers others to succeed. Read more>>